NSF Program Update Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee February 15, 2005

Update Topics General Information General Information FY2005 Current Plan/FY2006 Request FY2005 Current Plan/FY2006 Request Progress on previous recommendations Progress on previous recommendations Planning activities Planning activities Senior Review planning Senior Review planning Opportunities for FY2007 budget input Opportunities for FY2007 budget input

General Arden Bement confirmed as NSF Director Arden Bement confirmed as NSF Director DOE formally added to AAAC charter as of 15 March DOE formally added to AAAC charter as of 15 March  Membership rotation agreed among agencies  Rotation will occur post 15 March

FY2005 AST request level - $204.35M (increase of 4% over FY2004) “Final” AST number $195.1M (< FY $196.6M) FY2006 Request $198.64M (FY %) Planning level budgets for next ? years Closer coupling between NSF and NASA budgets in difficult years? Possible changes in appropriations structure FY2005 Budget and Outlook

Progress on Recommendations

Status of Decadal Survey Recommendations Small Initiatives: –National Virtual Observatory (NVO) - Framework development funded; discussion with NASA planning long-term support through joint solicitation; Cyber funds in ’06 and beyond? –Laboratory Astrophysics program - funded in grants program, strongly represented in FY2004 proposals and awards; substantial co- funding with chemistry and physics divisions –Theory support – MPS Theory Workshop; science opportunities, modes of support, education and training issues - ~30% of grants are for theory, no need for separate theory program in AST

GSMT Planning National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) Science Working Group has formulated a detailed science case. National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) Science Working Group has formulated a detailed science case. Consortium formed to undertake an extensive technology development and site characterization effort. Consortium formed to undertake an extensive technology development and site characterization effort. Would result in a public-private partnership with private funds supporting approximately 50% of the $70M estimated cost; proposal to NSF for the remaining 50%. Public funds would support community effort in several major groups. Would result in a public-private partnership with private funds supporting approximately 50% of the $70M estimated cost; proposal to NSF for the remaining 50%. Public funds would support community effort in several major groups. Current estimate is that this effort would take five to seven years. Proposal under review. Current estimate is that this effort would take five to seven years. Proposal under review. NSF and consortium have met to discuss timing and begin constructive dialogue NSF and consortium have met to discuss timing and begin constructive dialogue Funds in FY2005 appropriation limited; similar for FY2006; Planned growth awaits outcome of Senior Review Funds in FY2005 appropriation limited; similar for FY2006; Planned growth awaits outcome of Senior Review

LSST Planning National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) Science Working Group formulated detailed science case. National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) Science Working Group formulated detailed science case. LSST Corporation established. LSST Corporation established. Pan-STARRS underway in Hawaii with DoD funding. Pan-STARRS underway in Hawaii with DoD funding. NSF provided $1.3M in FY03 for detector development for LSST Camera; NOAO is funding telescope design at roughly $1.7M/year. NSF provided $1.3M in FY03 for detector development for LSST Camera; NOAO is funding telescope design at roughly $1.7M/year. DOE labs have expressed strong interest in participating in the project through provision of the camera. DOE labs have expressed strong interest in participating in the project through provision of the camera. NSF-NASA discussions about data handling as part of overall NVO effort. NSF-NASA discussions about data handling as part of overall NVO effort. Technology development program and possible architecture studies planned in FY2005, FY2006 (Physics of the Universe) Technology development program and possible architecture studies planned in FY2005, FY2006 (Physics of the Universe)

The ATST Project The Advanced Technology Solar Telescope

Improvements over current state of the art: Resolution – ~7X improvement Light grasp – 10X improvement (solar physics is actually photon starved in some experiments) Technical Specifications: 4-m, off-axis Gregorian (all reflective), alt-az mount. Integrated adaptive optics. Hybrid enclosure with thermal control and dust mitigation. Wavelength sensitivity from microns (near- UV through thermal infrared). Field of view: 3 arcminutes (5 arcminute goal). Angular resolution < 0.03 arcsecond. Polarization accuracy < 0.01%. ATST will be the world’s flagship facility for ground-based solar physics observation and the first large US solar telescope constructed in the past 30 years. The Telescope

Recent and Upcoming Milestones A comprehensive and very successful conceptual design review held on August 25-28, Construction proposal under review. A set of preliminary design reviews will be held in late 2004 – early 2005, culminating in a systems review by late winter of Final site selection: Haleakala with La Palma as back-up. Planning for the environmental impact study has begun. RFP will go out ASAP. Note: this is a necessary component of the design process since final design depends on the details of the site.

Marching toward MREFC ATST team had planned aggressively for an FY06 start of construction. This will not happen. Additional funding will be required to pay marching army and produce final design (note that current MREFC rules preclude funding design from MREFC). AST will fund through FY06 (FY07). The next steps:  ATST and AST craft development plan for FY05-6.  Site selection complete – contract for environmental impact study  Preliminary design reviews.  Bring to MREFC panel in March  Attempt to address critical path items – early procurement of primary mirror.  Let contracts for final design to design and engineering firms.  Complete Project Execution Plan.  Final design review in early  Construction begins in fall of 2006/2007.

Readiness – Second Rank Criteria  Impact on scientific advances in related fields considering portfolio balance? In the opinion of AST, the ATST Project is ready for consideration for promotion to “ready” status by the MREFC panel and the NSB. Second Rank Criteria endorsed by MPS Advisory Committee  Opportunities to serve the needs of researchers in multiple fields or multi- disciplinary research?  Commitments from other agencies or countries?  Potential for education and workforce development?  Readiness for further development and construction?

Planning (Activity Accelerating) O/IR roadmap team convened by NOAO well underway O/IR roadmap team convened by NOAO well underway Radio/mm/sub-mm convened by AUI underway(separate report) Radio/mm/sub-mm convened by AUI underway(separate report) CMB Roadmap (separate report) CMB Roadmap (separate report) Dark Energy Task force (separate report) Dark Energy Task force (separate report) Brinkman report response (separate report) Brinkman report response (separate report)

Near Term Intermediate Term Horizon Facilities Gemini GSMT EVLA I VLA GBT LOFAR EVLA Phase II LSST SKA OWL? LOI? CHARA ALMA CARMA VLA GBT LOFAR LSST GSMT NAIC ATST

ALMA $50.7 M Astronomy Division Budget - FY2004

Facilities - $ M National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) National Solar Observatory (NSO) Gemini Observatory National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) National Astronomy & Ionosphere Center (NAIC) University Radio Observatories =================================================================== Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) $34.4 M (excludes $4M for TSIP $3M for AODP) $14.27 M $54.98 M ( directed) $10.54 M $10.56 M _______________ $50.7 M

Astronomy Division Budget - FY2004 Astronomy Research & Instrumentation - $71.8 M Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Grants (AAG) Particle Astrophysics Education & Special Programs (ESP)  CAREER, REU, Postdoctoral fellowships Advanced Technologies & Instrumentation (ATI) Electromagnetic Spectrum Management (ESM) Science & Technology Centers (STC)  Center for Adaptive Optics (CfAO) NSF/MPS Priorities and programs  e.g. ITR, Math Sciences, Biocomplexity in the Environment

AST Budget FY

How can we afford it? Proposals and studies will sharpen cost Proposals and studies will sharpen cost Planning will provide phasing, decision points, down-selects Planning will provide phasing, decision points, down-selects Overall plan must meet fiscal reality Overall plan must meet fiscal reality How? How?

“Senior Review” Responds to: Responds to:  Decade Survey recommendation re: facilities  Calls for examination of balance in AST portfolio (Committee of Visitors, Feb) Made imperative by: Made imperative by:  Budget outlook  Ambitions of the community  AST budget growth

“Senior Review”  AST retreat  Established understanding of need and goals  Self-examination of balance  Identified issues that NSF and community must address  First time this has been undertaken by AST  AST retreat “conclusions”  IF significant progress is to be made on development of major recommendations, ~~$20M of free energy in AST budget must be identified.  Implications for program may be profound  Balance: grants program (AAG) must be held sacrosanct  Free energy will come from non-AAG portion of AST portfolio  Next Steps  AST exploring implications of all issues identified  Will frame options along with best understanding of consequences, positive and negative  Will convene community representatives (mid-2005) to advise on best option(s) (or identify others).

Opportunities for FY 2007 Budget Input in 15 March Report Support for AST planning as part of NSF Facilities Plan Support for AST planning as part of NSF Facilities Plan  ATST  Roadmap Efforts  Senior Review Funding for pre-MREFC activity Funding for pre-MREFC activity  Design and development (GSMT, LSST,…)  Theory challenges (part of D&D)  Growth of grants program keyed to upcoming facilities Need for strong core program support with funds under division control Need for strong core program support with funds under division control