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Portals to the Universe The NASA Astronomy Science Centers (2007) / Chapter Skim
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2 Functions of Current Science Centers
Pages 11-16

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From page 11...
...  promoting public awareness of the specific  mission. The centers can enable the achievement of these goals by serving specific functions. SUPPORT OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS A  NASA  astronomy  science  center  serves  as  the  link  between  a  spacecraft  and  scientists  on  the  ground. The spacecraft can be operated either by the NASA astronomy science center itself or by another entity such as a NASA field center. The NASA astronomy science center, in coordination with a  distinct operations center if there is one, integrates the tasks supporting the functionality of the satellite, for example, maneuvers of the satellite in space and operation of the instruments on board, with  the observations specified by the astronomer to obtain the needed scientific result. The tasks include  planning and optimizing the observing schedules; transmitting the commands to the spacecraft instruments; maintaining the correct pointing of the satellite; guiding on the target; ensuring the successful  transmission of data from the instruments to the ground and ultimately to the scientist; and managing  target-of-opportunity programs that attempt to observe unforeseen but important transient astronomical  events such as supernovae.
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From page 12...
... This is especially critical for off-site principal investigator teams. NASA astronomy science centers can facilitate scientist-engineer interactions.
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From page 13...
... HELP DESK AND OTHER USER SUPPORT Centers provide help desks to provide prompt replies to e-mail queries and, possibly, telephone support, generally during business hours on weekdays. They generally provide other online help such as  tutorials and frequently asked questions so that information is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,  especially when the help desk is closed. Researchers can also obtain user support from each other by  accessing wikis1 and online discussion groups. However, for complex questions or problems dealing  with software, reduction, proposal input, and observation and scheduling that are not solved elsewhere,  the help desk provides the best and most up-to-date expertise. In most cases, this support eliminates the  need for a user to travel to the center and enables reduction of data at the user's institution. All NASA  astronomy science centers currently maintain help desks, but the committee heard from users that the  response time depends on the size of the center and the number of people at the help desk. The days  leading up to a proposal deadline appear to be especially stressful for users and center staff alike. Finding: Adequate help desk staffing and online support are critical functions of centers, especially for small centers that do not have much other user support.
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From page 14...
... .  Of these examples, RPS is the most straightforward for Phase I input; APT is used for both Phase I and  Phase II, with Phase II requiring increasingly complex input; and SPOT is the most complex and timeconsuming because it requires a full set of information for Phase I. Finding: A proposal entry that requires minimal technical details for the initial science proposal selection makes the fewest demands on users.
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From page 15...
... The Astronomer's Proposal Tool (APT) system consists of software that is downloaded (dif ferent versions of the software exist for different types of computers)
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From page 16...
... EDUCATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH Due  to  the  wide  public  appeal  of  astronomy  and  the  need  to  improve  science  education,  NASA  requires that all science centers support some program of education and public outreach (EPO) . These  include Web sites (some for the public at large and some for teachers)
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Key Terms

  • initial science
  • help desk
  • user support
  • science centers
  • minimal technical

  • nasa astronomy
  • adequate help
  • proposal selection
  • online support
  • fewest demands

  • proposal entry
  • desk staffing
  • science center
  • requires minimal
  • selection makes

  • dif ferent
  • technical details
  • astronomy science
  • critical functions
  • principal investigator

  • especially critical
  • user workshops
  • investigator teams
  • flight operations
  • administration typically

  • instrument support
  • data analysis
  • public outreach
  • scientific research
  • grant administration


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