They will be working on designing, simulating, and building new missions to the outer planets. It's really important to have a roadmap for long-term exploratio

They will be working on designing, simulating, and building new missions to the outer planets. It's really important to have a roadmap for long-term exploration rather than doing one-shot missions, so you don't lose the expertise. The National Academy of Science works on this roadmap, and NASA generally follows it (see http://sites.nationalacademies.org/SSB/SSB_052297 http://sites.nationalacademies.org/SSB/SSB_052297, in particular the Planetary Science survey from 2011). It's a very exciting time for planetary science, especially regarding the "Ocean Worlds" (those moons of Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune that have liquid water: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/infographics/infographic.view.php?id=11262 https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/infographics/infographic.view.php?i...). One of particular interest is Europa Clipper (https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/europa-clipper/ https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/europa-clipper/), although Europa is a moon of Jupiter.