NSF Program Update Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee Oct 11, 2005

Status of Decadal Survey Recommendations Small Initiatives: –National Virtual Observatory (NVO) - Framework development funded; discussion with NASA planning long-term support through joint solicitation, currently in legal review; Cyber funds in ’06 and beyond?

Status of Decadal Survey Recommendations Update Moderate Initiatives: –Advanced Technology Solar Telescope (ATST) Advanced to “Readiness” at last NSB meeting –VERITAS - Awaiting outcome of NEPA and NHPA processes Construction re-start ~December at earliest

Status of Decadal Survey Recommendations Major Initiatives: –Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) – update tomorrow – Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope (GSMT) – joint technology development program proposal funding in process – Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) - $14M development award in place.

Status of Quarks to Cosmos recommendations Update – CMB Research Task Force – Final report today – Interagency initiative on Physics of the Universe

Physics of the Universe Interagency Plan Update Highest priority, ready – LSST – CMB Research Task Force – Final report this afternoon – Dark Energy Task Force formed under AAAC and HEPAP Status report tomorrow

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 funding has begun. Current estimate is that this effort would take five to seven years. Proposal funding has begun. NSF has met with consortium and with individual Boards to discuss timing and are continuing a constructive dialogue NSF has met with consortium and with individual Boards to discuss timing and are continuing a 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. No operations money at all and insufficient resources for software. Pan-STARRS underway in Hawaii with DoD funding. No operations money at all and insufficient resources for software. NSF provided $1.3M in FY03 for detector development for LSST Camera; NOAO has been funding telescope design at roughly $1.7M/year. NSF provided $1.3M in FY03 for detector development for LSST Camera; NOAO has been 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 science budget a problem? DOE labs have expressed strong interest in participating in the project through provision of the camera. DOE science budget a problem? Technology development program ($14M) underway in FY2005, FY2006 (Physics of the Universe) Technology development program ($14M) underway 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

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 FY06-7.  Site selection complete – environmental impact study underway.  Brought to MREFC panel in March 2005; advanced to readiness 9/05  In-depth cost review endorsed costing models completed  Attempt to address critical path items – early procurement of primary mirror possible through AFOSR partnership  Let contracts for final design to design and engineering firms.  Complete Project Execution Plan.  Final design review in early  Construction begins in FY2008?

Planning (Activity Accelerating) O/IR roadmap team convened by NOAO has posted report O/IR roadmap team convened by NOAO has posted report Radio/mm/sub-mm convened by AUI has posted report Radio/mm/sub-mm convened by AUI has posted report CMB Roadmap – this meeting CMB Roadmap – this meeting Dark Energy Task Force – end of 2005 Dark Energy Task Force – end of 2005

Building a Sustainable Program Promises to be transformational Promises to be transformational Built on underpinnings of community involvement in planning, advice, advocacy and “formal” agency recognition of those structures Built on underpinnings of community involvement in planning, advice, advocacy and “formal” agency recognition of those structures Realistic (ambitious is OK, but….) Realistic (ambitious is OK, but….) Supportable by the astronomical community Supportable by the astronomical community Supported by the astronomical community (over the long haul – now 15 years) Supported by the astronomical community (over the long haul – now 15 years) Appeals to broader scientific community Appeals to broader scientific community “Understands” and meshes with agency processes (helping to shape them if possible) “Understands” and meshes with agency processes (helping to shape them if possible)

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

NSF and AST Developments New Deputy Director – Dr. Kathie Olsen New Deputy Director – Dr. Kathie Olsen  NSF program officer, Deputy Div Dir  NASA Chief Scientist  OSTP Deputy Director for Science New Positions in AST New Positions in AST  Two facilities/large projects managers  Additional grants program rotator  Additional program officer for ESM (upgrade)  Upgraded administrative position – finance and project support

Operating budgets and grant increments to realize the Decadal Survey recommendations ___________________________________________

Astronomy Division Budget - FY2005

Facilities - $119.1 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 $24.1 M $10.6 M (excludes TSIP, AODP) $15.5 M $47.0 M $10.5 M $11.3 M

Astronomy Division Budget - FY2005 Astronomy Research & Instrumentation - $75.4 M Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Grants (AAG) Particle Astrophysics Education & Special Programs (ESP)  CAREER, REU, Postdoctoral fellowships Advanced Technologies & Instrumentation (ATI)  Technology Development & Design for future facilities Electromagnetic Spectrum Management (ESM) Science & Technology Centers (STC)  Center for Adaptive Optics (CfAO) NSF/MPS Priorities and programs  e.g. Cyberinfrastructure, Math Sciences

AST Budget FY

Astronomy Division Budget Growth Annual budget has grown by 60% since 2000 ($73 M) But with $52M in directed appropriations in FY $32M to NRAO - $4M to NAIC - $4M to NOAO - $5M to ‘grants’ - $7M to instrumentation Unable to plan for the increase and limited discretion over its use. Growth has stopped (FY2005 budget down by $2M from FY2004)

Astronomy Division Budget Growth Observatory budgets 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?