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

2. 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?

3. 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

4. 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.

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

6. 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

7. GSMT Planning
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.
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.
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

8. LSST Planning
National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) Science Working Group formulated detailed science case.
LSST Corporation established.
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.
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)

9. The Advanced Technology Solar Telescope
The ATST
Project

10. The 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.

11. 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 2006.
Construction begins in FY2008?

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

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

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

15. NSF and AST Developments
New Deputy Director – Dr. Kathie Olsen
NSF program officer, Deputy Div Dir
NASA Chief Scientist
OSTP Deputy Director for Science
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

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

19. Astronomy Division Budget - FY2005

20. 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

21. 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

22. AST Budget FY

23. 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)

24. Observatory budgets FY1990 - 2006
Astronomy Division Budget Growth
Observatory budgets FY

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