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Fundamental Physics and the Decadal Survey

Fundamental Physics and the Decadal Survey. Quantum to Cosmos 3 Airlie, VA 7 July 2008 Michael Salamon NASA HQ/Astrophysics Div. Fundamental Physics and the Decadal. Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey basics Decadal timeline Novel issues for the Decadal Survey Committee

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Fundamental Physics and the Decadal Survey

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  1. Fundamental Physics and the Decadal Survey Quantum to Cosmos 3 Airlie, VA 7 July 2008 Michael Salamon NASA HQ/Astrophysics Div.

  2. Fundamental Physics and the Decadal • Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey basics • Decadal timeline • Novel issues for the Decadal Survey Committee • The position of Fundamental Physics in this Decadal • A New NRC Study Nota Bene The National Research Council (NRC) is independent of the agencies which request its studies. Agency personnel cannot represent or speak for the NRC. The material in this presentation is for the most part publicly available.

  3. National Research Council Commission on Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Applications Board of Physics and Astronomy Space Studies Board Committee on Astronomy and Astrophysics (joint subcommittee) BPA, SSB, with CAA assistance conduct the Decadal Survey Process Astronomy and Astrophysics Survey Committee Panel on High Energy Astrophysics from Space Panel on Optical and Infrared Astronomy from the Ground Panel on Particle, Nuclear, and Gravitational-Wave Astrophysics Radio and Submillimeter-Wave Astronomy Panel on Solar Astronomy Panel on Theory, Computation, and Data Exploration Panel on Ultraviolet, Optical, and Infrared Astronomy from Space The Astronomy & Astrophysics Decadal Survey 2001 Survey science panels

  4. Decadal Time Line (from NAS website) Stage 1: Defining the Study (agencies’ Statement of Task) Stage 2: Committee selection and approval (range of expertise, no conflicts) Stage 3: Committee meetings, information gathering, deliberations, and drafting of the Report Stage 4: Report review (independent review by anonymous experts) May 2008 ~Winter 2009/10 ~Summer 2010

  5. Decadal Cost Estimation Large underestimation of cost resulted in unrealizable mission program. • 2001 Decadal Cost Estimates (US cost, FY00 $): • JWST at $1000M • Con-X at $800M • LISA at $250M • GLAST at $300M • To address unexpected cost growth, “trip wires” likely to be introduced with “decision rules:” reprioritization, termination? • How will budgetary limits affect the prioritization process? • This Decadal Survey Report will have several novel features which will present a challenge to the Survey Committee, but which will enhance the value of the report to the agencies.

  6. New Challenges for the Decadal Survey Committee Material below from the talk by Anneila Sargent (Chair, Board of Physics and Astronomy) at the Austin, TX AAS meeting on the 2010 Astronomy & Astrophysics Decadal Survey

  7. 2010 A&A Decadal Survey • The 2010 Astronomy & Astrophysics Decadal Survey has been requested by three agencies: • NASA Astrophysics Division • NSF Astronomy Division • DOE High Energy Physics Division (astrophysics programs only) • The fundamental physics that NASA’s astrophysics division supports is that specified in the SMD/Astrophysics Science Plan. • The Survey is not expected to consider programs associated with • NASA Heliophysics Division • DOE High Energy Division non-astrophysics programs • NASA’s former Microgravity Physics (Code U) division • The Decadal Survey Committee has some prerogative to determine the boundaries of the survey. Specifically, they can decide (while being consistent with the Statement of Task) what elements of fundamental physics constitute a subset of Astronomy and Astrophysics.

  8. Astrophysics in the SMD Science Plan Physics of the Cosmos – The Physics of the Cosmos Program (formerly Beyond Einstein) contains missions that can explore the most extreme physical conditions of the universe, from black holes to dark energy. They will study the building blocks of our own existence at the most basic level: the matter, energy, space and time that create the living Universe.

  9. New NRC Study: A Place for Fundamental Physics in Space? Recent congressional legislation (Joint Explanatory Statement for HR2764) states: “Achieving the goals of the Exploration Initiative will require a greater understanding of life and physical sciences phenomena in microgravity as well as in the partial gravity environments of the Moon and Mars. Therefore, the Administrator is directed to enter into an arrangement with the National Research Council to conduct a “decadal survey” of life and physical sciences research in microgravity and partial gravity to establish priorities for research for the 2010-2020 decade.” • “Decadal Study in Physical and Biological Space Research” is tentative title. • ESMD (Exploration Systems Mission Directorate), not SMD, is the “owner” of this NRC study, and is preparing a Statement of Task. • Does “microgravity physics” include “Code U” fundamental physics? An “experts’ meeting” was held for the community to provide input to the SoT.

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