Skip to main content

Space Studies Board Annual Report 2007 (2008) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

5.12 Portals to the Universe: The NASA Astronomy Science Centers
Pages 106-109

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 106...
... . It discerned a consistent set of functions and services that allow the research community to utilize the data in creative ways that advance research and our understanding of the cosmos and to preserve the data and metadata for future use, including the following: • Support of flight operations, • Instrument support and calibration, • Data analysis and Level 1 processing, • Archiving and distribution of data to the research community, • Software development and documentation for science analysis, • Help desk and other user support services, • User workshops and symposia, • Proposal submission processing and peer review evaluation, • Grant management and administration, • Scientific research, NOTE: "Summary" reprinted from Portals to the Universe: The NASA Astronomy Science Centers, The National Academies Press, Washington, D.C., 2007, pp.
Read the entire page →
From page 107...
... Finding:  The ability of the Chandra X-ray Center, the Space Telescope Science Institute, the High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center, and the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center to provide the appropriate level of support to the scientific community depends critically on the extent to which they can attract, retain, and effectively deploy individuals with the mix of research and engineering skills necessary to maintain continuity of service. Guest Observer Facilities and Explorer-Class Mission Centers It was clear to the committee that all of the NASA astronomy science centers examined for the study can provide valuable services to the community, but that the smaller GOF and Explorer mission centers lack the resources and staff support to provide the full range of science center services effectively on their own.
Read the entire page →
From page 108...
... Recommendation 2.  NASA should adopt a set of best practices as guiding principles to ensure the effectiveness of existing flagship and archival NASA astronomy science centers and to select the operational functions of any future centers. BOX S.1 Best Practices for NASA Astronomy Science Centers Mission Operations NASA astronomy science centers can best operate the spacecraft and process the resulting data if they • Have close interaction among scientists, engineers, and programmers.
Read the entire page →
From page 109...
... Recommendation 3. NASA should ensure that NASA astronomy science centers cooperate among themselves and with other agencies to develop strategies and plans for • Developing common protocols and formats for proposal entry; • Developing a universal infrastructure for data formats and metadata, archiving, and retrieval and analysis tools; and • Providing curriculum materials and professional development programs for K-12 teachers.
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • astronomy science
  • nasa astronomy
  • science center
  • mission centers
  • astronomy missions

  • guest observer
  • science institute
  • telescope science
  • astrophysics science
  • science archive

  • archival centers
  • archive research
  • research scientists
  • proposal entry
  • energy astrophysics

  • infrared processing
  • space telescope
  • analysis center
  • michelson science
  • archival nasa

  • existing science
  • centers lack
  • center types
  • programmatic expertise
  • planned missions

  • flagship mission
  • active phases
  • study charge
  • observer facility
  • educational activities


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.