Good Morning, Dave…
Well, it looks like we’re finally sending a probe to Jupiter!
Though, it doesn’t look like it will have HAL or anything even like HAL on board, the probe itself looks rather like the Discovery of Arthur C. Clarke fame. According to this article on Atrobiology Magazine Online, the probe is being sent to study Io, Callisto, Ganymede and Europa to study any potential life that might be found there. But, we all know it’s just a rendevous with the Monolith. Of course, we’re a little behind schedule, but we’ve been busy. No, really!
Seriously, though, I look forward to this test of a nuclear drive system. It’ll be one way to do some “proof-of-concept” work for future manned missions. I just hope the funding doesn’t get cut before it gets off the ground.