International Polar Year An international program of coordinated research to explore the polar regions, deepen understanding of polar interactions including their role in global climate, expand our ability to detect changes, and extend this knowledge to the public and decision makers. IPY allows NASA to integrate its activities in: Science Technology Communications Information technology Innovative aeronautics IPY is perfectly suited to NASA’s strengths: No agency (US or abroad) has more aspects of its mission that bear on IPY NASA led the world in the identification of accelerating polar changes Links between NASA technology, aeronautics, earth and space science are strongest in the polar regions IPY presents NASA with an unprecedented multifaceted opportunity.

IPY links every NASA Directorate Science –Earth –Space Exploration Systems –Planetary analogues –robotics Aeronatuics –UAVs, AUVs and suborbital assets Technology –IT, power management, sensor webs –enable broader research Education –Formal/informal education, public outreach and decision support

IPY Is Inclusive NASA+50 –NASA leads in polar discoveries, monitoring and research (e.g., ozone hole, ice-shelf disintegration, polar warming, ice-sheet collapse) eGY –Incorporates data guidelines and best practices –IPY includes conversion of “traditional knowledge” IHY –Major polar component and use of polar regions as unique vantage point 13 Federal agencies are active in IPY –NSF’s letter to Sen. McCain describes Federal IPY plans and NASA/NSF partnership

Benefits Integrates much of what NASA does –Strengthens ties –Creates new links and partnerships Leverages our investments –Cross-directorate –Interagency –Internationally Amplifies our mission accomplishments in IPY spotlight Asserts our leadership among federal agencies –NASA is the Exploration agency Addresses three Presidential directives Exploration Vision CCSP (polar feedbacks) IWGEO (first demonstration of Implementation Strategy)

Cost No additional money required!! –It’s how we allocate existing resources –Much of what we already do is IPY-ready Relabeling Repackaging Promoting Additional investment has enormous advantages –Heavy leveraging –Multiple payoffs within agency –Public support and goodwill –Federal leadership in science, exploration and aeronautics

Request 1.A pan-directorate IPY office to identify and coordinate IPY-related activities and opportunities across agency to maximize benefits to NASA –Use IPY as an intra-agency integration activity –Coordinate IPY satellite data collection with other space agencies –Coordinate with other federal agencies in funding solicitations and data management ROSES IPY solicitation supported by all Directorates 3.Take the US lead in IPY EPO coordination and host main US-IPY portal –NASA’s fuller IPY implementation will be hampered without a leadership role 4.Announce IPY as a new, low-cost “mission” –Return per investment dollar significantly higher than a satellite mission

Urgency Polar regions are changing at increasing rate –Directly affects people, economy, security Polar-global links known but poorly understood March 2007 is ~18 months away Delay is not an option

MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER

International Formulation ICSU Planning Group ( ) –framed 450+ community ideas ICSU/WMO Joint Committee (2005- ) –900+ Expressions of Intent –30 countries actively involved (plus ICSU unions and polar stakeholders) –China, UK, Argentina, and Denmark have already committed new money

National Formulation National Academy of Science convened US National Committee for IPY (2003) –Vision report (2004) US must be a leader in IPY –Implementation workshop (2004) 13 agencies attended and endorsed IPY OSTP named NSF the lead coordinating agency Supporting Congressional resolutions OSTP Committee on Science requested agency plans for IPY IPY appears in the CENR/IWGEO 2005 Strategic Plan for the U.S. Integrated Earth Observation System