Issues and Opportunities Regarding the U.S. Space Program (SSB, ASEB)

Ever since the completion of the Apollo program, there has been a lack of consensus about the future of human spaceflight. The Columbia tragedy in February 2003 rekindled public debate about this question. In November 2003, the Space Studies Board and the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board organized a workshop to explore aspects of the question, what should be the principal purpose, goals, and priorities of the U.S. civil space program? This report presents a factual summary of that workshop, which identified past lessons learned and guiding principles for the future of the civil space program. Seven broad themes emerged from the workshop, and these themes are highlighted in the report. The report also presents discussions of strategies for the human spaceflight program and guiding principles of and boundary conditions for a 21st century space policy.

Vehicle Systems Panel Report on Status of NASA’s Vehicle Systems Program—Letter Report (ASEB)

In November 2003, ASEB released a report, An Assessment of NASA’s Aeronautics Technology Programs. After the release, NASA requested the NRC to reconvene the Panel on Vehicle Systems Program, which had been established as part of the study infrastructure for the report. Specifically, NASA wanted an evaluation of the progress made by the Program in formulating and directing its activities over the past nine months (since March 2003). This letter report presents the findings of that review. In almost all cases, the recommendations contained in this letter report, amplify and reinforce those contained in the full report.

Steps to Facilitate Principal-Investigator-Led Earth Science Missions (SSB)

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.

Plasma Physics of the Local Cosmos (SSB)

Solar and space physics is the study of solar system phenomena that occur in the plasma state. Examples include sunspots, the solar wind, planetary magnetospheres, radiation belts, and the aurora. While each is a distinct phenomenon, there are commonalities among them. To help define and systematize these universal aspects of the field of space physics, the National Research Council was asked by NASA’s Office of Space Science to provide a scientific assessment and strategy for the study of magnetized plasmas in the solar system. This report presents that assessment. It covers a number of important research goals for solar and space physics. The report is complementary to the NRC report, The Sun to the Earth—and Beyond: A Decadal Research Strategy for Solar and Space Physics, which presents priorities and strategies for future program activities.

Stepping-Stones to the Future of Space Exploration: A Workshop Report (ASEB)

NASA’s Human Exploration and Development of Space (HEDS) program within the Office of Space Flight has proposed a new framework for space technology and systems development—Advanced Systems, Technology, Research, and Analysis (ASTRA) for future space flight capabilities. To assist in the development of this framework, NASA asked the National Research Council to convene a series of workshops on technology policy issues concerning the relationship of the various stakeholders in advancing human and robotic exploration and development of space. The first workshop, which is the topic of this report, focused on policy issues about the development and demonstration of space technologies. Four policy topics—selected by the project steering committee as the foci of this first workshop—are discussed in the report: the rationale for human and robotic space exploration; technology as a driver for capability transformation; risk mitigation and perception; and international cooperation and competition.

Review of USAF-Supported Astronomical Research: Letter Report (BPA)

The USAF operates a 3.67-meter optical/near-infrared telescope in Hawaii for observational purposes. It has many features that make it a desirable scientific instrument including being the largest optical telescope in the world equipped with adaptive optics. The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) has made available a portion of the telescope’s viewing time for scientific observations funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). To evaluate the effectiveness of the AFOSR/NSF program to date, the AFOSR asked the NRC to assess the quality of that scientific research, the scientific productivity of the program, and how well the research is taking advantage of the unique features of the facility. This letter report presents the results of that evaluation. The study concluded that the program should be continued, and the report presents a number of recommendations to improve the quality of that research.

Assessment of Options for Extending the Life of the Hubble Space Telescope-Interim Letter Report (SSB, ASEB)

Following the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia and subsequent to the report of the board created to investigate the accident, NASA, citing safety reasons, decided to limit shuttle flights to International Space Station missions and to investigate other options for extending Hubble’s life. Congressional concern over this decision prompted it to ask for an independent assessment. In response the chair of the investigative board called for a study of the risks and benefits of using the shuttle for the servicing mission, and NASA subsequently asked the NRC for this study. This letter report presents preliminary findings and recommendations of that study. It urges NASA to commit to the servicing mission, notes that a proposed robotic mission would be quite complex and require significant development, and states that NASA should not preclude a shuttle servicing mission at this time. A final report will be released this fall.

Utilization of Operational Environmental Satellite Data: Ensuring Readiness for 2010 and Beyond (SSB, ASEB)

The system of satellites in place to provide environmental data—data to monitor events such as forest fires and floods; to make weather predictions; and to assess crops, transportation impacts, fisheries, land-use patterns, sea temperature, and soil moisture, among other things— serves a wide and growing array of users. In the coming years as the next generation of operational environmental satellites in put in orbit, the will be a large expansion in data availability. To ensure that these data serve effectively this broad user community, a new vision for the future of operational environmental satellite data utilization is needed. To help develop approaches for handling this potential data overload, NASA, with technical support from NOAA, asked the NRC to conduct an end-to-end review of issues about the utilization of operational environmental satellite data for 2010 and beyond. This report presents the result of that review. It focuses on ensuring the value of environmental satellite data for addressing specific user needs, distribution of such data, and data access and utilization.

Review of Proposals for NASA’s Intelligent Propulsion Systems Foundation Technology (IPSFT) Program (ASEB)

NASA requested the NRC to review technical proposals received by NASA for the Intelligent Propulsion Systems Foundation Technology sub-project (IPSFT). A technical panel was used to evaluate proposed low technology readiness level (TRL) work in foundation technologies and rate them based on the adjectival ratings in the research solicitation announcement. These foundation technologies will address adaptive control applications for gas turbine engines for commercial subsonic and supersonic aircraft. This letter report presents a discussion of the NRC process for reviewing the proposals, the members of the reviewing panel, and a summary of the ratings by proposal number.