An Enabling Foundation for NASA's Earth and Space Science Missions

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309151589
Total Pages : 77 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis An Enabling Foundation for NASA's Earth and Space Science Missions by : National Research Council

Download or read book An Enabling Foundation for NASA's Earth and Space Science Missions written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2010-02-25 with total page 77 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NASA's space and Earth science program is composed of two principal components: spaceflight projects and mission-enabling activities. Most of the budget of NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is applied to spaceflight missions, but NASA identifies nearly one quarter of the SMD budget as "mission enabling." The principal mission-enabling activities, which traditionally encompass much of NASA's research and analysis (R&A) programs, include support for basic research, theory, modeling, and data analysis; suborbital payloads and flights and complementary ground-based programs; advanced technology development; and advanced mission and instrumentation concept studies. While the R&A program is essential to the development and support of NASA's diverse set of space and Earth science missions, defining and articulating an appropriate scale for mission-enabling activities have posed a challenge throughout NASA's history. This volume identifies the appropriate roles for mission-enabling activities and metrics for assessing their effectiveness. Furthermore, the book evaluates how, from a strategic perspective, decisions should be made about balance between mission-related and mission-enabling elements of the overall program as well as balance between various elements within the mission-enabling component. Collectively, these efforts will help SMD to make a good program even better.

An Enabling Foundation for NASA's Earth and Space Science Missions

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ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (758 download)

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Book Synopsis An Enabling Foundation for NASA's Earth and Space Science Missions by :

Download or read book An Enabling Foundation for NASA's Earth and Space Science Missions written by and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Powering Science

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309463831
Total Pages : 127 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (94 download)

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Book Synopsis Powering Science by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book Powering Science written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2018-01-29 with total page 127 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) currently operates over five dozen missions, with approximately two dozen additional missions in development. These missions span the scientific fields associated with SMD's four divisionsâ€"Astrophysics, Earth Science, Heliophysics, and Planetary Sciences. Because a single mission can consist of multiple spacecraft, NASA-SMD is responsible for nearly 100 operational spacecraft. The most high profile of these are the large strategic missions, often referred to as "flagships." Large strategic missions are essential to maintaining the global leadership of the United States in space exploration and in science because only the United States has the budget, technology, and trained personnel in multiple scientific fields to conduct missions that attract a range of international partners. This report examines the role of large, strategic missions within a balanced program across NASA-SMD space and Earth sciences programs. It considers the role and scientific productivity of such missions in advancing science, technology and the long-term health of the field, and provides guidance that NASA can use to help set the priority of larger missions within a properly balanced program containing a range of mission classes.

Foundations of a Healthy and Vital Research Community for NASA Science

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 9780309688857
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (888 download)

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Book Synopsis Foundations of a Healthy and Vital Research Community for NASA Science by : National Academies Of Sciences Engineeri

Download or read book Foundations of a Healthy and Vital Research Community for NASA Science written by National Academies Of Sciences Engineeri and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2023-05-23 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The U.S. space science community includes thousands of scientists across multiple disciplines that influence and are influenced by the many engineers, technicians, and support personnel that are part of the space research enterprise. Over one-third of NASA's budget is devoted to space science, and the agency currently operates over 50 space missions in the fields of astrophysics, Earth science, solar and space physics, planetary science, and the biological and physical sciences. The strength of NASA science lies with its people, both those who work directly for the agency and the thousands of researchers and professionals who are funded by NASA grants and contracts. At the request of NASA, this report examines the foundation for healthy and vital research communities. Foundations of a Healthy and Vital Research Community for NASA Science identifies the characteristics of a healthy and vital research community, defines implementable measures for assessing the health and vitality of a research community, describes the types of data that NASA should be collecting to enable future assessments of the health and vitality of the scientific work force, and recommends best practices to improve the health and vitality of NASA's research communities.

Extending Science

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309448786
Total Pages : 97 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (94 download)

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Book Synopsis Extending Science by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book Extending Science written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2017-01-29 with total page 97 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NASA operates a large number of space science missions, approximately three-quarters of which are currently in their extended operations phase. They represent not only a majority of operational space science missions, but a substantial national investment and vital national assets. They are tremendously scientifically productive, making many of the major discoveries that are reported in the media and that rewrite textbooks. Extending Science â€" NASA's Space Science Mission Extensions and the Senior Review Process evaluates the scientific benefits of missions extensions, the current process for extending missions, the current biennial requirement for senior reviews of mission extensions, the balance between starting new missions and extending operating missions, and potential innovative cost-reduction proposals for extended missions, and makes recommendations based on this review.

Assessment of Mission Size Trade-offs for NASA's Earth and Space Science Missions

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309069769
Total Pages : 103 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (9 download)

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Book Synopsis Assessment of Mission Size Trade-offs for NASA's Earth and Space Science Missions by : National Research Council

Download or read book Assessment of Mission Size Trade-offs for NASA's Earth and Space Science Missions written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2000-08-31 with total page 103 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Assessment of Mission Size Trade-offs for NASA's Earth and Space Science Missions addresses fundamental issues of mission architecture in the nation's scientific space program and responds to the FY99 Senate conference report, which requested that NASA commission a study to assess the strengths and weaknesses of small, medium, and large missions. This report evaluates the general strengths and weaknesses of small, medium, and large missions in terms of their potential scientific productivity, responsiveness to evolving opportunities, ability to take advantage of technological progress, and other factors that may be identified during the study; identifies which elements of the SSB and NASA science strategies will require medium or large missions to accomplish high-priority science objectives; and recommends general principles or criteria for evaluating the mix of mission sizes in Earth and space science programs. Assessment of Mission Size Trade-offs for NASA's Earth and Space Science Missions considers not only scientific, technological, and cost trade-offs, but also institutional and structural issues pertaining to the vigor of the research community, government-industry university partnerships, graduate student training, and the like.

Science in NASA's Vision for Space Exploration

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309165253
Total Pages : 37 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Science in NASA's Vision for Space Exploration by : National Research Council

Download or read book Science in NASA's Vision for Space Exploration written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2005-02-01 with total page 37 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In January 2004, President Bush announced a new space policy directed at human and robotic exploration of space. The National Academies released a report at the same time that independently addressed many of the issues contained in the new policy. In June, the President's Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy issued a report recommending that NASA ask the National Research Council (NRC) to reevaluate space science priorities to take advantage of the exploration vision. Congress also directed the NRC to conduct a thorough review of the science NASA is proposing to undertake within the initiative. This report provides an initial response to those requests. It presents guiding principles for selecting science missions that enhance and support the exploration program. The report also presents findings and recommendations to help guide NASA's space exploration strategic planning activity. Separate NRC reviews will be carried out of strategic roadmaps that NASA is developing to implement the policy.

Extending the Effective Lifetimes of Earth Observing Research Missions

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309182085
Total Pages : 37 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Extending the Effective Lifetimes of Earth Observing Research Missions by : National Research Council

Download or read book Extending the Effective Lifetimes of Earth Observing Research Missions written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2005-11-18 with total page 37 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: While NASA Earth Science missions are planned on the basis of a specified lifetime, often they are able to function beyond the end of that period. Until recently NASA had no formal mechanism for determining whether those missions should be extended or whether the resources necessary for the extension should be applied to new missions. In August 2004, when NASA merged Earth and space sciences, the agency began using the Science Review process to make those extension determinations. NASA had asked the NRC to assess extension review processes, and after the merger, this study focused on the Science Review process. This report presents an assessment of that process and provides recommendations for adapting it to Earth Science missions.

Launching Science

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309178118
Total Pages : 157 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Launching Science by : National Research Council

Download or read book Launching Science written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2009-02-12 with total page 157 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In January 2004 NASA was given a new policy direction known as the Vision for Space Exploration. That plan, now renamed the United States Space Exploration Policy, called for sending human and robotic missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. In 2005 NASA outlined how to conduct the first steps in implementing this policy and began the development of a new human-carrying spacecraft known as Orion, the lunar lander known as Altair, and the launch vehicles Ares I and Ares V. Collectively, these are called the Constellation System. In November 2007 NASA asked the National Research Council (NRC) to evaluate the potential for new science opportunities enabled by the Constellation System of rockets and spacecraft. The NRC committee evaluated a total of 17 mission concepts for future space science missions. Of those, the committee determined that 12 would benefit from the Constellation System and five would not. This book presents the committee's findings and recommendations, including cost estimates, a review of the technical feasibility of each mission, and identification of the missions most deserving of future study.

Principal-Investigator-Led Missions in the Space Sciences

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309100704
Total Pages : 132 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Principal-Investigator-Led Missions in the Space Sciences by : National Research Council

Download or read book Principal-Investigator-Led Missions in the Space Sciences written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2006-04-22 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Principal Investigator-Led (PI-led) missions are an important element of NASA's space science enterprise. While several NRC studies have considered aspects of PI-led missions in the course of other studies for NASA, issues facing the PI-led missions in general have not been subject to much analysis in those studies. Nevertheless, these issues are raising increasingly important questions for NASA, and it requested the NRC to explore them as they currently affect PI-led missions. Among the issues NASA asked to have examined were those concerning cost and scheduling, the selection process, relationships among PI-led team members, and opportunities for knowledge transfer to new PIs. This report provides a discussion of the evolution and current status of the PIled mission concept, the ways in which certain practices have affected its performance, and the steps that can carry it successfully into the future. The study was done in collaboration with the National Academy of Public Administration.

Steps to Facilitate Principal-Investigator-Led Earth Science Missions

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309091853
Total Pages : 94 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (9 download)

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Book Synopsis Steps to Facilitate Principal-Investigator-Led Earth Science Missions by : National Research Council

Download or read book Steps to Facilitate Principal-Investigator-Led Earth Science Missions written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2004-05-21 with total page 94 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Principal-investigator (PI) Earth science missions are small, focused science projects involving relatively small spacecraft. The selected PI is responsible for the scientific and programmatic success of the entire project. A particular objective of PI-led missions has been to help develop university-based research capacity. Such missions, however, pose significant challenges that are beyond the capabilities of most universities to manage. To help NASA's Office of Earth Science determine how best to address these, the NRC carried out an assessment of key issues relevant to the success of university-based PI-led Earth observation missions. This report presents the result of that study. In particular, the report provides an analysis of opportunities to enhance such missions and recommendations about whether and, if so, how they should be used to build university-based research capabilities.

Controlling Cost Growth of NASA Earth and Space Science Missions

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309157374
Total Pages : 76 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Controlling Cost Growth of NASA Earth and Space Science Missions by : National Research Council

Download or read book Controlling Cost Growth of NASA Earth and Space Science Missions written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2010-10-21 with total page 76 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cost and schedule growth is a problem experienced by many types of projects in many fields of endeavor. Based on prior studies of cost growth in NASA and Department of Defense projects, this book identifies specific causes of cost growth associated with NASA Earth and space science missions and provides guidance on how NASA can overcome these specific problems. The recommendations in this book focus on changes in NASA policies that would directly reduce or eliminate the cost growth of Earth and space science missions. Large cost growth is a concern for Earth and space science missions, and it can be a concern for other missions as well. If the cost growth is large enough, it can create liquidity problems for NASA's Science Mission Directorate that in turn cause cost profile changes and development delays that amplify the overall cost growth for other concurrent and/or pending missions. Addressing cost growth through the allocation of artificially high reserves is an inefficient use of resources because it unnecessarily diminishes the portfolio of planned flights. The most efficient use of resources is to establish realistic budgets and reserves and effective management processes that maximize the likelihood that mission costs will not exceed reserves. NASA is already taking action to reduce cost growth; additional steps, as recommended herein, will help improve NASA's mission planning process and achieve the goal of ensuring frequent mission opportunities for NASA Earth and space science.

Earth Science and Applications from Space

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309181631
Total Pages : 58 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Earth Science and Applications from Space by : National Research Council

Download or read book Earth Science and Applications from Space written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2005-09-07 with total page 58 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Earth is a dynamic planet whose changes and variations affect our communications, energy, health, food, housing, and transportation infrastructure. Understanding these changes requires a range of observations acquired from a variety of land-, sea-, air-, and space-based platforms. To assist NASA, NOAA, and the USGS develop these tools, the NRC was asked by these agencies to carry out a decadal strategy survey of Earth science and applications from space. In particular, the study is to develop the key scientific questions on which to focus Earth and environmental observations in the period 2005-2015, and a prioritized list of space programs, missions, and supporting activities to address these questions. This interim report outlines a key element of the studyâ€"the rationale for tying Earth observations to societal needâ€"and identifies urgent near-term actions needed to achieve this goal. A final report, due in late 2006, will provide the list of recommended space missions, programs, and supporting.

Review of the Restructured Research and Analysis Programs of NASA's Planetary Science Division

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309458730
Total Pages : 75 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (94 download)

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Book Synopsis Review of the Restructured Research and Analysis Programs of NASA's Planetary Science Division by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book Review of the Restructured Research and Analysis Programs of NASA's Planetary Science Division written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2017-06-22 with total page 75 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Research and Analysis (R&A) program managed by NASA's Planetary Science Division (PSD), supports a broad range of planetary science activities, including the analysis of data from past and current spacecraft; laboratory research; theoretical, modeling, and computational studies; geological and astrobiological fieldwork in planetary analog environments on Earth; geological mapping of planetary bodies; analysis of data from Earth- and space-based telescopes; and development of flight instruments and technology needed for future planetary science missions. The primary role of the PSD R&A program is to address NASA's strategic objective for planetary science and PSD's science goals. Recently, PSD reorganized the R&A program to provide better alignment with the strategic goals for planetary sciences. The major changes in the R&A program involved consolidating a number of prior program elements, many of which were organized by subdiscipline, into a smaller number of thematic core research program elements. Despite numerous efforts by PSD to communicate the rationale for the reorganization and articulate clearly the new processes, there has been significant resistance from the planetary science community and concerns in some sectors regarding the major realignment of funding priorities. Review of NASA's Planetary Science Division's Restructured Research and Analysis Programs examines the new R&A program and determines if it appropriately aligns with the agency's strategic goals, supports existing flight programs, and enables future missions. This report explores whether any specific research areas or subdisciplinary groups that are critical to NASA's strategic objectives for planetary science and PSD's science goals are not supported appropriately in the current program or have been inadvertently disenfranchised through the reorganization.

Earth Science and Applications from Space

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309257026
Total Pages : 124 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (92 download)

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Book Synopsis Earth Science and Applications from Space by : National Research Council

Download or read book Earth Science and Applications from Space written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2012-09-03 with total page 124 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Understanding the effects of natural and human-induced changes on the global environment and their implications requires a foundation of integrated observations of land, sea, air and space, on which to build credible information products, forecast models, and other tools for making informed decisions. The 2007 National Research Council report on decadal survey called for a renewal of the national commitment to a program of Earth observations in which attention to securing practical benefits for humankind plays an equal role with the quest to acquire new knowledge about the Earth system. NASA responded favorably and aggressively to this survey, embracing its overall recommendations for Earth observations, missions, technology investments, and priorities for the underlying science. As a result, the science and applications communities have made significant progress over the past 5 years. However, the Committee on Assessment of NASA's Earth Science Program found that the survey vision is being realized at a far slower pace than was recommended, principally because the required budget was not achieved. Exacerbating the budget shortfalls, NASA Earth science programs experienced launch failures and delays and the cost of implementing missions increased substantially as a result of changes in mission scope, increases in launch vehicle costs and/or the lack of availability of a medium-class launch vehicle, under-estimation of costs by the decadal survey, and unfunded programmatic changes that were required by Congress and the Office of Management and Budget. In addition, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has made significant reductions in scope to its future Earth environmental observing satellites as it contends with budget shortfalls. Earth Science and Applications from Space: A Midterm Assessment of NASA's Implementation of the Decadal Survey recommends a number of steps to better manage existing programs and to implement future programs that will be recommended by the next decadal survey. The report also highlights the urgent need for the Executive Branch to develop and implement an overarching multiagency national strategy for Earth observations from space, a key recommendation of the 2007 decadal survey that remains unfulfilled.

Space Studies Board Annual Report 2009

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309154650
Total Pages : 111 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Space Studies Board Annual Report 2009 by : National Research Council

Download or read book Space Studies Board Annual Report 2009 written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2010-01-01 with total page 111 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Space Studies Board (SSB) was established in 1958 to serve as the focus of the interests and responsibilities in space research for the National Academies. The SSB provides an independent, authoritative forum for information and advice on all aspects of space science and applications, and it serves as the focal point within the National Academies for activities on space research. It oversees advisory studies and program assessments, facilitates international research coordination, and promotes communications on space science and science policy between the research community, the federal government, and the interested public. The SSB also serves as the U.S. National Committee for the International Council for Science Committee on Space Research (COSPAR). The present volume reviews the organization, activities, and reports of the SSB for the year 2009.

NASA Earth Science

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 232 pages
Book Rating : 4.F/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis NASA Earth Science by : United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science

Download or read book NASA Earth Science written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: