NASA Cancels Janus Mission After Launch Postponement

NASA has announced the conclusion of the Janus mission after a launch postponement rendered its primary science targets inaccessible. NASA has directed the project team to prepare the twin small satellite spacecraft for long-term storage, following their removal from the manifest of the Psyche mission.

Originally intended as a ride-along on the Psyche mission's scheduled 2022 launch, Janus was designed to study two separate binary asteroid systems. However, due to the new October 2023 launch period for the Psyche mission, it became clear that the two spacecraft would not be able to reach their intended targets. Consequently, Janus was removed from the manifest, leading NASA to evaluate alternative missions for the twin spacecraft.

After careful consideration of the opportunities and requirements for alternative missions, as well as the expected resources available to planetary science in the coming years, NASA has decided to halt further work on the Janus mission.

The project team will focus on completing the remaining contracted work on the two spacecraft before preparing them for storage. This will allow for the possibility of utilizing the spacecraft in the future if funding becomes available.

Janus was selected as part of NASA's SIMPLEx (Small, Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration) program, which aims to provide low-cost, high-risk science missions that can ride-share with selected primary missions. These missions, including Janus, serve as a platform for technical and architecture innovation, contributing to NASA's science research and technology development objectives.

The SIMPLEx mission investigations are managed by the Planetary Missions Program Office at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The program is part of the Discovery Program, which is overseen by NASA's Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The program emphasizes the exploration of our solar system, allowing scientists to uncover new knowledge about our celestial neighbors.

While the Janus mission has come to a premature end, NASA's commitment to advancing planetary science remains steadfast as the agency will continue to explore innovative opportunities and pursue ambitious missions that expand our understanding of the universe.