Space Studies Board Annual Report 2009 (2010) / Chapter Skim
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5 Summaries of Major Reports
5 Summaries of Major Reports
Pages 44-85
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From page 44... ...
. One report was released in 2008 but published in 2009 -- Launching Science: Science Opportunities Provided by NASA's Constellation System was reprinted in Space Studies Board Annual Report -- 008.
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From page 45... ...
civil space program, and its report does not address nearer-term issues that affect the conduct of U.S. space activities other than to provide a context in which more tactical decisions might be made.
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From page 46... ...
The committee identified six strategic goals that it regards as basic for guiding program choices and resources planning for U.S. civil space activities.
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The recommendations that follow address a set of actions, all of which are necessary to strengthen the U.S. civil space program and reinforce or enhance the contributions of civil space activities to broader national objectives.
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From page 48... ...
Rationalizing export controls so as to ensure ongoing prevention of inappropriate transfer of sensitive technologies to adversaries while eliminating barriers to international cooperation and commerce that do not contribute effectively to national security; d. Expanding international partnerships in the use of the International Space Station (ISS)
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From page 49... ...
soft power leadership by inviting emerging economic powers to join with us in human spaceflight adventures. National space policy too often has been implemented in a stovepipe fashion that makes it difficult to rec ognize connections between space activities and pressing national challenges.
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From page 50... ...
In assessing the effectiveness of specific past and present cooperation or coordination mechanisms and in seeking to determine how best to proceed in the future, it is important to recognize that the world has become more globalized. International cooperation and coordination on both a bilateral and multilateral basis have played a significant role in civil space activities since the beginning of the space age.
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From page 51... ...
WOrKshOP DisCUssiON GrOUPs Following the plenary discussions, workshop participants were divided into four parallel discussion groups that were each given one of the following topics to address: • International space cooperation as a tool for engagement with emerging space power, • The role of international cooperation in the future of space exploration, • The role of Earth observations in supporting international efforts in climate and sustainability, and • New approaches to global space cooperation in a time of limited resources. The views of discussion group participants were reported back to the final plenary session and are summarized below.
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From page 52... ...
For international space activities to offer maximum benefits, they must be conducted in genuine partnerships, where benefits flow to all partners and interdependency underlies the relationships. The discussion group members also observed that increased space collaboration can provide broad benefits to the United States by making space a routine place for all nations to operate (thereby enhancing the security of space assets)
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From page 53... ...
They also noted three questions that merit further consideration, perhaps as discussion topics in a future Space Studies Board workshop: • How will emerging space companies, philanthropic initiatives, and so on, interact with traditional organizations pursuing space cooperation? • How will participatory technologies2 be incorporated into space collaboration efforts?
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From page 54... ...
; • Engaging youth in the pursuit of space cooperation; • Modifying the U.S. approach to leadership; and • Revising ITAR regulations to make them more efficient and effective.
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From page 55... ...
Driven by a renewed interest in Mars sample return missions, this report reviews, updates, and replaces the planetary protection conclusions and recommendations contained in the NRC's 1997 report Mars Sample Return: Issues and Recommendations.2 It is the understanding of the Committee on the Review of Planetary Protection Requirements for Mars Sample Return Missions that its conclusions and recommendations will be developed at the tactical level by subsequent groups specifically charged with the development of implementable protocols for the collection, handling, transfer, quarantine, and release of martian samples. This is the approach that was taken by NASA after its receipt of the 1997 Mars report.
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From page 56... ...
Changes is scientific understanding can be summarized in the following manner: • New insights on the roles played by surface and subsurface water throughout martian history and the potential for habitable environments on Mars -- Chapter 2; • Advances in microbial ecology that illuminate the limits of adaptability of life on Earth -- Chapter 3; • New understanding of the physical and chemical mechanisms by which evidence of life might be preserved on Mars and how that life might be detected in martian samples -- Chapter 4; and • New understanding of pathogenesis and the nature of biological epidemics, as well as additional insights as to the possibility that viable martian organisms might be transported to Earth by meteorites -- Chapter 5. The changes in the technical and/or policy environment can be organized as follows: • A significant expansion of the size of the Mars exploration community and broadening of the scope of mission activities by both traditional and new space powers -- Chapter 2; • Greater societal awareness of the potential for technical activities to cause harmful changes in the global environment -- Chapter 5; • The de facto internationalization of a Mars sample return mission and subsequent sample-handling, sampleprocessing, sample-analysis, and sample-archiving policies -- Chapter 6; • The drafting and publication by NASA, with the assistance of international partners, of initial Mars sample-handling and biohazard-testing protocols based on the recommendations in the NRC's 1997 Mars report -- Chapter 6; • The development of nondestructive methods of analysis that can be used to map the microscale spatial distribution of minerals and biological elements in samples -- Chapter 6; and • The proliferation of biocontainment facilities driven by biosecurity concerns and associated changes in public policy and with public acceptance of such facilities -- Chapter 7; and • Lessons learned about the practical and logistical aspects of Mars sample return from experience with the Genesis and Stardust missions as well as experience gained from the planning for and commissioning of new biocontainment facilities -- Chapter 7.
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From page 57... ...
Recommendation: Based on current knowledge of past and present habitability of Mars, NASA should continue to maintain a strong and conservative program of planetary protection for Mars sample return. That is, samples returned from Mars by spacecraft should be contained and treated as though potentially hazardous until proven otherwise.
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From page 58... ...
Changes to the requirements for sample containment or criteria for sample release were issues of concern in the NRC's 1997 report Mars Sample Return, which recommended that: "The planetary protection measures adopted for the first Mars sample-return mission should not be relaxed for subsequent missions without thorough scientific review and concurrence by an appropriate independent oversight body" (p.
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From page 59... ...
Technological Measures to Prevent the inadvertent release of returned samples Planetary protection considerations require that martian materials be securely contained within a sample canister for their journey from Mars, through their collection and retrieval on Earth, and in subsequent transport and confinement in an SRF. With respect to the journey from Mars to an SRF, the NRC's 1997 Mars report con cluded that the integrity of the seal of the sample canister should be verified and monitored during all phases of a Mars sample return mission.
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related issues Two additional important issues not specifically related to an SRF concern independent oversight of planetary protection policies and public engagement in activities related to Mars sample return.
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From page 61... ...
and the planetary protection officer, in order to maintain accountability and avoid any conflict of interest with science and mission efforts. Recommendation: To ensure independent oversight throughout the lengthy and complex process of planning and implementing a Mars sample return mission, planetary protection policy and regulatory oversight for all aspects of sample return should be provided by both the Planetary Protection Subcommittee (or an equivalent group)
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From page 62... ...
Chapter 1 of this report discusses each of the purposes of mission-enabling activities, relates them to specific elements of SMD's programs, and provides examples of how mission-enabling activities have contributed to NASA space and Earth science programs. These activities play essential roles in maximizing the scientific return on investment in space and Earth science spaceflight missions and in providing a foundation for an effective and robust program for the future, and they also constitute an integral part of the nation's overall research and develop ment (R&D)
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From page 63... ...
. • enable the healthy scientific and technical workforce needed to conduct Nasa's space and earth science program.
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Each SMD science division has distinct stra tegic goals, different kinds of spaceflight missions, and different dependencies on supporting research and data analysis.
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From page 65... ...
• Clearly articulated relationships between mission-enabling activities and the ensemble of ongoing and future spaceflight missions that they support. • Clear metrics that permit program managers to relate mission-enabling activities to strategic goals, evaluate the effectiveness of mission-enabling activities, and make informed decisions about priori ties, programmatic needs, and portfolio balance.
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From page 66... ...
However, the Committee to Review Near-Earth Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies continues its information collection and deliberations and will address a broader range of issues in its final report, due for delivery at the end of 2009. During its study so far, the committee has determined that the issues of survey and detection and characterization2 and mitigation are closely linked and should be addressed as a whole.
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From page 67... ...
Summaries of Major Reports structure, multiplicity, and other physical properties for objects within its declination coverage and detec tion range. Finding: The United states is the only country that currently has an operating survey/detection program for discovering near-earth objects; Canada and Germany are both building spacecraft that may contribute to the discovery of near-earth objects.
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From page 68... ...
In addition to the Integrated Research Strategy, the decadal survey also considered non-mission-specific initiatives to foster a robust solar and space physics program. The decadal survey set forth driving science challenges as well as recommendations devoted to the need for technology development, collaborations and cooperation with other disciplines, understanding the effects of the space environment on technology and society, education and public outreach, and steps that could strengthen and enhance the research enterprise.
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From page 69... ...
Table S.1 summarizes the committee's assessment, which consists of 21 grades, divided into 7 area assess ments covering each chapter of the 2003 decadal survey and 14 program assessments covering the NASA program priorities recommended in the decadal survey. TaBLe s.1 Committee Assessment of NASA Progress Over 5 Years Against Recommendations Made in the 2003 Solar and Space Physics Decadal Survey Area or Program Grade Areaa Milestones and Science Challenges B Integrated Research Strategy C Technology Development C Connections Between Solar and Space Physics and Other Disciplines F Effects of the Solar and Space Environment on Technology and Society C Education and Public Outreach C Strengthening the Solar and Space Physics Research Enterprise C Programb Solar Probe A Magnetospheric Multiscale B Geospace Network D Jupiter Polar Mission B Suborbital Program B Explorer Program C Small Programs A Vitality Programs B Supporting Research and Technology C Coupling Complexity Initiative C Solar and Space Physics Information System A Guest Investigator Program A Theory and Data Analysis Program B Virtual Sun B aDecadal survey chapters and areas in which recommendations were made.
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From page 70... ...
Thus, the status of the Integrated Research Strategy going forward is in jeopardy, with the potential for loss of synergistic space research capabilities. Technology Development Grade: C Finding: NASA is planning to add new small and medium launch capabilities and has made some progress in developing advanced spacecraft systems and command-and-control and data acquisition technologies for space craft constellations.
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Program assessments In its chapter on the Integrated Research Strategy, the decadal survey recommended a prioritized list of pro grams. The present committee graded NASA's progress on 14 of the recommended programs that have entered formulation or implementation.
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explorer Program Program Grade: C Finding: The Explorer Program is characterized by high science return and a minimum of cost overruns and mis sion expansion. However, reductions in Explorer Program funding have reduced the mission flight rate from one or more missions per year at the time of the decadal survey to one mission every 4 years, with serious implications for the vitality and balance of programs within the Heliophysics Division.
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. solar and space Physics information system Program Grade: a Finding: The capabilities of a Solar and Space Physics Information System are being realized through the CCMC and the emerging capabilities of virtual observatories.
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The committee makes four recommendations to improve NASA's execution of the decadal survey recommendations in these areas. recommendation 6: NASA's mission roadmapping activities should seek to retain the balance and synergy of the decadal survey's Integrated Research Strategy.
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These guidelines are not formal recommendations to NASA, but they do give important advice for nego tiating the statement of task for the next decadal survey and its committee. Guideline 1: Schedules for future NASA roadmapping exercises should be phased to follow future NRC decadal surveys and midterm assessments.
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From page 76... ...
space program has had to rely on the inventory of 238Pu that existed at that time, supplemented by the purchase of 238Pu from Russia. However, Russian facilities that produced 238Pu were also shut down many years ago, and the DOE will soon take delivery of its last shipment of 238Pu from Russia.
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shows NASA's future demand if the status quo persists (which is to say, if OPF 1 uses MMRTGs)
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From page 78... ...
T he Problem -20 -40 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 Calendar Year Pu demand, status quo: OPF 1 uses MMRTGs Pu demand, best case: OPF 1 uses ASRGs Pu balance, status quo: OPF 1 uses MMRTGs, with no new Pu production Pu balance, best case: OPF 1 uses ASRGs, FY 2010 funding for Pu production FIGURE S.1 Potential 238Pu demand and net balance, 2008 through 2028. DeVeLOPMeNT OF a FLiGhT-reaDY aDVaNCeD sTirLiNG raDiOisOTOPe GeNeraTOr S-1 Advanced RPSs are required to support future space missions while making the most out of whatever 238Pu is available.
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From page 79... ...
The RPS program and mission planners should jointly develop a set of flight-readiness requirements for RPSs in general and Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generators in particular, as well as a plan and a timetable for meeting the requirements.
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can help address three major challenges in the use of remotely sensed climate data (the columns)
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TaBLe 1-1 Three Major Challenges in the Use of Remotely Sensed Climate Data (Columns) and Three Roles Played by Statistical Methods (Rows)
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From page 82... ...
A good statistical model is built in a way that captures some of the physical processes that control elements of the climate system, or alternative hypotheses about those processes. The classical method, described at the workshop, for characterizing uncertainty in earth science modeling is through sensitivity analysis.
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From page 83... ...
This information, in turn, can be used to quantify the optimal weights to be assigned to each measurement. This simple method in spatial statistics allows one to calculate an unbiased estimate of mean snow depth in the valley based on an uneven distribution of measurements.
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From page 84... ...
The red line represents the biased estimate of average snow depth obtained from a simple average of the available observations. The green line represents the unbiased estimate obtained by assigning weights to the observations based on an understanding of the scales of spatial vari ability of the snow depth in the valley.
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From page 85... ...
Top: illustrates one case of the generated data, and the estimated slope between snow depth and elevation, using simple linear regression (red line) , and an approach that accounts for the spatial correlation of the data (green line)
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