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

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309458706
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 2017-07-22 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.

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

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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.

Grading NASA's Solar System Exploration Program

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309114926
Total Pages : 100 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Grading NASA's Solar System Exploration Program by : National Research Council

Download or read book Grading NASA's Solar System Exploration Program written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2008-04-25 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The NASA Authorization Act of 2005 directed the agency to ask the NRC to assess the performance of each division in the NASA Science directorate at five-year intervals. In this connection, NASA requested the NRC to review the progress the Planetary Exploration Division has made in implementing recommendations from previous, relevant NRC studies. This book provides an assessment of NASA's progress in fulfilling those recommendations including an evaluation how well it is doing and of current trends. The book covers key science questions, flight missions, Mars exploration, research and analysis, and enabling technologies. Recommendations are provided for those areas in particular need of improvement.

Supporting Research and Data Analysis in NASA's Science Programs

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309173590
Total Pages : 120 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Supporting Research and Data Analysis in NASA's Science Programs by : National Research Council

Download or read book Supporting Research and Data Analysis in NASA's Science Programs written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1998-10-16 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Effective science, clearly a mandate for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), involves asking significant questions about the physical and biological world and seeking definitive answers. Its product is new knowledge that has value to the nation. NASA's flight projects are highly visible and usually the most costly elements of this process, but they are only a part of the science enterprise. Flight projects are founded on research that defines clear scientific goals and questions, designs missions to address those questions, and develops the required technologies to accomplish the missions. This research is funded primarily by NASA's research and analysis (R&A) programs. Data from flight projects are transformed into knowledge through analysis and synthesis-research that is funded both by R&A and by the data analysis (DA) portion of mission operations and data analysis (MO&DA) programs. R&A and DA programs are the subject of this report and are grouped for convenience under the heading of research and data analysis (R&DA).

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.

Assessment of the Report of NASA's Planetary Protection Independent Review Board

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309676495
Total Pages : 89 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (96 download)

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Book Synopsis Assessment of the Report of NASA's Planetary Protection Independent Review Board by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book Assessment of the Report of NASA's Planetary Protection Independent Review Board written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2020-11-19 with total page 89 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The goal of planetary protection is to control, to the degree possible, the biological cross-contamination of planetary bodies. Guidelines developed by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) are used by all spacefaring nations to guide their preparations for encounters with solar system bodies. NASA's Science Mission Directorate has convened the Planetary Protection Independent Review Board (PPIRB) to consider updating the COSPAR guidelines given the growing interest from commercial and private groups in exploration and utilization of Mars and other bodies in space. At the request of NASA, this publication reviews the findings of the PPIRB and comments on their consistency with the recommendations of the recent National Academies report Review and Assessment of the Planetary Protection Policy Development Processes.

Space Studies Board Annual Report 2017

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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.

Review of NASA's Exploration Technology Development Program

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309178673
Total Pages : 74 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Review of NASA's Exploration Technology Development Program by : National Research Council

Download or read book Review of NASA's Exploration Technology Development Program written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2008-12-12 with total page 74 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: To meet the objectives of the Vision for Space Exploration (VSE), NASA must develop a wide array of enabling technologies. For this purpose, NASA established the Exploration Technology Development Program (ETDP). Currently, ETDP has 22 projects underway. In the report accompanying the House-passed version of the FY2007 appropriations bill, the agency was directed to request from the NRC an independent assessment of the ETDP. This interim report provides an assessment of each of the 22 projects including a quality rating, an analysis of how effectively the research is being carried out, and the degree to which the research is aligned with the VSE. To the extent possible, the identification and discussion of various cross-cutting issues are also presented. Those issues will be explored and discussed in more detail in the final report.

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.

Assessment of the NASA Applied Sciences Program

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309179335
Total Pages : 160 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Assessment of the NASA Applied Sciences Program by : National Research Council

Download or read book Assessment of the NASA Applied Sciences Program written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2007-09-27 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Remote sensing data and models from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are the basis for a wide spectrum of scientific research endeavors and are key inputs to many public and private services. The NASA Applied Sciences Program (ASP) and its precursors have been tasked with ensuring the extension of NASA Earth observation data and associated research into practical applications for society through external partnerships. With approximately five years having elapsed under the current ASP structure, and a growing government-wide emphasis on societal benefits in its Earth observing programs, NASA and the ASP leadership asked the National Research Council to assess ASP's approach in extending NASA research results to practical, societal applications. The report recommends that ASP partnerships should focus not only federal agencies but alsoon direct engagement of the broader community of users. The report also recommends that ASP enhance communication and feedback mechanisms with its partners, with the end users and beneficiaries of NASA data and research, and with the NASA organization.

Review of Goals and Plans for NASA's Space and Earth Sciences

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309181046
Total Pages : 74 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Review of Goals and Plans for NASA's Space and Earth Sciences by : National Research Council

Download or read book Review of Goals and Plans for NASA's Space and Earth Sciences written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2006-04-05 with total page 74 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Both the President's commission on how to implement the President's space exploration initiative and Congress asked the NRC undertake an assessment and review of the science proposed to be carried out under the initiative. An initial response to that request was the NRC February 2005 report, Science in NASA's Vision for Space Exploration. While that report's preparation, NASA created capabilities and strategy roadmapping efforts which became the object of the next phase of the NRC review. The new NASA administrator modified that NASA activity resulting in changes in the NRC review effort. This report provides a review of six science strategy roadmaps: robotic and human exploration of Mars; solar system exploration; universe exploration; search for earth-like planets; earth science and applications from space; and sun-earth system connection. In addition, an assessment of cross-cutting and integration issues is presented.

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.

Review of the Draft 2014 Science Mission Directorate Science Plan

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309297664
Total Pages : 95 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (92 download)

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Book Synopsis Review of the Draft 2014 Science Mission Directorate Science Plan by : Committee on the Assessment of the NASA Science Mission Directorate 2014 Science Plan

Download or read book Review of the Draft 2014 Science Mission Directorate Science Plan written by Committee on the Assessment of the NASA Science Mission Directorate 2014 Science Plan and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2013-12-16 with total page 95 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is engaged in the final stages of a comprehensive, agency-wide effort to develop a new strategic plan at a time when its budget is under considerable stress. SMD's Science Plan serves to provide more detail on its four traditional science disciplines - astronomy and astrophysics, solar and space physics (also called heliophysics), planetary science, and Earth remote sensing and related activities - than is possible in the agency-wide Strategic Plan. Review of the Draft 2014 Science Mission Directorate Science Plan comments on the responsiveness of SMD's Science Plan to the National Research Council's guidance on key science issues and opportunities in recent NRC decadal reports. This study focuses on attention to interdisciplinary aspects and overall scientific balance; identification and exposition of important opportunities for partnerships as well as education and public outreach; and integration of technology development with the science program. The report provides detailed findings and recommendations relating to the draft Science Plan.

Review and Assessment of Planetary Protection Policy Development Processes

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309478650
Total Pages : 139 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (94 download)

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Book Synopsis Review and Assessment of Planetary Protection Policy Development Processes by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book Review and Assessment of Planetary Protection Policy Development Processes written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2018-10-17 with total page 139 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Protecting Earth's environment and other solar system bodies from harmful contamination has been an important principle throughout the history of space exploration. For decades, the scientific, political, and economic conditions of space exploration converged in ways that contributed to effective development and implementation of planetary protection policies at national and international levels. However, the future of space exploration faces serious challenges to the development and implementation of planetary protection policy. The most disruptive changes are associated with (1) sample return from, and human missions to, Mars; and (2) missions to those bodies in the outer solar system possessing water oceans beneath their icy surfaces. Review and Assessment of Planetary Protection Policy Development Processes addresses the implications of changes in the complexion of solar system exploration as they apply to the process of developing planetary protection policy. Specifically, this report examines the history of planetary protection policy, assesses the current policy development process, and recommends actions to improve the policy development process in the future.

An Assessment of Balance in NASA's Science Programs

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309102219
Total Pages : 58 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis An Assessment of Balance in NASA's Science Programs by : National Research Council

Download or read book An Assessment of Balance in NASA's Science Programs written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2006-06-30 with total page 58 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When the space exploration initiative was announced, Congress asked the NRC to review the science NASA proposed to carryout under the initiative. It also asked the NRC to assess whether this program would provide balanced scientific research across the established disciplines supported by NASA in addition to supporting the new initiative. In 2005, the NRC released three studies focusing on a portion of that task, but changes at NASA forced the postponement of the last phase. This report presents that last phase with an assessment of the health of the NASA scientific disciplines under the budget requests imposed by the exploration initiative. The report also provides an analysis of whether the science budget appropriately reflects cross-disciplinary scientific priorities.

Review of NASA's Solid-Earth Science Strategy

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Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309165717
Total Pages : 56 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Review of NASA's Solid-Earth Science Strategy by : National Research Council

Download or read book Review of NASA's Solid-Earth Science Strategy written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2004-09-13 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The report reviews NASA's solid-earth science strategy, placing particular emphasis on observational strategies for measuring surface deformation, high-resolution topography, surface properties, and the variability of the earth's magnetic and gravity fields. The report found that NASA is uniquely positioned to implement these observational strategies and that a number of agency programs would benefit from the resulting data. In particular, the report strongly endorses the near-term launch of a satellite dedicated to L-band InSAR measurements of the land surface, which is a key component of the U.S. Geological Survey's hazards mitigation program and the multi-agency EarthScope program.

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.