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Science Committee Briefing to NAC Plenary

This briefing provides highlights of recent missions, observations, and an overview of the Lunar Exploration Architecture. It also includes discussions on communicating the importance of returning to the moon, future space communications needs, medium-class launch vehicles, and venture-class missions in earth science.

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Science Committee Briefing to NAC Plenary

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  1. Science Committee Briefing to NAC Plenary July 10, 2008 Edward David (Chair) Jack Burns Owen Garriott Brad Jolliff Charles Kennel Mark Robinson Byron Tapley For Section 508 Compliance, charts with photos, illustrations and/or graphics are described on the page following.

  2. Outline • Recent Mission Highlights • Observations • Lunar Exploration Architecture Review • Communicating Importance of Return to the Moon • Space Communications: Future Needs • Medium-class Launch Vehicles • Venture-class Missions in Earth Science

  3. Descent of the Phoenix Lander imaged by MRO HIRISE Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

  4. Photo on page 3: This slide contains a picture of the Mars Phoenix spacecraft during its descent to the Martian surface, imaged with 10 kilometer diameter crater informally called “Heimdall” in the background. The box in the lower left is an expanded view of the Phoenix spacecraft and parachute.

  5. Mars Phoenix: Disappearing Ice In Color The Phoenix spacecraft landed successfully on Mars on May 25th. These images show sublimation of ice in granular debris in a trench dug by the robotic arm. In the lower left corner of the left image, a group of lumps is visible. In the right image, the lumps have disappeared, similar to the process of evaporation. Image credit: NASA/JPL, Caltech, University of Arizona, Texas A&M University 10 cm

  6. Photo on page 5: This slide show a side-by-side comparison of a small trench dug into the Martian surface by the Mars Phoenix Lander. The image on the left shows three small white areas which are absent in the image on the right. Scientists believe the small white areas are water ice, which sublimated into the atmosphere by the time the image on the right was taken.

  7. GLAST Undergoing Activation and Checkout The Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) successfully launched aboard a Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral on June 11. Large-Area Telescope and Burst Monitor activation June 24 Scheduled to complete commissioning on August 11 GLAST during fairing installation

  8. Photos on page 7: The image on the left shows the Gamma-ray Large Array Space Telescope placed inside it’s the fairing of it launch vehicle. The image on the right is a picture of the actual launch of GLAST on June 24, 2008.

  9. Ocean Surface Topography Mission / Jason-2 Mission will chart sea level change, a vital indicator of global climate change. 2/12/07 Jason 1 Measurements of sea-surface height, or ocean surface topography, chart the speed and direction of ocean currents and reveal how the sun's energy is stored and redistributed by the ocean. Combining ocean current and heat storage data is key to understanding global climate variations. OSTM/Jason 2's expected lifetime of at least three years will extend into the next decade. The NASA-French space agency Ocean Surface Topography Mission / Jason 2 satellite launched aboard a Delta II from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg, CA on 6/20/08.

  10. Photos on page 9: The image on the left is a photo of the launch of the Ocean Surface Topography Mission / Jason-2 on June 20, 2008. The image on the upper right shows an example of the kind of data produced by space-based ocean altimeters like Jason-2; in this case, ocean surface height in the Pacific Ocean.

  11. Observations • NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) faces a challenging 18 months ahead, with 16 launches planned. • SMD re-assessing costs and schedules of key missions initiated in the FY09 budget request to comply with Agency policy to budget at 70% likelihood level for life-cycle cost and related budget realities, e.g., • Outer Planets Flagship • Mars Sample Return • Solar Probe-Plus • James Webb Space Telescope

  12. Observations, cont. • Planning is underway to formulate the aggressive lunar program featured in the FY09 request, including • NASA Lunar Science Institute • Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer • International Lunar Network • Good progress has been made recently in management of Research & Analysis • Reducing time from proposal receipt to selection and funding • Recovery from the FY07 budget cuts should continue as a high priority **Stability in funding is essential for scientific productivity

  13. Lunar Exploration Architecture Milestones and Review Tempe Workshop Feb 2007 NAC Briefing Oct. 2007 * NAC Briefings Feb., Apr. 2008 LCCR June ‘08 *Exploration Systems Architecture Study, Nov ‘05 LCCR Surface Systems Approximate Timeline 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

  14. Photo on page 13: This graphic shows the progression of Lunar Exploration Architecture development activities, including the original Vision for Space Exploration, the Exploration System Architecture Study, the Lunar Architecture Team 1 & 2, and the Constellation Architecture Team. The graphic also shows the parallel activities conducted by the NAC Science Committee to influence those architecture studies.

  15. Lunar Exploration Architecture • Lunar Capabilities Concept Review (LCCR) briefed in joint session with Exploration and Space Ops. by Dr. Doug Cooke (Deputy Associate Administrator, ESMD) • SC impressed with results of the LCCR--Reference architecture provides transportation framework to accommodate high priority science and context for next phase of Surface Systems planning. • Responses to ‘Tempe Recommendations’ and on-going evaluation of science planning process briefed by Marguerite Broadwell, OSEWG co-chair (Strategic Planning and Integration Manager, ESMD) • OSEWG spinning up activities and plans to define and integrate science activities in Architecture Development process • Surface Science Scenarios • Analogue Missions • Lunar orbital and cartographic data integration • Tracking science objectives

  16. Lunar Exploration Architecture, cont. • SC emphasizes the following issues: • Return mass of sample material currently at 100 Kg. Recommend capability of 250-300 Kg. • Apollo-like (or more capable) rover needed for early outpost or sortie missions to enable high-priority science activities. • Continued emphasis on surface scenario planning and training / analogue field exercises for surface science operations, including astronaut participation • Deployment mechanism for “drop-off” satellites from the Orion SIM bay • Trade studies for design reference outpost sites other than polar sites, including power, access, and ability to accommodate high-priority science activities • These and other issues actively being worked by Constellation and OSEWG. • SC will request review of CxAT development by the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG).

  17. Communicating the Importance of Return to the Moon • A unified statement of rationale for the human return to the Moon is needed. • The science portion of this rationale can be expressed as follows (derived from Tempe Workshop): • The Moon preserves a 4.5 Billion year record of solar system history. • Unique observations of the Earth, Sun and Universe can be made from the Moon. • The Moon is a stepping stone to Mars and the rest of the solar system. • NASA and the associated science and exploration community forums should develop a brief, compelling story to communicate this rationale to the public and science community.

  18. Space Communications • Planetary Science and Lunar Exploration programs will need higher bandwidth and spatial distribution for space communications in the future • Higher science data rates, as demonstrated by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter • Public engagement in solar system exploration • Support the SMD/ESMD idea to conduct a demonstration of optical communications on the LADEE mission • Propose a joint session with the Space Operations Committee in the October meeting on the future of space communications and the future of the DSN

  19. Medium-class Launch Vehicles • As noted in prior NAC meetings, the Science Committee shares SMD’s concern over the future availability of medium-class expendable launch vehicles. • The Science Committee endorses SMD’s continued discussion with the DoD on the potential use of launch capabilities such as Minotaur. • The ability to launch such vehicles from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility could be very productive and cost-efficient for science. • Will explore this further in the October meeting

  20. Venture-class Missions in Earth Science • Short title of proposed recommendation: Features of a Venture-class mission line in Earth Science • Short Description of Proposed Recommendation: • ESD should issue yearly calls for Venture-class missions as recommended by the NRC decadal survey • The Venture-class mission line should incorporate an optimal mix of space-based and suborbital missions • Opportunities for space-based missions should place no restriction on possible overlaps with decadal survey strategic missions • NASA should review its plans for implementing the Venture-class mission line with the Science Committee during its October 2008 meeting

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