1. Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007 Board on Physics and Astronomy NRC Astrophysics Update AAAC Feb 8-9, 2007 Brian Dewhurst BPA Staff

2. Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007 Board on Physics and Astronomy Ongoing Activities Astronomy Science Centers (ASC) Beyond Einstein Program Assessment Cmte (BEPAC) NASA Astrophysics Performance Assessment (NAPA) Scientific Uses of the Radio Spectrum (Spectrum) Next A&A Decadal Survey (Astro2010)

3. Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007 Board on Physics and Astronomy ASC A comparative review of current astronomy science centers in order to identify best practices and lessons learned and assess whether there are optimum sizes or approaches for science centers. The study is not intended to be a performance review of current centers, but it is expected to provide an assessment to serve decision-making with regard to future centers. Report to be released in 2Q 2007.

4. Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007 Board on Physics and Astronomy BEPAC See slides from yesterday for full discussion. Report to be delivered to the agencies Sept 8, 2007.

5. Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007 Board on Physics and Astronomy NAPA Ken Keller, JHU/SAIS chair Steve Battel, Battel Engineering Chuck Bennett, JHU Catherine Cesarsky, ESO Megan Donahue, Michigan State Rolf Kudritski, U. Hawaii Martha Haynes, Cornell vice- chair Steve Murray, CfA Bob Palmer Joe Taylor, Princeton Michael Turner, U. Chicago Rainer Weiss, MIT Chick Woodward, U. Minnesota Midterm “report card” for NASA Astrophysics, based on Decadal Survey and Quarks/Cosmos. Requested in 2005 NASA Authorization Act. Report released Wednesday, Feb 7th.

6. Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007 Board on Physics and Astronomy NAPA (2) Selected Findings and Recommendations: “NASA’s 2003 Astrophysics program plan responded effectively to the recommendations made in the National Research Council reports Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Millennium and Connecting Quarks with the Cosmos. In particular, the 2003 plan properly addressed the stated priorities and was well optimized across mission goals, types, and sizes. “

7. Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007 Board on Physics and Astronomy NAPA (3) “In a time of extraordinary potential for scientific discovery, the prospects have been substantially reduced for NASA’s contributing in the future to astrophysics over a diverse range of enterprises, and with the agility necessary to rapidly respond to opportunity.” “NASA’s Astrophysics Division does not have the resources to pursue the priorities, goals, and opportunities outlined in the AANM and Q2C reports.”

8. Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007 Board on Physics and Astronomy NAPA (4) “NASA should optimize the projected science return from its Astrophysics Program by (a) ensuring a diversified portfolio of large and small missions that reflect the science priorities articulated in the 2001 decadal survey Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Millennium and (b) by investing in the work required to bring science missions to their full potential: e.g., technology development, data analysis, data archiving, and theory.”

9. Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007 Board on Physics and Astronomy NAPA (5) How? –“[Reevaluate] the program’s mission balance, with the goal of restoring the Explorer line to the launch rate achieved in the early part of this decade.” –“[Identify] structural mechanisms (e.g., firewalls, cost caps, constraints on the concentration of resources in single programs) to protect small programs and mission-enabling activities such as technology development from cost growth in larger missions.”

10. Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007 Board on Physics and Astronomy Spectrum New study to identify the important scientific progress enabled by having portions of the radio spectrum set aside for scientific use –Radio astronomy and Earth remote sensing –Study is “forward-looking”

11. Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007 Board on Physics and Astronomy Astro2010 The Board on Physics and Astronomy (BPA) is taking the lead in planning for the next decadal survey of astronomy and astrophysics, in partnership with the Space Studies Board and the Committee on Astronomy and Astrophysics.

12. Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007 Board on Physics and Astronomy Astro2010 (2) Initial activities are to solicit community input. –Town Hall meeting at AAS-Seattle in January –Town Hall meeting at APS-Jacksonville in April –Astro2010@nas.eduAstro2010@nas.edu

13. Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007 Board on Physics and Astronomy Comments/Questions? bdewhurs@nas.edu 202-334-2998

14. Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007 Board on Physics and Astronomy Backup Slides

15. Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007 Board on Physics and Astronomy Town Hall Questions How to gather input from the entire community Committee/Panel Structure (science vs technique) Committee/Panel membership… role of outsiders? Cost estimates (can we do better?) How to address uncompleted recommendations from previous surveys?

16. Brian Dewhurst Feb 9, 2007 Board on Physics and Astronomy Town Hall Questions (2) International coordination? Boundaries of the field? Where are the edges? Flexibility, decision rules, etc. How will the survey be made robust? Structure of the recommendations: prioritization across categories, major v moderate, space v ground.