The Keystone Center aids in the design of an inclusive public involvement strategy in coordination with NASA Headquarters and Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) staff, for ten years of Mars Missions, starting in 2003. The Keystone Center has worked on potential areas of high concern such as the use of space nuclear power sources including launch site issues. In 2001, Keystone helped NASA and JPL staff develop the following public engagement and risk communication goals:

• Give the public many opportunities to join in the great and far-reaching adventure of Mars exploration;
• Earn and maintain the public’s confidence; and
• Actively seek the opinion of diverse publics.

The goals were further elaborated and augmented by a set of “action oriented” guiding principles that help to steer more specific decisions and actions:

Principle 1: Continue to be transparent

• Stay responsibly open, candid, and honest;
• Share information freely and as soon as possible;
• Use plain language;
• Continue to be transparent, especially when sharing information about risks, benefits, and programmatic changes and failures.

Principle 2: Be inclusive

• Actively seek as many perspectives as possible;
• Be sensitive to cultural differences.

Principle 3: Be interactive

• Listen to colleagues, critics, and supporters;
• Be clear where NASA can/is willing to take input; and
• Based on input, be open to modifications or new options.

Please contact Janesse Brewer or Peter Adler with questions regarding this effort at 970-513-5800.


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Project Prometheus Program

Project Prometheus Project Prometheus is a NASA program designed to further advance radioisotope-based power systems and develop space nuclear electric power systems that would extend NASA’s exploration capabilities in space. In thinking about stakeholder involvement strategies, The Keystone Center recommended that NASA be very clear as early as possible in this research and development program as to what the stakeholder questions, and potential areas of concerns may be. As part of this effort, The Keystone Center interviewed more than 40 individuals from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), state regulators at potential testing sites, and space policy experts. Interviewees expressed their personal opinion for the purposes of this interview and not necessarily the official views of their organization, agency, academic institution, or community. The attached report outlines 13 findings based on the aggregated themes from the interviews. Additionally, The Keystone Center put forth six recommendations based on both questions and concerns raised during the interviews and The Center’s broad experience designing stakeholder involvement strategies for science-intensive issues. This report has been briefed and endorsed at the highest levels of NASA, to include Administrator O’Keefe.

For a full copy of the report, download here. Contact Ms. Helen Littrell at 970-513-5825 for assistance downloading this report.

Please contact Janesse Brewer or Peter Adler with questions regarding this effort at 970-513-5800.

Mars Sample Return Program

NASA currently projects a series of launches culminating with a Mars Sample Return Mission under study for launch in 2013. Given the number of years it takes to plan and execute space missions, NASA is currently trying to determine the possible potential locations for landing the sample return mission. In addition, NASA would be constructing a special bio-containment laboratory to analyze samples. NASA has in process a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process that will look broadly at the Mars missions. For any Mars Sample Return Mission, NASA would also conduct a NEPA process that examines locational issues for the safe landing, and transportation of the samples as well as a NEPA process for the building of a containment facility. As work toward a possible Mars Sample Return Mission proceeds, Keystone will provide input and advice on how to best understand public interests and concerns, and will advise NASA on public engagement during the siting of the sample receiving facility and the broader Mars program.

Please contact Janesse Brewer or Peter Adler with questions regarding this effort at 970-513-5800.

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