Overview of High Priority Technologies for Solar System Exploration

During the past two years, a new solar system exploration roadmap has been developed, supplanting the previous 2003 version. This roadmap identifies a number of high priority technology developments that will be essential to the success of several of the roadmap missions. These technologies include advanced radioisotope power systems (RPS), aerocapture systems and advanced propulsion, numerous technologies capable of surviving the extreme environments encountered in many of these missions, and improved capabilities for both forward and back planetary protection. These key technologies and the missions that require them are described, along with the estimated timeline for their development as laid out in the exploration roadmap.