Space Studies Board Annual Report 2007 (2008) / Chapter Skim
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6.4 NASA's Space Science Programs: Review of Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Request and Issues
6.4 NASA's Space Science Programs: Review of Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Request and Issues
Pages 134-147
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From page 134... ...
This rapid growth in science, however, was not uniform. The traditional space science disciplines -- astrophysics, planetary sciences, and heliophysics -- did very well.
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From page 135... ...
There needs instead to be real growth. Strategic Goals, Risks, and Investments for the Science Mission Directorate The first strategic goal of the Science Mission Directorate (SMD)
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From page 136... ...
The investments that we make now, in people, in technology, in balloons and sounding rockets, in small flight missions, in the planning for future flight missions, will determine the vibrancy and the success of the scientific exploration and utilization of space in the decades ahead. The risk of failing to meet the strategic goal of rebalancing the SMD program is, in my judgment, the most serious risk.
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From page 137... ...
Baker Director, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics Professor, Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences Department University of Colorado at Boulder Introduction Mr. Chairman, Ranking Minority member, and members of the committee, I want to thank you for the opportunity today to address key issues that face the NASA science enterprise.
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From page 138... ...
The envisioned program would address key science objectives such as: understanding magnetic reconnection -- the physical process underlying much of space physics; discovering the mechanisms that drive the Sun's activity and produce energetic particle storms in the heliosphere; determining the physical interactions of the Earth's ionosphere with the atmosphere and magnetosphere; as well as addressing a host of other questions that are essential to understanding our local space environment. The Decadal Plan would also have allowed an end-to-end view of the connected Sun-Earth system through NASA's Living With a Star (LWS)
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From page 139... ...
To be sure, some of the fiscal problems in Heliophysics and elsewhere are related to mission cost growth. Much of this problem, however, lies in non-technical issues that the science community and the Decadal Survey could not have anticipated, including substantial increases in launch vehicle costs, the effects of full-cost accounting, and mandates for additional layers of oversight and review.
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From page 140... ...
2. Does the Heliophysics program reflect the priorities of the NRC Decadal Survey in solar and space physics?
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From page 141... ...
Since the first Explorer, almost 50 years ago, NASA science projects have been extraordinarily successful. But over the years, the management procedures and quality assurance burden for robotic science projects has grown to an almost unsustainable level -- commensurate with human spaceflight missions -- without any quantifiable impact on improving the ultimate reliability of science missions (as far as many scientists can discern)
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From page 142... ...
NASA needs to maintain its investment in space science programs that allow universities to attract and engage undergraduate and graduate students in all aspects of mission development and deployment -- from proof of concept studies, to proposal submittal, to prototype development, to launch, data analysis, and publication. Whether these programs have short or long time horizons, there are ways to allow the next generation of space scientists to participate in all aspects of an exciting NASA mission.
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From page 143... ...
Summary Fortunately, smaller-end programs such as R&A, sounding rockets, and the Explorer mission line could be restored to the levels anticipated in the FY2004 budget by infusions of modest amounts of budget authority. For the larger Heliophysics programs (Solar-Terrestrial Probes and Flagship missions)
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From page 144... ...
Technology development and research funding will be discussed in later sections. Planetary science's 2003 decadal survey recommends a finely tuned mix of mission sizes, each with its own programmatic purpose, cost cap and launch rate.
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From page 145... ...
planetary program will become increasingly irreversible. Analysts suggest that a minimum of at least $200 M more annually would be needed in the PSD budget in order to bring it in line with the strategic plans of the decadal survey.
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From page 146... ...
ITAR, which considers satellite technology to automatically be munitions under State Department rules, hamstrings spacecraft operations and complicates international space programs. Expendable launch vehicle costs are growing faster than inflation, because of the limited market.
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From page 147... ...
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, I thank you for your attention today, but most of all for your continuing support to NASA's planetary exploration program.
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