NASA Astrophysics Performance Assessment

Project Scope

The committee will study the alignment of NASA's Astronomy and Physics Division (the Division) with previous NRC advice - primarily from reports "Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Millennium" issued in 2001 and "Connecting Quarks with the Cosmos" issued in 2003. More specifically, the committee will address the following: 1) How well NASA's current program addresses the strategies, goals, and priorities outlined in Academy reports; 2) Progress toward realizing these strategies, goals and priorities; and 3) Any actions that could be taken to optimize the science value of the program in the context of current and forecasted resources available to it. The study will not revisit or alter the scientific priorities or mission recommendations provided in the cited reports, but may provide guidance about implementing the recommended mission portfolio leading toward the next decadal survey.   A Performance Assessment of NASA's Astrophysics Program