Progress Toward Implementation Of The 2013 Decadal Survey For Solar And Space Physics

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Progress Toward Implementation of the 2013 Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics

Author : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309671272
Total Pages : 191 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (96 download)

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Book Synopsis Progress Toward Implementation of the 2013 Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book Progress Toward Implementation of the 2013 Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2020-07-29 with total page 191 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The 2013 report Solar and Space Physics; A Science for a Technological Society outlined a program of basic and applied research for the period 2013-2022. This publication describes the most significant scientific discoveries, technical advances, and relevant programmatic changes in solar and space physics since the publication of that decadal survey. Progress Toward Implementation of the 2013 Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics assesses the degree to which the programs of the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration address the strategies, goals, and priorities outlined in the 2013 decadal survey, and the progress that has been made in meeting those goals. This report additionally considers steps to enhance career opportunities in solar and space physics and recommends actions that should be undertaken to prepare for the next decadal survey.

Report Series: Committee on Solar and Space Physics

Author : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309460360
Total Pages : 19 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (94 download)

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Book Synopsis Report Series: Committee on Solar and Space Physics by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book Report Series: Committee on Solar and Space Physics written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2017-06-08 with total page 19 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The newly constituted Committee on Solar and Space Physics (CSSP) has been tasked with monitoring the progress of recommendations from the 2013 decadal survey Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society. The committee held its first meeting as part of Space Science Week in Washington, D.C., on March 28-30, 2017. In advance of the meeting, and in response to discussions with the leadership of the Heliophysics Division of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Geospace Section of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Science, the committee identified the decadal survey's recommendation to create NASA-NSF heliophysics science centers (HSCs) as a timely topic for discussion. This report provides a set of options for NASA and NSF to consider for the creation of HSCs, including how to make the HSCs unique from other research elements and strategies for implementation.

Solar and Space Physics

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309313953
Total Pages : 37 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (93 download)

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Book Synopsis Solar and Space Physics by : National Research Council

Download or read book Solar and Space Physics written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2014-09-25 with total page 37 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 2010, NASA and the National Science Foundation asked the National Research Council to assemble a committee of experts to develop an integrated national strategy that would guide agency investments in solar and space physics for the years 2013-2022. That strategy, the result of nearly 2 years of effort by the survey committee, which worked with more than 100 scientists and engineers on eight supporting study panels, is presented in the 2013 publication, Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society. This booklet, designed to be accessible to a broader audience of policymakers and the interested public, summarizes the content of that report.

A Performance Assessment of NASA's Heliophysics Program

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309136563
Total Pages : 78 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis A Performance Assessment of NASA's Heliophysics Program by : National Research Council

Download or read book A Performance Assessment of NASA's Heliophysics Program written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2009-04-24 with total page 78 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since the 1990s, the pace of discovery in the field of solar and space physics has accelerated, largely owing to NASA investments in its Heliophysics Great Observatory fleet of spacecraft. These enable researchers to investigate connections between events on the Sun and in the space environment by combining multiple points of view. Recognizing the importance of observations of the Sun-to-Earth system, the National Research Council produced a solar and space physics decadal survey in 2003, laying out the Integrated Research Strategy. This strategy provided a prioritized list of flight missions, plus theory and modeling programs, that would advance the relevant physical theories, incorporate those theories in models that describe a system of interactions between the Sun and the space environment, obtain data on the system, and analyze and test the adequacy of the theories and models. Five years later, this book measures NASA's progress toward the goals and priorities laid out in the 2003 study. Unfortunately, very little of the recommended priorities will be realized before 2013. Mission cost growth, reordering of survey mission priorities, and unrealized budget assumptions have delayed nearly all of the recommended NASA spacecraft missions. The resulting loss of synergistic capabilities in space will constitute a serious impediment to future progress.

Report Series: Committee on Solar and Space Physics

Author : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309674557
Total Pages : 43 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (96 download)

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Book Synopsis Report Series: Committee on Solar and Space Physics by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Visions into Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022

Author : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309479339
Total Pages : 155 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (94 download)

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Book Synopsis Visions into Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022 by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book Visions into Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022 written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2018-12-30 with total page 155 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In spring 2011 the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine produced a report outlining the next decade in planetary sciences. That report, titled Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022, and popularly referred to as the "decadal survey," has provided high-level prioritization and guidance for NASA's Planetary Science Division. Other considerations, such as budget realities, congressional language in authorization and appropriations bills, administration requirements, and cross-division and cross-directorate requirements (notably in retiring risk or providing needed information for the human program) are also necessary inputs to how NASA develops its planetary science program. In 2016 NASA asked the National Academies to undertake a study assessing NASA's progress at meeting the objectives of the decadal survey. After the study was underway, Congress passed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017 which called for NASA to engage the National Academies in a review of NASA's Mars Exploration Program. NASA and the Academies agreed to incorporate that review into the midterm study. That study has produced this report, which serves as a midterm assessment and provides guidance on achieving the goals in the remaining years covered by the decadal survey as well as preparing for the next decadal survey, currently scheduled to begin in 2020.

Space Radiation Hazards and the Vision for Space Exploration

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 030918066X
Total Pages : 104 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Space Radiation Hazards and the Vision for Space Exploration by : National Research Council

Download or read book Space Radiation Hazards and the Vision for Space Exploration written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2006-10-10 with total page 104 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fulfilling the President's Vision for Space Exploration (VSE) will require overcoming many challenges. Among these are the hazards of space radiation to crews traveling to the Moon and Mars. To explore these challenges in some depth and to examine ways to marshal research efforts to address them, NASA, NSF, and the NRC sponsored a workshop bringing together members of the space and planetary science, radiation physics, operations, and exploration engineering communities. The goals of the workshop were to increase understanding of the solar and space physics in the environment of Earth, the Moon, and Mars; to identify compelling relevant research goals; and discuss directions this research should take over the coming decade. This workshop report presents a discussion of radiation risks for the VSE, an assessment of specifying and predicting the space radiation environment, an analysis of operational strategies for space weather support, and a summary and conclusions of the workshop.

Planning the Future Space Weather Operations and Research Infrastructure: Proceedings of the Phase II Workshop

Author : National Academies Of Sciences Engineeri
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 9780309693660
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (936 download)

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Book Synopsis Planning the Future Space Weather Operations and Research Infrastructure: Proceedings of the Phase II Workshop by : National Academies Of Sciences Engineeri

Download or read book Planning the Future Space Weather Operations and Research Infrastructure: Proceedings of the Phase II Workshop written by National Academies Of Sciences Engineeri and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2023-06-14 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Affecting technological systems at a global-scale, space weather can disrupt high-frequency radio signals, satellite-based communications, navigational satellite positioning and timing signals, spacecraft operations, and electric power delivery with cascading socioeconomic effects resulting from these disruptions. Space weather can also present an increased health risk for astronauts, as well as aviation flight crews and passengers on transpolar flights. In 2019, the National Academies was approached by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Science Foundation to organize a workshop that would examine the operational and research infrastructure that supports the space weather enterprise, including an analysis of existing and potential future measurement gaps and opportunities for future enhancements. This request was subsequently modified to include two workshops, the first (Phase I) of which occurred in two parts on June 16-17 and September 9-11, 2020. The Phase II workshop occurred on April 11-14, 2022, with sessions on agency updates, research needs, data science, observational and modeling needs, and emerging architectures relevant to the space weather research community and with ties to operational needs. This publication summarizes the presentation and discussion of that workshop.

Severe Space Weather Events

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309141532
Total Pages : 144 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Severe Space Weather Events by : National Research Council

Download or read book Severe Space Weather Events written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2008-12-17 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The adverse effects of extreme space weather on modern technology-power grid outages, high-frequency communication blackouts, spacecraft anomalies-are well known and well documented, and the physical processes underlying space weather are also generally well understood. Less well documented and understood, however, are the potential economic and societal impacts of the disruption of critical technological systems by severe space weather. As a first step toward determining the socioeconomic impacts of extreme space weather events and addressing the questions of space weather risk assessment and management, a public workshop was held in May 2008. The workshop brought together representatives of industry, the government, and academia to consider both direct and collateral effects of severe space weather events, the current state of the space weather services infrastructure in the United States, the needs of users of space weather data and services, and the ramifications of future technological developments for contemporary society's vulnerability to space weather. The workshop concluded with a discussion of un- or underexplored topics that would yield the greatest benefits in space weather risk management.

Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309224640
Total Pages : 399 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (92 download)

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Book Synopsis Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022 by : National Research Council

Download or read book Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022 written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2012-01-30 with total page 399 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In recent years, planetary science has seen a tremendous growth in new knowledge. Deposits of water ice exist at the Moon's poles. Discoveries on the surface of Mars point to an early warm wet climate, and perhaps conditions under which life could have emerged. Liquid methane rain falls on Saturn's moon Titan, creating rivers, lakes, and geologic landscapes with uncanny resemblances to Earth's. Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022 surveys the current state of knowledge of the solar system and recommends a suite of planetary science flagship missions for the decade 2013-2022 that could provide a steady stream of important new discoveries about the solar system. Research priorities defined in the report were selected through a rigorous review that included input from five expert panels. NASA's highest priority large mission should be the Mars Astrobiology Explorer Cacher (MAX-C), a mission to Mars that could help determine whether the planet ever supported life and could also help answer questions about its geologic and climatic history. Other projects should include a mission to Jupiter's icy moon Europa and its subsurface ocean, and the Uranus Orbiter and Probe mission to investigate that planet's interior structure, atmosphere, and composition. For medium-size missions, Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022 recommends that NASA select two new missions to be included in its New Frontiers program, which explores the solar system with frequent, mid-size spacecraft missions. If NASA cannot stay within budget for any of these proposed flagship projects, it should focus on smaller, less expensive missions first. Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022 suggests that the National Science Foundation expand its funding for existing laboratories and establish new facilities as needed. It also recommends that the program enlist the participation of international partners. This report is a vital resource for government agencies supporting space science, the planetary science community, and the public.

Open Source Software Policy Options for NASA Earth and Space Sciences

Author : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309482712
Total Pages : 109 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (94 download)

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Book Synopsis Open Source Software Policy Options for NASA Earth and Space Sciences by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book Open Source Software Policy Options for NASA Earth and Space Sciences written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2019-01-27 with total page 109 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Modern science is ever more driven by computations and simulations. In particular, the state of the art in space and Earth science often arises from complex simulations of climate, space weather, and astronomical phenomena. At the same time, scientific work requires data processing, presentation, and analysis through broadly available proprietary and community software.1 Implicitly or explicitly, software is central to science. Scientific discovery, understanding, validation, and interpretation are all enhanced by access to the source code of the software used by scientists. This report investigates and recommends options for NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) as it considers how to establish a policy regarding open source software to complement its existing policy on open data. In particular, the report reviews existing data and software policies and the lessons learned from the implementation of those policies, summarizes community perspectives, and presents policy options and recommendations for implementing an open source software policy for NASA SMD.

Achieving Science with CubeSats

Author : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 030944263X
Total Pages : 131 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (94 download)

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Book Synopsis Achieving Science with CubeSats by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book Achieving Science with CubeSats written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2016-11-06 with total page 131 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Space-based observations have transformed our understanding of Earth, its environment, the solar system and the universe at large. During past decades, driven by increasingly advanced science questions, space observatories have become more sophisticated and more complex, with costs often growing to billions of dollars. Although these kinds of ever-more-sophisticated missions will continue into the future, small satellites, ranging in mass between 500 kg to 0.1 kg, are gaining momentum as an additional means to address targeted science questions in a rapid, and possibly more affordable, manner. Within the category of small satellites, CubeSats have emerged as a space-platform defined in terms of (10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm)- sized cubic units of approximately 1.3 kg each called "U's." Historically, CubeSats were developed as training projects to expose students to the challenges of real-world engineering practices and system design. Yet, their use has rapidly spread within academia, industry, and government agencies both nationally and internationally. In particular, CubeSats have caught the attention of parts of the U.S. space science community, which sees this platform, despite its inherent constraints, as a way to affordably access space and perform unique measurements of scientific value. The first science results from such CubeSats have only recently become available; however, questions remain regarding the scientific potential and technological promise of CubeSats in the future. Achieving Science with CubeSats reviews the current state of the scientific potential and technological promise of CubeSats. This report focuses on the platform's promise to obtain high- priority science data, as defined in recent decadal surveys in astronomy and astrophysics, Earth science and applications from space, planetary science, and solar and space physics (heliophysics); the science priorities identified in the 2014 NASA Science Plan; and the potential for CubeSats to advance biology and microgravity research. It provides a list of sample science goals for CubeSats, many of which address targeted science, often in coordination with other spacecraft, or use "sacrificial," or high-risk, orbits that lead to the demise of the satellite after critical data have been collected. Other goals relate to the use of CubeSats as constellations or swarms deploying tens to hundreds of CubeSats that function as one distributed array of measurements.

Solar and Space Physics and Its Role in Space Exploration

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309165644
Total Pages : 72 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Solar and Space Physics and Its Role in Space Exploration by : National Research Council

Download or read book Solar and Space Physics and Its Role in Space Exploration written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2004-10-11 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In February 2004, the President announced a new goal for NASA; to use humans and robots together to explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond. In response to this initiative, NASA has adopted new exploration goals that depend, in part, on solar physics research. These actions raised questions about how the research agenda recommended by the NRC in its 2002 report, The Sun to the Earth and Beyond, which did not reflect the new exploration goals, would be affected. As a result, NASA requested the NRC to review the role solar and space physics should play in support of the new goals. This report presents the results of that review. It considers solar and space physics both as aspects of scientific exploration and in support of enabling future exploration of the solar system. The report provides a series of recommendations about NASA's Sun-Earth Connections program to enable it to meet both of those goals.

Thriving on Our Changing Planet: A Decadal Strategy for Earth Observation from Space

Author : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309492432
Total Pages : 29 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (94 download)

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Book Synopsis Thriving on Our Changing Planet: A Decadal Strategy for Earth Observation from Space by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book Thriving on Our Changing Planet: A Decadal Strategy for Earth Observation from Space written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2019-06-18 with total page 29 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: We live on a dynamic Earth shaped by both natural processes and the impacts of humans on their environment. It is in our collective interest to observe and understand our planet, and to predict future behavior to the extent possible, in order to effectively manage resources, successfully respond to threats from natural and human-induced environmental change, and capitalize on the opportunities â€" social, economic, security, and more â€" that such knowledge can bring. By continuously monitoring and exploring Earth, developing a deep understanding of its evolving behavior, and characterizing the processes that shape and reshape the environment in which we live, we not only advance knowledge and basic discovery about our planet, but we further develop the foundation upon which benefits to society are built. Thriving on Our Changing Planet: A Decadal Strategy for Earth Observation from Space (National Academies Press, 2018) provides detailed guidance on how relevant federal agencies can ensure that the United States receives the maximum benefit from its investments in Earth observations from space, while operating within realistic cost constraints. This short booklet, designed to be accessible to the general public, provides a summary of the key ideas and recommendations from the full decadal survey report.

Space Studies Board Annual Report 2017

Author : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 030947762X
Total Pages : 129 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (94 download)

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Book Synopsis Space Studies Board Annual Report 2017 by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book Space Studies Board Annual Report 2017 written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2018-12-19 with total page 129 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The original charter of the Space Science Board was established in June 1958, three months before the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) opened its doors. The Space Science Board and its successor, the Space Studies Board (SSB), have provided expert external and independent scientific and programmatic advice to NASA on a continuous basis from NASA's inception until the present. The SSB has also provided such advice to other executive branch agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Department of Defense, as well as to Congress. Space Studies Board Annual Report 2017 covers a message from the chair of the SSB, David N. Spergel. This report also explains the origins of the Space Science Board, how the Space Studies Board functions today, the SSB's collaboration with other National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine units, assures the quality of the SSB reports, acknowledges the audience and sponsors, and expresses the necessity to enhance the outreach and improve dissemination of SSB reports. This report will be relevant to a full range of government audiences in civilian space research - including NASA, NSF, NOAA, USGS, and the Department of Energy, as well members of the SSB, policy makers, and researchers.

Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s

Author : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9780309467346
Total Pages : 615 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (673 download)

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Book Synopsis Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by . This book was released on 2022-08-04 with total page 615 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The steering committee was specifically asked to (1) provide an overview of the current state of astronomy and astrophysics science, and technology research in support of that science, with connections to other scientific areas where appropriate; (2) identify the most compelling science challenges and frontiers in astronomy and astrophysics, which shall motivate the committee’s strategy for the future; (3) develop a comprehensive research strategy to advance the frontiers of astronomy and astrophysics for the period 2022-2032 that will include identifying, recommending, and ranking the highest-priority research activities; (4) utilize and recommend decision rules, where appropriate, that can accommodate significant but reasonable deviations in the projected budget or changes in urgency precipitated by new discoveries or unanticipated competitive activities; (5) assess the state of the profession, including workforce and demographic issues in the field, identify areas of concern and importance to the community, and where possible, provide specific, actionable, and practical recommendations to the agencies and community to address these areas. This report proposes a broad, integrated plan for space- and ground-based astronomy and astrophysics for the decade 2023-2032. It also lays the foundations for further advances in the following decade.

New Worlds, New Horizons in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309157994
Total Pages : 324 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis New Worlds, New Horizons in Astronomy and Astrophysics by : National Research Council

Download or read book New Worlds, New Horizons in Astronomy and Astrophysics written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2011-02-04 with total page 324 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Driven by discoveries, and enabled by leaps in technology and imagination, our understanding of the universe has changed dramatically during the course of the last few decades. The fields of astronomy and astrophysics are making new connections to physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science. Based on a broad and comprehensive survey of scientific opportunities, infrastructure, and organization in a national and international context, New Worlds, New Horizons in Astronomy and Astrophysics outlines a plan for ground- and space- based astronomy and astrophysics for the decade of the 2010's. Realizing these scientific opportunities is contingent upon maintaining and strengthening the foundations of the research enterprise including technological development, theory, computation and data handling, laboratory experiments, and human resources. New Worlds, New Horizons in Astronomy and Astrophysics proposes enhancing innovative but moderate-cost programs in space and on the ground that will enable the community to respond rapidly and flexibly to new scientific discoveries. The book recommends beginning construction on survey telescopes in space and on the ground to investigate the nature of dark energy, as well as the next generation of large ground-based giant optical telescopes and a new class of space-based gravitational observatory to observe the merging of distant black holes and precisely test theories of gravity. New Worlds, New Horizons in Astronomy and Astrophysics recommends a balanced and executable program that will support research surrounding the most profound questions about the cosmos. The discoveries ahead will facilitate the search for habitable planets, shed light on dark energy and dark matter, and aid our understanding of the history of the universe and how the earliest stars and galaxies formed. The book is a useful resource for agencies supporting the field of astronomy and astrophysics, the Congressional committees with jurisdiction over those agencies, the scientific community, and the public.