Space exploration gaining momentum with entry of many players:

Ann Devereaux, a senior spacecraft system engineer at NASA, on Friday said space exploration has gained momentum with the arrival of many players.

"I think there is momentum now.

After working with JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA) for 30 years, I feel the momentum of interest in space exploration (has gained) and honestly I have never experienced it before.

I think it's because of so many players," Devereaux told PTI.

Devereaux is the manager for spacecraft system engineering at NASA's JPL and the lead flight system engineer for the Mars 2020 rover.

Previously, she worked on the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover project, ultimately becoming the lead system engineer for the flight system and fault protection, and deputy lead for the Entry, Descent, and Landing team.

Devereaux felt that space agencies should come together to work with a broader vision, involving the community of peopleinterested in it.

"It should not be so that the US President is interested, or the ISRO Chairman is interested.

There is a big community of people interested in it," said Devereaux, who holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Southern California.

She was here to deliver a lecture on 'Moon to Mars Exploration - Challenges and Opportunities', a programme jointly organised by the US Consulate General in Chennai and the Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum.

Speaking about the "stagnation" in manned missions to the moon, Devereaux said there was no big privateindustry interested in such ventures.

She, however, added: "I think there is a lot of opportunity. I mean it's great that people are interested in space exploration."