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Scientists Draw Up Wish List For Space Exploration

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A team of scientists advising NASA on where in the solar system to explore next has come up with a wish list.

Among the recommendations: Begin a mission that will eventually lead to the return of rocks and soil from Mars, send a spacecraft to study Jupiter's moon Europa and fly a probe to analyze Uranus' atmosphere.

The wish list released Monday by the National Research Council also included independent cost estimates for the proposed missions.

If NASA doesn't have enough money or cannot stay within budget, scientists said the space agency should focus on smaller, cheaper missions first.

The report was sponsored by NASA and the National Science Foundation.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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