Cape Canaveral, Florida – NASA is gearing up for the launch of its fifth New Frontiers mission, NF-5, a significant step in the agency’s ambitious exploration pursuits in the solar system. The anticipated unveiling of NF-5 is projected for 2026, promising a new chapter in NASA’s planetary science endeavors that has sparked great enthusiasm within the scientific community. The mission concepts under consideration were recently detailed in a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The New Frontiers program holds a critical position in NASA’s exploration strategy, bridging the gap between smaller Discovery-class missions and more costly flagship ventures. These medium-scale missions, led by principal investigators, aim to address key scientific queries using the highest-priority objectives identified in NASA’s Decadal Survey—a comprehensive report that guides the allocation of resources by the planetary science community.
Dr. Lori Glaze, director of NASA’s Planetary Science Division, highlighted the technological advancements and updated scientific priorities driving the NF-5 mission cycle. These innovations enable NASA to explore targets and mission types that were previously impractical, setting the stage for groundbreaking discoveries in planetary science.
With the NF-5 planning coinciding with the subsequent NF-6 cycle, mission teams have a unique opportunity to craft forward-thinking proposals that could significantly enhance our understanding of planetary systems. The overlapping timelines offer flexibility in designing comprehensive missions that could unlock new insights into the mysteries of the cosmos.
One of the primary scientific interests for NF-5 lies in the outer solar system, home to intriguing and active celestial bodies that captivate NASA scientists. The mission proposals for NF-5 include exploring Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io, Saturn’s moon Enceladus, as well as Centaur and cometary bodies, all of which hold valuable clues to the early stages of planetary formation and evolution.
In addition to moon-centric missions, NF-5 is poised to support missions that will delve into the atmospheres of gas giants, particularly Saturn. A dedicated Saturn Probe would provide critical data on the planet’s composition, atmospheric dynamics, and cloud formations, advancing our understanding of these massive celestial bodies.
NF-5 also promises a renewed focus on lunar science, with proposals like the Lunar Geophysical Network aiming to map the Moon’s internal structure in unprecedented detail. By coordinating lunar science with planned human missions, NASA aims to establish a cohesive link between planetary science and human exploration, enriching the overall exploration strategy.
What sets NF-5 apart from previous missions is its integration of cutting-edge technologies in instrumentation, spacecraft design, and propulsion systems. These advancements enable longer missions, precise targeting, and adaptable payloads that can maximize scientific returns from each mission. This diversity of mission targets, ranging from the Moon to distant icy moons and gas giants, reflects NASA’s commitment to exploring the breadth and complexity of planetary evolution throughout the solar system.