Committee to Assess Beyond Einstein Missions: Study Work Plan and Schedule

Transcription

1 Committee to Assess Beyond Einstein Missions: Study Work Plan and Schedule Pamela Whitney, Space Studies Board Brian Dewhurst, Board on Physics and Astronomy

2 Origin of the Beyond Einstein Program 2000 release of Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Millennium 2002 release of Connecting Quarks with the Cosmos 2003 NASA SEU Roadmap entitled Beyond Einstein 2004 OSTP releases Physics of the Universe

3 Beyond Einstein Missions Einstein Great Observatories Constellation-X (Con-X) Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) Einstein Probes Joint Dark Energy Mission (JDEM) Inflation Probe Black Hole Finder Probe

4 NASA Astronomy Program Levels (FY ) Con-X and LISA JWST SIM $ (in Millions) HST Herschel/Planck SWIFT SPITZER GLAST WISE Keck Interferometer TPF 200 KEPLER 0 SOFIA Research FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003 FY 2004* FY 2005** FY 2006*** FY 2007^ FY 2008^ FY 2009^ FY 2010^ FY 2011^ Total Fiscal Year

5 Study Origins Committee Report, Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, 2007 The Committee is concerned that the joint mission between the Department of Energy and NASA is untenable because of NASA s reorganization and change in focus toward manned space flight. The Committee directs the Department to immediately begin planning for a single-agency space-based dark energy mission.. Committee Report, House Energy and Water Development Appropriations ons Bill, 2007 NASA has failed to budget and program for launch services for JDEM. Unfortunately, in spite of best intentions, the multi-agency aspect of this initiative poses insurmountable problems that imperil its future. Therefore, e, the Committee directs the Department to begin planning for a single-agency dark energy mission with a launch in fiscal year OSTP Meeting, August 2006 Dr. Marburger calls meeting with NASA Administrator, DOE Science Undersecretary, SSB Chair, BPA Chair, and AAAC Chair to encourage e a fair, joint-agency process for going forward on a Beyond Einstein mission. NASA and DOE request NRC to assess the Beyond Einstein missions and produce report by September 8, 2007

6 Committee Charge 1. Assess the five proposed Beyond Einstein missions (Constellation- X, Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, Joint Dark Energy Mission, Inflation Probe, and Black Hole Finder probe) and recommend which of these five should be developed and launched first,, using a funding wedge that is expected to begin in FY The criteria for these assessments include: Potential scientific impact within the context of other existing and planned space-based and ground-based missions; and Realism of preliminary technology and management plans, and cost estimates. 2. Assess the Beyond Einstein missions sufficiently so that they can act as input for any future decisions by NASA or the next Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey on the ordering of the remaining missions. This second task element will assist NASA in its investment strategy for future technology development within the Beyond Einstein Program prior to the results of the Decadal Survey.

7 Committee Members Charles Kennel, UCSD, co-chairchair Joseph Rothenberg, Universal Space Network, co-chairchair Cosmology Joel Primack, UC Santa Cruz Lisa Randall, Harvard X-Ray Astronomy Fiona Harrison, Caltech Craig Sarazin, U Virginia General Astrophysics Edward Wright, UCLA Gravity Waves Eric Adelberger, U Washington Clifford Will, Washington University Optical/ Infrared Karl Gebhardt, U Texas Radio Astronomy James Ulvestad, NRAO Elementary Particle Physics Michael Witherell, UC Santa Barbara Thomas Appelquist, Yale Project Management/ Systems Engineering James Barrowman, NASA (retired) David Bearden, Aerospace Corp. Dennis McCarthy, Swales (retired) Andrew Lankford, UC Irvine Policy William Adkins, Adkins Strategies, LLC Joseph Fuller, Futron Corp.

8 Process for Community Input 5 Town Hall meetings will allow science community to express comments and interests about BE missions Exploring how to enable remote access to each Town Hall meeting Academy website will provide information on study for the public Statement of task Agendas Meeting presentations

9 Schedule and Milestones: Overview November January 2007 February June January March June July August September 2007 Data Gathering Data Gathering & Writing Town Hall Meetings Finalize Draft for Review NRC Review Response to Review and Editing Delivery to NASA & DOE

10 Meetings and Town Halls 4 Committee Meetings CM 1: November 6-8, , Washington, DC (Data Gathering) CM 2:January xx-xx, xx, 2007, Irvine, CA (Data Gathering) CM 3: April x-x, x x, 2007, TBD (Data Gathering/ Writing) CM 4: June x-x, x x, 2007, TBD (Writing) Possible writing splinter groups 5 th Response to Review meeting if necessary (July/August) 5 Town Hall Meetings TH 1: January 2007, Irvine (after Irvine meeting) TH 2: February TBD TH 3: February/March TBD TH 4: March, TBD TH 5: April, (before April meeting)

11 Ground Rules for Beyond Einstein Missions Some missions are well-defined, others are concepts - how to compare? Science assessment of platonic ideal of the missions Assessment of specific projects to evaluate technical, cost, and schedule risk to achieving science goals Cost estimates NRC expects to acquire independent cost estimates Uniformity across missions and projects Assessment needs to be fair and balanced Consistent approach to assessment of each mission Others?

12 Committee Meeting 1 November 2006 Goals Dialog with sponsors on Statement of Task Clear understanding of NASA/DOE, OSTP expectations Broad science overview presentations Mission introductions Establish ground rules for study with committee Discuss consistent questions for future mission concept presentations Agree on TH subgroups and assignments Agree on schedule and milestones Preliminary outline of report, writing group assignments?

13 Some Key Issues Commensurability Common analysis of projects at different stages of development Perception of conflict of interest Balanced community input

14 Contact Information Pam Whitney, SSB Study Director 202/ or Brian Dewhurst, BPA Study Director 202/ or Marcia Smith, SSB Director 202/ or Don Shapero,, BPA Director 202/ or nas.edu