The useful question is what changes for users, developers or buyers, and whether the announcement stays industry context or becomes something people can actually use.

The Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS) at Caltech has announced five new study programs selected from over two dozen proposals to develop mission concepts and frameworks for space exploration. These projects will convene experts from Caltech, JPL, academic institutions, and commercial industry through workshops and symposia, culminating in reports that may guide future space missions, technology development, and new research fields. The institute, established in 2008, bridges theoretical and practical space science by fostering collaboration between leading institutions to address challenges in planetary science, astronomy, Earth science, and space engineering.

One project, led by Andy Klesh, focuses on reducing the cost of Moon and Mars science missions by leveraging affordable commercial space capabilities and current technologies. The study aims to create a practical framework for low-cost deep-space missions, including a sample mission design for a Moon or Mars orbiter. A symposium, organized with the Brinson Exploration Hub, will bring together experts to discuss opportunities for scientifically impactful missions that align with the hub’s goals of frequent and affordable space access.

Another initiative, led by Richard Murray, explores autonomous spacecraft systems to address communication delays in deep-space missions, such as those to Jupiter’s moon Europa. The program will develop standardized tools to ensure the trustworthiness of AI-driven decision-making in space, including the potential use of pulsars as navigation beacons. This approach could enable spacecraft to operate independently of Earth-based systems, improving resilience in communication blackouts or GPS failures, and supporting future lunar, orbital, and deep-space missions.

A third program, led by Dimitri Mawet, seeks to merge planetary science and exoplanetary science to compare planetary systems and address open questions about atmospheres, surfaces, and magnetic fields. By combining insights from missions like Juno and telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope, the study aims to deepen understanding of planetary evolution and contextualize Earth’s solar system within the broader galaxy. Caltech’s leadership in both fields positions it to facilitate this interdisciplinary collaboration.