The delay will increase the cost of the mission from about $1.9 billion to almost $2.3 billion. The extra money will come from other Mars program activities, officials said. They did not specify which ones.
At the briefing, NASA Administrator Michael Griffin was challenged to explain why NASA missions consistently run over budget.
Griffin said each space mission is a new venture that must be designed from the ground up. Asked whether he considered canceling the MSL altogether, he said no.
To do that, "I'd have to believe the project was going badly," he said. "It's not. It's going great."
In the phone interview, Elachi said the delay could have "some minor impact" on the workforce at JPL. He said there would be "a very small number, if any" layoffs, and "we think we can find other work for the majority" of those affected.
Space enthusiasts expressed disappointment over the delay but accepted the need for it.
"Mars exploration has always had its ups and downs," said Louis Friedman, executive director of the Planetary Society in Pasadena.
"But if history has taught us one thing, it is that every setback has been ultimately followed by astounding new accomplishments," he said. "MSL will be worth waiting for."
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john.johnson@latimes.com
