| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Below are the first 10 and last 10 pages of uncorrected machine-read text (when available) of this chapter, followed by the top 30 algorithmically extracted key phrases from the chapter as a whole.
Intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text on the opening pages of each chapter.
Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.
Do not use for reproduction, copying, pasting, or reading; exclusively for search engines.
OCR for page R1
A Performance Assessment of NASA’s Heliophysics Program
A Performance Assessment of NASA’s Heliophysics Program
Committee on Heliophysics Performance Assessment
Space Studies Board
Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
Washington, D.C.
www.nap.edu
OCR for page R2
A Performance Assessment of NASA’s Heliophysics Program
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
500 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20001
NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.
This study is based on work supported by Contract NNH06CE15B between the National Academy of Sciences and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agency that provided support for the project.
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-13656-3
International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-13656-3
Cover: Artist’s depiction of the collection of NASA spacecraft constituting the Heliophysics Great Observatory. Images courtesy of NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Cover art and design by Timothy Warchocki.
Copies of this report are available free of charge from:
Space Studies Board
National Research Council
500 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20001
Additional copies of this report are available from the
National Academies Press,
500 Fifth Street, N.W., Lockbox 285, Washington, DC 20055; (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313 (in the Washington metropolitan area); Internet, http://www.nap.edu.
Copyright 2009 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
OCR for page R3
A Performance Assessment of NASA’s Heliophysics Program
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of Engineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine.
The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M. Vest are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.
www.national-academies.org
OCR for page R4
A Performance Assessment of NASA’s Heliophysics Program
OTHER REPORTS OF THE SPACE STUDIES BOARD AND THE AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ENGINEERING BOARD
Launching Science: Science Opportunities Provided by NASA’s Constellation System (Space Studies Board [SSB] with Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board [ASEB], 2009)
Assessing the Research and Development Plan for the Next Generation Air Transportation System: Summary of a Workshop (ASEB, 2008)
A Constrained Space Exploration Technology Program: A Review of NASA’s Exploration Technology Development Program (ASEB, 2008)
Ensuring the Climate Record from the NPOESS and GOES-R Spacecraft: Elements of a Strategy to Recover Measurement Capabilities Lost in Program Restructuring (SSB, 2008)
Final Report of the Committee for the Review of Proposals to the 2008 Engineering Research and Commercialization Program of the Ohio Third Frontier Program (ASEB, 2008)
Final Report of the Committee to Review Proposals to the 2008 Ohio Research Scholars Program of the State of Ohio (ASEB, 2008)
Managing Space Radiation Risk in the New Era of Space Exploration (ASEB, 2008)
NASA Aeronautics Research: An Assessment (ASEB, 2008)
Opening New Frontiers in Space: Choices for the Next New Frontiers Announcement of Opportunity (SSB, 2008)
Review of NASA’s Exploration Technology Development Program: An Interim Report (ASEB, 2008)
Science Opportunities Enabled by NASA’s Constellation System: Interim Report (SSB with ASEB, 2008)
Severe Space Weather Events—Understanding Societal and Economic Impacts: A Workshop Report (SSB, 2008)
Space Science and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations: Summary of a Workshop (SSB, 2008)
United States Civil Space Policy: Summary of a Workshop (SSB with ASEB, 2008)
Wake Turbulence—An Obstacle to Increased Air Traffic Capacity (ASEB, 2008)
Limited copies of these reports are available free of charge from
Space Studies Board
National Research Council
The Keck Center of the National Academies
500 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20001
(202) 334-3477/ssb@nas.edu
www.nationalacademies.org/ssb/ssb.html
NOTE: These reports are listed according to the year of approval for release, which in some cases precedes the year of publication.
OCR for page R5
A Performance Assessment of NASA’s Heliophysics Program
COMMITTEE ON HELIOPHYSICS PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT
STEPHEN A. FUSELIER,
Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center,
Co-Chair
RODERICK A. HEELIS,
University of Texas at Dallas,
Co-Chair
THOMAS BERGER,
Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory
JACK R. JOKIPII,
University of Arizona
KRISHAN KHURANA,
University of California, Los Angeles
DANA WARFIELD LONGCOPE,
Montana State University
GANG LU,
National Center for Atmospheric Research
KRISTINA A. LYNCH,
Dartmouth College
FRANK B. McDONALD,
University of Maryland, College Park
MICHAEL MENDILLO,
Boston University
ROBERT E. PALMER, Independent Consultant
Staff
BRANT SPONBERG, Study Director
CARMELA J. CHAMBERLAIN, Program Associate
CATHERINE A. GRUBER, Assistant Editor
OCR for page R6
A Performance Assessment of NASA’s Heliophysics Program
SPACE STUDIES BOARD
CHARLES F. KENNEL,
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego,
Chair
A. THOMAS YOUNG,
Lockheed Martin Corporation (retired),
Vice Chair
DANIEL N. BAKER,
University of Colorado
STEVEN J. BATTEL,
Battel Engineering
CHARLES L. BENNETT,
Johns Hopkins University
YVONNE C. BRILL, Aerospace Consultant
ELIZABETH R. CANTWELL,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
ANDREW B. CHRISTENSEN,
Dixie State College and Aerospace Corporation
ALAN DRESSLER,
The Observatories of the Carnegie Institution
JACK D. FELLOWS,
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
FIONA A. HARRISON,
California Institute of Technology
JOAN JOHNSON-FREESE,
Naval War College
KLAUS KEIL,
University of Hawaii
MOLLY K. MACAULEY,
Resources for the Future
BERRIEN MOORE III,
University of New Hampshire
ROBERT T. PAPPALARDO,
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
JAMES PAWELCZYK,
Pennsylvania State University
SOROOSH SOROOSHIAN,
University of California, Irvine
JOAN VERNIKOS,
Thirdage LLC
JOSEPH F. VEVERKA,
Cornell University
WARREN M. WASHINGTON,
National Center for Atmospheric Research
CHARLES E. WOODWARD,
University of Minnesota
ELLEN G. ZWEIBEL,
University of Wisconsin
MARCIA S. SMITH, Director
OCR for page R7
A Performance Assessment of NASA’s Heliophysics Program
Preface
In Section 301(a) of the NASA Authorization Act of 2005, the Congress directed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to have “[t]he performance of each division in the Science directorate … reviewed and assessed by the National Academy of Sciences at 5-year intervals.” The first two of these assessments, for NASA’s Astrophysics Division and NASA’s Planetary Science Division, were started in 2006 and 2007, respectively. In late 2007, NASA asked the National Research Council (NRC) to conduct such an assessment for the agency’s Heliophysics Division (see Appendix A). The statement of task for the Committee on Heliophysics Performance Assessment was to study the alignment of NASA’s Heliophysics Division program with previous NRC advice—primarily the relevant decadal survey report, The Sun to the Earth—and Beyond: A Decadal Research Strategy in Solar and Space Physics.1 More specifically, the statement of task asked the committee to assess and comment on the following:
How well NASA’s current program addresses the strategies, goals, and priorities outlined in the heliophysics decadal survey and other relevant Academy reports;
Progress toward realizing these strategies, goals and priorities; and
Any actions that could be taken to optimize the science value of the program in the context of current and forecasted resources available to it.
The letter of request from NASA also stated that
[t]he review should not revisit or alter the scientific priorities or mission recommendations provided in the … [2003] decadal survey, but may provide guidance about implementing the recommended mission portfolio in preparation for the next decadal survey.
The committee held three meetings, in April, June, and August 2008. At the April and June meetings, the committee received presentations from members of the decadal survey, members of the astrophysics and planetary mid-decade assessments, the NRC’s Committee on Solar and Space Physics, NASA headquarters staff, NOAA staff, participants in the relevant NASA mission operating working groups, mission scientists, and other members
1
National Research Council, The Sun to the Earth—and Beyond: A Decadal Research Strategy in Solar and Space Physics, The National Academies Press, Washington, D.C., 2003.
OCR for page R8
A Performance Assessment of NASA’s Heliophysics Program
of the research community. Because this was a congressionally directed study, the committee also asked relevant congressional staff for input on what kind of report would be most relevant to their work. In addition, committee representatives visited the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory to hear from their scientists and managers about the programs reviewed in this report.
The committee thanks those who made formal presentations at its meetings and expresses appreciation to the hosts of and presenters at the site visits. The conversations were sincere, informative, and invaluable to the assessment. The committee also thanks the NASA headquarters staff who provided the budget figures used in this report.
OCR for page R9
A Performance Assessment of NASA’s Heliophysics Program
Acknowledgment of Reviewers
This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the National Research Council’s (NRC’s) Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their participation in the review of this report:
Craig DeForest, Southwest Research Institute,
Janet Kozyra, University of Michigan,
Louis J. Lanzerotti, New Jersey Institute of Technology,
John Leibacher, National Solar Observatory,
Robert P. Lin, University of California, Berkeley,
William H. Matthaeus, University of Delaware, and
Mark Miesch, National Center for Atmospheric Research.
Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations, nor did they see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by Peter M. Banks, Astrolabe Venture Partners. Appointed by the NRC, he was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the authoring committee and the institution.
OCR for page R10
A Performance Assessment of NASA’s Heliophysics Program
This page intentionally left blank.
OCR for page R11
A Performance Assessment of NASA’s Heliophysics Program
Contents
SUMMARY
1
1
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
10
The Field of Solar and Space Physics,
10
NASA’s Heliophysics Division,
11
The Decadal Survey,
11
The Midterm Assessment,
13
Accomplishments Since the Decadal Survey,
13
Budget Changes Since the Decadal Survey,
17
Other Program Changes Since the Decadal Survey,
22
Challenges to Future Progress,
23
2
ASSESSMENT
25
2.1 Milestones and Science Challenges,
25
2.2 Integrated Research Strategy,
28
2.3 Technology Development,
38
2.4 Connections Between Solar and Space Physics and Other Disciplines,
40
2.5 Effects of the Solar and Space Environment on Technology and Society,
41
2.6 Education and Public Outreach,
43
2.7 Strengthening the Solar and Space Physics Research Enterprise,
44
3
RECOMMENDATIONS
49
Recommendations to Fulfill the Integrated Research Strategy,
49
Other Recommendations to Fulfill the Decadal Survey,
52
Guidance to Improve the Next Decadal Survey,
53
APPENDIXES
A Letter of Request from NASA
59
B Committee and Staff Biographical Information
62
OCR for page R12
A Performance Assessment of NASA’s Heliophysics Program
This page intentionally left blank.
