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Pages 1-8

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From page 1...
... The most high profile of these are the large strategic space science missions often referred to as "flagship" missions. These include missions such as the Hubble Space Telescope (HST)
From page 2...
... The Committee on Large Strategic NASA Science Missions: Science Value and Role in a Balanced Portfolio met three times, starting in fall 2016 and concluding in February 2017, and heard from NASA officials, the chairs of several previous Academies studies including the decadal surveys, and the managers of both large and smaller NASA space science missions. The committee also requested data from NASA about the cost and productivity of large and smaller missions across all four NASA SMD divisions.
From page 3...
... Heliophysics has conducted many strategic missions, including Solar Dynamics Observatory, Van Allen Probes, MMS, Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory, and Voyager (which became a heliophysics mission after completing its planetary encounters)
From page 4...
... Their definition of balance is likely to change over time, and therefore has to be revisited over subsequent decadal surveys and assessed during the relevant decadal midterm reviews. Furthermore, the definition of balance provided by the decadal surveys is likely the only one that will satisfy a diverse community.
From page 5...
... For example, the most recent planetary science decadal survey defined a balanced program consisting of one or two large strategic missions, two medium-size New Frontiers missions, and at least three smaller Discovery-class missions during the coming decade. Decadal surveys can establish a broader balance that includes scientific capabilities typically provided by other agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S.
From page 6...
... (See Chapter 3.) Although conducting such studies sufficiently in advance of a decadal survey may not always be feasible, the regular cadence of decadal surveys makes planning for them easier.
From page 7...
... While cost estimation and control are vital, the committee cautions that cost is best appreciated with respect to performance; many Earth and space science missions have operated long beyond their prime missions, providing tremendous value at relatively low operating costs. The agency deserves credit for enabling their long-term productivity.
From page 8...
... Chapter 2 discusses the role that large strategic missions play in achieving balance in each of the four SMD divisions. Chapter 3 discusses the issues of cost estimation and control for space science missions, how the implementation of new procedures and methods has improved these over the past decade, and how cost control is vital to achieving programmatic balance.


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