Scientists have pitched 12 different missions, including probes to explore the moon, comets, Venus, and Saturn. Some will even seek out signs of alien life.
NASA’s New Frontiers program is a competition for scientists to get their space mission funded.
The winner, to be selected in 2019, will get funding and a rocket launch that are valued at a combined $1 billion.
On Wednesday, the space agency is revealing its top finalists.
The teams competing for the mission could look for signs of alien life at Enceladus, probe Venus, or chase asteroids.
On Wednesday, NASA will unveil a handful of finalists competing for a billion-dollar space mission to explore the solar system.
Twelve teams of scientists submitted proposals to the contest, which is called New Frontiers-4 (since it’s the fourth such competition held by NASA). A few of those 12 teams — perhaps just one, two, or three — will each receive $4 million next year to further develop and engineer their spacecraft concept.
Tech: NASA is about to announce the finalists of its next $1 billion space mission
