Purdue has been selected by NASA, under its Planetary Science Deep SmallSat Studies (PSDS3) program, to conduct a funded concept study for planetary small satellite missions.  

AAE Associate Prof. David Spencer is part of the Purdue team developing the mission concept named "Chariot to the Moons of Mars." Purdue Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Prof. David Minton is the Principal Investigator for the study. The mission uses a 12-unit CubeSat with a deployable drag skirt to produce high-resolution imagery and surface material composition of Phobos and Deimos, to help understand how they were formed.

Ten studies were chosen in total. The total value of the awards is $3.6 million. The PSDS3 awardees were recognized at the 48th Lunar and Planetary Society Conference in The Woodlands, Texas.