Studies in ProgressCommittee for the Review of NASA’s Aviation Safety Related Programs The National Research Council’s Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board, in conjunction with the Transportation Research Board, will establish an ad hoc study committee to conduct an independent review of NASA’s aviation safety-related research programs. The review shall assess whether the programs have well-defined, prioritized, and appropriate research objectives; The programs are properly coordinated with the safety research programs of the Federal Aviation Administration and other relevant federal agencies; The programs have allocated appropriate resources to each of the research objectives; and suitable mechanisms exist for transitioning the research results from the programs into operational technologies and procedures and certification activities in a timely manner. Decadal Survey on Biological and Physical Sciences in Space The National Research Council Space Studies Board, in cooperation with the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board will organize a decadal survey to establish priorities and provide recommendations for life and physical sciences research in microgravity and partial gravity for the 2010-2020 decade. The committee will develop criteria for the prioritization. The decadal survey will define research areas, recommend a research portfolio and a timeline for conducting that research, identify facility and platform requirements as appropriate, provide rationales for suggested program elements, define dependencies between research objectives, identify terrestrial benefits, and specify whether the research product directly enables exploration or produces fundamental new knowledge. These areas will be categorized as either those that are required to enable exploration missions or those that are enabled or facilitated because of exploration missions Review of Near-Earth Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies The National Research Council Space Studies Board, in cooperation with the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board, shall conduct a two-part study to address issues in the detection of potentially hazardous NEOs and approaches to mitigating identified hazards. Both tasks should include an assessment of the costs of various alternatives, using independent cost estimating. Options that blend the use of different facilities (ground- or space-based), or involve international cooperation, may be considered. Each study phase will result in a report to be delivered on the schedule provided in the contract. Key questions to be addressed during each phase of the study concern two areas: NEO Surveys and NEO Hazard Mitigation. NEO Survey Panel
Review of Near-Earth Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies, Survey/Detection Panel NEO Hazard Mitigation Panel
Review of Near-Earth Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies, Mitigation Panel Rationale and Goals of the U.S. Civil Space Program A committee will prepare a report to advise the nation on key goals and critical issues in 21st century U.S. civil space policy. The committee will identify overarching goals that are important for our national interest. Issues that are critically important to achieving these goals and ensuring the future progress of the U.S. civil space program will be identified, and options to address unresolved issues will be discussed. Using its best objective judgment and recognizing other national priorities, the committee will explore a possible long term future for U.S. civil space activities that is built upon lessons learned and past successes; is based on realistic expectations of future resources; and is credible scientifically, technically, and politically. Radioisotope Power Systems Project The Space Studies Board, in conjunction with the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board, will appoint a study committee to assess the technical readiness and programmatic balance of NASA's radioisotope power systems technology portfolio in terms of its ability to support NASA’s near- and long-term mission plans. In addition, the study will also examine related public and private infrastructure and the effectiveness of other federal agencies involved in relevant R&D. The study will also review strategies for re-establishing domestic production of Pu-238, which serves as the fuel for radioisotope power systems. NASA's National Aviation Operations Monitoring Service (NAOMS) Project: An Independent Assessment The Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board, in conjunction with the Committee on Applied and Theoretical Statistics, will create an ad hoc study committee to make an independent assessment of NASA's NAOMS project. This project used a survey methodology to anonymously collect data from commercial and general aviation pilots over several years regarding aviation safety-related events. The NAOMS project contracted with Battelle Memorial Institute to design the survey and collect the data. The committee will assess the NAOMS survey methodology, and, to the extent possible, analyze the survey data. Meeting Agendas and Presentations Review of the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts An ad hoc committee operating under the auspices of the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board will conduct a review to evaluate how well the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC) developed revolutionary aeronautical and space concepts that could dramatically impact how NASA develops and conducts its mission. NASA funding for NIAC ended in 2007, and Congress has directed the NRC to review NIAC performance. The review will help guide NASA in assessing NIAC's processes and results and in shaping future efforts in this area. | 
