Skip to main content

Currently Skimming:

Executive Summary
Pages 1-4

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 1...
... Mission Concepts responds to a request from NASA to compare the WFIRST mission described in NWNH to the WFIRST/AFTA design reference mission, with and without a coronagraph, on the basis of scientific objectives, technical complexity, and programmatic ra 1   National Research Council, New Worlds, New Horizons in Astronomy and Astrophysics, The Na tional Academies Press, Washington, D.C., 2010.
From page 2...
... In addition, NASA requested an assessment of the responsiveness of the coronagraph, if added, to the exoplanet technology development and scientific objectives identi fied by NWNH. After considering the scientific reach of WFIRST/AFTA compared to the pri mary goals described in NWNH, the committee offers the following finding: Finding 3-2: The opportunity to increase the telescope aperture and reso lution by employing the 2.4-m AFTA mirror will significantly enhance the scientific power of the mission, primarily for cosmology and general survey science, and will also positively impact the exoplanet microlensing survey.
From page 3...
... Finding 2-8: Without corresponding augmentation to other NASA programs accompanying funding to include the coronagraph on WFIRST, the inclu sion of the coronagraph is not consistent with stated priorities in NWNH. In a time of reduced budgets, the first priority in NWNH is "to develop, launch, and operate WFIRST and to implement the Explorer program and core research program recommended augmentations." Implementing the coronagraph would address some aspects of the exoplanet technology de velopment; the exoplanet technology development program was considered a lower priority by NWNH.
From page 4...
... This review should be independent of NASA's internal process. The ob jective of the review should be to ensure that the proposed mission cost and technical risk are consistent with available resources and do not significantly compromise the astrophysics balance defined in the 2010 National Research Council report New Worlds, New Horizons in Astronomy and Astrophysics.


This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More information on Chapter Skim is available.