Space Studies Board Annual Report 2015 (2016) / Chapter Skim
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5 Summaries of Major Reports
5 Summaries of Major Reports
Pages 39-60
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5 Summaries of Major Reports This chapter reprints the summaries of Space Studies Board (SSB) reports that were released in 2015.
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1 Earth science and applications from space decadal survey (NRC, 2007) largely focused on new measurements, owing to assumptions made about the role of other agencies in supporting high-priority climate, weather, and land surface continuity measurements.
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Development of calibration methods through mission overlaps, in situ validation, and ground-based calibration traceable to National Institute of Standards and Technology standards are necessary to provide repeatable long-term measurements of geophysical variables. With this in mind, the committee finds that the following is a sufficient, high-level definition of continuity across the Earth science subdisciplines for use in an analysis framework focused on scientific objectives: Finding: Continuity of an Earth measurement exists when the quality of the measurement for a specific quantified Earth science objective is maintained over the required temporal and spatial domain set by the objective.
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The latter proposals should be defined through a quantified objective that could then be evaluated via the committee's proposed framework or whatever similar quantitative, open, and objective evaluation ESD establishes for continuity measurements. Recommendation: NASA, which is anticipated to be a principal sponsor of the next decadal survey in Earth science and applications from space, might task the decadal survey with the identification, and possible prioritization, of the quantified Earth science objectives associated with the recommended science goals.
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Recommendation: NASA should foster a consistent methodology to evaluate the utility of geo hysical p variables for achieving quantified Earth science objectives. The committee notes that such a ethodology m could also be utilized by the Earth science decadal survey in its priority recommendations.
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2007. Earth Science and Applications from Space: National Imperatives for the Next Decade and Beyond.
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"Sharing the Adventure with the Student: Exploring the Intersections of NASA Space Science and Education -- A Workshop" was organized by an ad hoc committee under the auspices of members from the Space Studies Board, serving as representatives of the space science community; the Board on Science Education, serving as representatives of experts in the creation and evaluation of STEM education efforts; as well as other experts. The workshop brought together these respective communities to promote a new dialog with the aim of increasing mutual understanding of how best to translate space science into useful educational materials and experiences.
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From page 46... ...
Design teams in the following disciplines were utilized in the development process as well: engineering, Earth and space science, life science, and physical science. The Framework includes research on how students acquire knowledge of science in an effective manner, and it served as the basis for the NGSS, which were developed to provide an international benchmark for science education.6 NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS The NGSS are a set of K-12 science standards developed through a state-led process to provide students with a benchmark for science education.7 These standards are based on the NRC's Framework.8 The NGSS were produced due to the time gap in the development of guiding documents for state science education standards and the need to build interest among K-12 students in STEM disciplines.
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Structure and function 7. Stability and change 3 Disciplinary Core Ideas Physical Sciences PS1: Matter and its interactions PS2: Motion and stability: Forces and interactions PS3: Energy PS4: Waves and their applications in technologies for information transfer Life Sciences LS1: From molecules to organisms: Structures and processes LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, energy, and dynamics LS3: Heredity: Inheritance and variation of traits LS4: Biological evolution: Unity and diversity Earth and Space Sciences ESS1: Earth's place in the universe ESS2: Earth's systems ESS3: Earth and human activity Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science ETS1: Engineering design ETS2: Links among engineering, technology, science, and society FIGURE I.1 Framework for K-12 Science Education produced by the National Research Council.
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A cooperative agreement occurs when there is a transfer of something of value to an entity, such as a municipality, state government, or private company, to be used for a public purpose. This legal agreement involves two parties: the federal government and another entity.12 The goal of the CAN is to meet the following education objectives of NASA SMD: enable STEM education, improve science literacy in the United States, advance national education goals, and utilize partnerships to leverage science education.
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Given current understanding, Special Regions are defined as areas or volumes within which sufficient water activity AND sufficiently warm temperatures to permit replication of terrestrial organisms may exist. In the absence of specific information, no Special Regions are currently defined on the basis of martian life." The physical parameter space defined in COSPAR planetary protection policy (COSPAR 2015)
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The report also discusses the findings and makes recommendations to COSPAR for consideration in u pdating the Special Regions definition in the COSPAR planetary protection policy. The review committee discussed the SR-SAG2 report during two face-to-face meetings, via conference calls, and by email exchange.
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Given current understanding of terrestrial organisms, Special Regions are defined as areas or volumes within which sufficient water activity AND sufficiently warm temperatures to permit replication of Earth organisms may exist. The physical parameters delineating applicable water activity and temperature thresholds are given below: • Water activity: lower limit, 0.5; upper limit, 1.0; • Temperature: lower limit, −25°C; no upper limit defined; and • Timescale within which limits can be identified: 500 years.
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This report highlights some of the progress on science questions raised by the NRC decadal surveys New Worlds, New Horizons in Astronomy and Astrophysics1 (NWNH) and Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-20222 (VVPS)
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The decadal surveys identify long-term goals for community facilities, but capabilities needed in the short term, particularly in rapidly evolving areas of research, would benefit from shorter planning timescales. Achieving these capabilities through coordination or partnerships can be accomplished by establishing at the national level an ongoing planning process that will engage the entire OIR user community in identifying and realizing small- and medium-scale projects and programs between decadal and mid-decadal reviews.
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RECOMMENDATION 5. The National Science Foundation should plan for an investment in one or both Giant Segmented Mirror Telescopes in order to capitalize on these observatories' exceptional scientific capabilities for the broader astronomical community in the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope era, for example, through shared operations costs, instrument development, or limited term partnerships in tele scope or data access or science projects.
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Decadal surveys are carried out with a cadence of approximately 10 years for each discipline. The four that are the focus of this report are Earth science and applications from space, astronomy and astrophysics, planetary science, and solar and space physics (also known as heliophysics)
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As the decadal process first developed for astronomy and astrophysics has been extended to planetary science, solar and space physics, and Earth science, different science themes and unique cultures have been expressed through variations in decadal structure and process, but overall the survey model has proven to be highly adaptable. There is no "one-size-fits-all" approach to a decadal survey: each discipline has heritage and science goals that cannot be directly mapped to any other group.
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While engaging the public is important for all, Earth science and heliophysics have a special focus on societal benefit; outcomes here have unique, real consequences for life on Earth. There seems little if any doubt that decadal surveys have succeeded in what they set out to achieve; yet, to paraphrase a philosopher, "no fruit of the human tree has ever lacked for improvement." In its examination of the process, the committee has identified challenges that have made the process of crafting a decadal survey more difficult and affected committees' ability to do the best possible job.
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Planning within tight budgets has led to increased specificity in the recommended programs of decadal surveys. Implementation plans, in particular, have included detailed descriptions of the facilities, missions, and observing system concepts that have been motivated by the desire to accomplish as much of the science program as possible.
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The committee concluded that decisions as to how a decadal survey will prioritize science and recommended programs are best left to the survey committee itself. Despite, and also because of, these misgivings about the value of a stand-alone process for science prioritization, the committee endorses reviewing the "state of the science" before a new survey begins, as distinct from creating a new process to do "science prioritization." Fortunately, there are ongoing activities to facilitate that activity, including the midterm decadal review and the Space Studies Board with its discipline-specific standing committees.
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Indeed, decadal surveys set a standard of excellence that encourages the hope that similar processes could be applied more widely across the nation's science programs. While it has no major flaws, the survey process can, and should, improve and evolve.
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