Fundamental Physics at NASA

1. Fundamental Physics at NASA Quantum to Cosmos 3 Airlie, VA 7 July 2008 Michael Salamon NASA HQ/Astrophysics Div.

2. Fundamental Physics at NASA • Reorganization of the Astrophysics Division • Budgetary issues • Senior Review for operating missions • Beyond Einstein Mission Suite status • BEPAC decision puts JDEM at fore • Con-X/XEUS merger? • Science Plan of Astrophysics/Science Mission Directorate • Proposal opportunities for Fundamental Physics • Conclusions

3. Chief Engineer (K. Ledbetter) Safety & Mission Assurance (P. Martin) SMD Organization (DRAFT) Associate Administrator (AA) (Ed Weiler) Deputy AA (Chuck Gay) Deputy AA for Programs(Mike Luther) Deputy AA for Management(Roy Maizel) Chief Scientist (Paul Hertz) AAA for Strategy, Policy & International (Marc Allen) Senior Advisor for R & A (Yvonne Pendleton) Senior Advisor(Colleen Hartman) Executive Officer (Jens Feeley) Management &Policy DivisionDir. (R. Maizel)Deputy (Vacant) HeliophysicsDivision Dir. (R. Fisher)Deputy (V. Elsbernd) Earth Science Division Dir. (M. Freilich)Deputy (B. Cramer) Planetary Science Division Dir. (J. Green)Dep. (J. Adams) AstrophysicsDivision Dir. (J. Morse)Deputy (R. Howard) Flight (S. Volz) Mars Program(D. McCuistion) Budget (C. Tupper) Applied Science (T. Fryberger) Policy & Administration (D. Woods, G. Williams) Research (J. Kaye) Draft: June 2008 Blue dashed boxes denote individuals who report to other organizations, but support SMD

4. Restructuring of Programs within Astrophysics Current Missions New Programs Exoplanet Exploration: “Are we Alone?” Cosmic Origins: “How did we get here?” Physics of the Cosmos: “How does the Universe Work?” Navigator Discovery (Kepler) JWST HST SOFIA Spitzer Beyond Einstein GLAST ISSC: Planck, XMM… Chandra Astro. Explorers Astro. Research

5. Astrophysics Program Content (FY09 Pres. Budget)

6. Astrophysics Budget Changes

7. SMD Budget by Science Theme

8. Astrophysics budget decreases by 15% from FY08 to FY09. (Overhead costs no longer in allocations, so direct-cost reduction is somewhat less.) Flat budget expected from FY09 through the budget horizon (with inflation increase). Current pressure points on budget: Bring JWST reserves to 70% CL BEPAC selection of JDEM as first BE mission places strain on LISA, Con-X. Presidential Transition/Continuing Resolution for FY 2010? Budgetary Points

9. NRC’s Beyond Einstein Program Assessment Committee (BEPAC) recommends JDEM as first BE mission, causing significant impacts to budgets for LISA, Con-X. JDEM AO release expected in late 2008; JDEM has a formal start in FY09; LISA, Con-X continue at low level of technology development. NASA/DOE HQ maintaining JDEM cost target of ~$600M (FY08$) + L/V, despite pressure from community for increase. Ad hoc JDEM Science Working Group established to provide findings on updated “figure of merit” for DE mission science evaluation. LISA currently prioritized by NRC as a medium-class mission. Likely will have to re-compete for priority as large-class mission in the 2010 Decadal. Con-X will also have to re-compete for priority in the next Decadal. A Con-X/XEUS Coordination Group has been formed by NASA/ESA to develop a single mission concept, the International X-ray Observatory (IXO), with the intent to reduce costs to both agencies. Beyond Einstein Mission Suite Status

10. Astrophysics in the SMD Science Plan Physics of the Cosmos – The Physics of the Cosmos Program (formerly Beyond Einstein) contains missions that can explore the most extreme physical conditions of the universe, from black holes to dark energy. They will study the building blocks of our own existence at the most basic level: the matter, energy, space and time that create the living Universe.

11. Senior Review Committee (April 2008) ranked the priority of Astrophysics operating missions, with the following ranks: Swift Chandra GALEX Suzaku Warm Spitzer WMAP XMM-Newton INTEGRAL RXTE GP-B --> termination of analysis support at end of FY08 Recommended no funding for SALMON (solicitation for Missions of Opportunity) due to impact on Explorer mission frequency. R&A is crucial to Astrophysics: retain currently budgeted levels. Senior Review of Operation Missions

12. SMEX missions ($105M plus launch vehicle): Recently selected (2008) SMEX Astrophysics missions for concept studies : Gravity and Extreme Magnetism SMEX (GEMS) -- Jean Swank Joint Astrophysics Nascent Universe Satellite (JANUS) -- Peter Roming Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) -- George Ricker Downselect to one (perhaps two) in Spring of 2009. Next SMEX, MIDEX opportunity is TBD. Suborbital missions (balloon, rocket) provide good opportunity for FP programs. SALMON (Stand Alone Mission of Opportunity Notice): Eliminated for the near future following the Senior Review Report. R&A: Astrophysics Theory and Fundamental Physics (ATFP) Lunar Opportunities Lunar Sortie Science Opportunities solicitation (LSSO, 2007): selected for concept studies are radio interferometry on the lunar far side, lunar reflectors/laser ranging transponders. Future solicitations? Future Proposal Opportunities

13. Current budgetary climate, along with increasing costs for developing missions, makes addition of new missions to the Astrophysics portfolio difficult. All medium-class and large-class missions not currently in development will be prioritized by the 2010 Decadal Survey Committee. Failure to be prioritized in the Decadal report means no opportunity for mission start in the next decade. Smaller-class space missions likely to be restricted to PI-led SMEX’s and MIDEX’s. Balloon, sounding rocket suborbital missions open to FP proposals. The major fundamental physics missions in the foreseeable future will be those within the current Beyond Einstein Mission Suite. Many of the “Code U” physics goals continue to not have a place in today’s SMD Science Plan. Conclusions