NASA is considering proposals for low-cost space exploration missions including the planet Venus and asteroids as potential targets.

According to Space.com, NASA selected five finalists as part of its Discovery Program, which aims to fund exploration missions within the solar system. Of the five finalists, three would focus on asteroids and near-Earth objects and the other two concern Venus.

"The selected investigations have the potential to reveal much about the formation of our solar system and its dynamic processes," John Grunsfeld, astronaut and associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington, said in a news release. "Dynamic and exciting missions like these hold promise to unravel the mysteries of our solar system and inspire future generations of explorers. It's an incredible time for science, and NASA is leading the way."

Per the release from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the five missions are as follows:

The Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy mission (VERITAS)

Objective: "Produce global, high-resolution topography and imaging of Venus' surface and produce the first maps of deformation and global surface composition."

Psyche

Objective: "Explore the origin of planetary cores by studying the metallic asteroid Psyche. This asteroid is likely the survivor of a violent hit-and-run with another object that stripped off the outer, rocky layers of a protoplanet."

Near Earth Object Camera (NEOCam)

Objective: "Discover 10 times more near-Earth objects than all NEOs discovered to date. It would also begin to characterize them."

Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging (DAVINCI)

Objective: "Study the chemical composition of Venus' atmosphere during a 63-minute descent. It would answer scientific questions that have been considered high priorities for many years, such as whether there are volcanoes active today on the surface of Venus and how the surface interacts with the atmosphere of the planet."

Lucy

Objective: "Perform the first reconnaissance of the Jupiter Trojan asteroids, objects thought to hold vital clues to deciphering the history of the solar system. Harold Levison of the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado is the principal investigator."