An Assessment of Balance in NASA's Science Programs (2006) / Chapter Skim
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1 Introduction
1 Introduction
Pages 5-10
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From page 5... ...
with the fundamental goal "to advance U.S. scientific, security, and economic interests through a robust space exploration program" that would involve human and robotic exploration of space, including sending humans back to the Moon and later to Mars.1 In its June 2004 report, the President's Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy2 outlined a broad notional science agenda for implementing the Vision that was built around three themes: · OriginsThe beginnings of the universe, our solar system, other planetary systems, and life; · EvolutionHow the components of the universe have changed with time, including the physical, chemical, and biological processes that have affected it, and the sequences of major events; and · FateWhat the lessons of galactic, stellar, and planetary history tell about the future and our place in the universe.
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From page 6... ...
It called for "a strategy by which all of NASA's science disciplines, including Earth science, space science, and life and microgravity science, as well as the science conducted aboard the International Space Station, can make adequate progress towards their established goals, as well as providing balanced scientific research in addition to support of the new initiative."6 Finally, in the NASA Authorization Act of 2005,7 Congress gave NASA program responsibilities as follows: The Administrator shall ensure that NASA carries out a balanced set of programs that shall include, at a minimum, programs in- (A) human space flight, in accordance with subsection (b)
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From page 7... ...
As this report discusses below, meaningful planning to meet NASA's goals is not possible when costs of approved projects rise faster than the rate of change of available resources. 8See National Research Council, Assessment of Mission Size Trade-offs in NASA's Earth and Space Science Missions, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 2000.
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From page 8... ...
NASA SCIENCE PROVISIONS FOR FY 2007 AND BEYOND The majority of NASA's science programs are managed in SMD, which is responsible for the space and Earth sciences, including development and operation of robotic science missions and supporting ground-based research, data analysis, and advanced technology development. ESMD is responsible for implementing the Vision's human spaceflight projects such as the CEV and the Crew Launch Vehicle, and future projects such as the Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle and the Lunar Surface Access Module.
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From page 9... ...
Finally, NASA's longer-term planning for human exploration provides an important context in which to consider the long-term prospects for science. Although NASA has not yet released a specific strategic plan for exploration activities on the Moon, which are to begin in the 2018 timeframe, the resource demands to support development of the needed exploration systems will be considerable.
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From page 10... ...
Budget data provided by NASA. 1200 1000 800 FY04 $ M 600 FY05 FY06 400 FY07 200 0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 FIGURE 1.2 Five-year budget projections for microgravity life and physical sciences (human systems research and technology)
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