Insights from Hubble: Exoplanets, Methane on Mars, and Northern Lights

1. Science Committee Presentation to NAC PlenaryFebruary 5, 2009Jack BurnsBrad JolliffMark RobinsonByron TapleyMichael TurnerCharles Kennel

2. Hubble Space Telescope Directly Observes Planet Orbiting Fomalhaut First visible-light snapshot of a planet orbiting another star. Fomalhaut b orbits the bright southern star Fomalhaut, located 25 light-years away in the constellation Piscis Australis (the Southern Fish).

3. The Pulsing Sky Pulses at 1/10th true rate

4. Methane on Mars Methane on Mars Strong Release of Methane on Mars in Northern Summer 2003 Mumma, M.J., et al., Science, Jan. 15, 2009 • Methane varies with location, source strength rivals terrestrial gas seeps. • Methane and water are sometimes correlated, but not always so. • Lifetime of methane is <4 years • Methane lifetime from photochemical destruction is ~350 years • Need new model for its destruction, perhaps oxidants on airborne dust R1 &R0 methane lines are detected and mixing ratios vary from <3ppbv – 60ppbv Is methane produced biologically or geologically? Either way, Mars must be active today!

5. MESSENGER 2nd Mercury Flyby True Color Enhanced Color

6. THEMIS Satellites Discover What Triggers Eruptions of the Northern Lights What causes the shimmering, ethereal Northern Lights to suddenly brighten and dance in a spectacular burst of colorful light and rapid movement? The culprit turns out to be magnetic reconnection, a common process that occurs throughout the universe when stressed magnetic field lines suddenly "snap" to a new shape, like a rubber band that's been stretched too far. Scientists directly observe the beginning of substorms using five THEMIS satellites and a network of 20 ground observatories located throughout Canada and Alaska.

7. NASA-Observed Polar Region Changes • Reduction in Arctic Sea Ice Extent • Dramatic reduction in 2007 followed by little recovery in 2008 measured by Japanese AMSR-E instrument on board the NASA Aqua Satellite and the US Air Force SSM/I on board the DMSP satellite • Julienne C. Stroeve (Univ. Colorado & NSIDC) • Reduction in Ice Mass in Greenland • Seasonal changes and overall trend in ice mass associated with winter precipitation and summer melting measured from the US-German GRACE satellite pair. The mass loss corresponds to about 50 mm/century of sea level rise • Scott B. Luthcke (Goddard Space Flight Center) • Ice Mass Loss in Antarctica • Accelerating ice mass loss data observed in West Antarctica between 1974 and 2007, using LANDSAT, RADARSAT, ERS-1 and -2, and PALSAR data • Eric Rignot (JPL and UC Irvine)

8. Science Committee Agenda Topics • SMD Overview with Ed Weiler • Mars Science Laboratory rescheduling impacts and options • Review of large mission cost growth • Planning a lessons learned task group on mission cost estimation • Planetary Protection (joint with Exploration Committee) • Science Subcommittee reports • Status of NRC decadal surveys and other studies • Status of international collaboration in space missions • Results of Earth and Space mission cost comparison study

9. NASA Science Mission Launches (CY08-CY17) Joint NASA - International Partner Mission NASA Mission on US ELV As of 1/29/09 For planning purposes only DoD Mission with Substantial NASA Contribution International Mission with Substantial NASA Contribution Reimbursable for NOAA NASA Mission on STS LRO/LCROSS OCO Glory SDO WISE Kepler SOFIA* HST SM-4 GOES-O NOAA-N’ Herschel Planck ESMD mission with SMD participation • = Successfully launched to date * = Early science flight ESDS-3 Venture 3 Discovery-13 New Frontiers ExEP-M1 EX-2 GOES-S Solar Orbiter Venture 1 GOLD MAVEN ILN 1/2 SMAP GPM Core Astro-H •  GLAST •  IBEX •  OSTM • CINDI •  TWINS-B •  Chandrayaan MMS GPM Const Discovery-12 SMEX-13 JWST GOES-R LADEE LDCM RBSP SMEX-12 LWS SET-1 Mars 2016 ILN 3/4 EX-1 ExoMars Juno MSL NuSTAR GRAIL NPP Aquarius GOES-P ST-7 ICESat-II JDEM Venture 2 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2010

10. Mars Science Laboratory has high science value for Planetary Exploration Mars holds keys to understanding early solar system processes - whether life existed in early habitable zones - planetary climate change in the first billion years - whether life exists in the subsurface today Critical step toward learning if Mars had an environment capable of supporting microbial life. Will land in a well chosen site with clear evidence for hydrated minerals and evidence of former interaction with water. Investigation will result in a better understanding of whether life could have existed on Mars and, if so, where to look for it in the future.

11. Mars Science Laboratory Update • In December, NASA decided to move the MSL launch from October 2009 to Oct-Dec 2011 • Motivated by schedule pressures in meeting delivery dates for actuators, avionics; assures time for adequate testing • Avoided substantial new budgetary requirements in FY2009 • Results in additional MSL cost increase of up to $400M • Budget impacts to be borne primarily by moving funds from future Mars programs • Reduce funds available to begin Mars 2016 mission; explore a joint mission with ESA • Reduce technology development funds for a future Mars Sample Return mission • Other sources within the Planetary Science Division • The Science Committee, building on the recommendation of its Planetary Science Subcommittee, endorses the continuation of the MSL project and SMD’s plan to fund the cost of completion • If the cost exceeds the $400M estimated by NASA, NASA should return to the PSS

12. International Lunar Network (ILN) • Science Definition Team completed study Jan. ‘09 • First new implementation of landed network science desired by science community for Moon and other planetary bodies • Nine nations engaged in dialog with NASA. • Four U.S. “anchor nodes” • Planning use of Stirling power generation capabilities to achieve required mission longevity • Synthetic resolution tests are needed for ILN scientific objectives to determine optimal network configuration. • Realistic cost estimate needed for U.S. “anchor node” missions before committing further resources.

13. Planetary Protection • Joint Science Committee and Exploration Committee session on Planetary Protection • Planetary protection (for both Earth and other planetary bodies) has been important to NASA since its founding • International obligations created by 1967 Outer Space Treaty • NASA has traditionally led the way in development of international standards (set by the Committee on Space Research - COSPAR) • NASA has a Planetary Protection Officer located in SMD to assure NASA missions comply with planetary protection requirements • This week’s meeting was the first detailed review of this subject at the level of the NAC Committees; will continue to monitor and bring issues to the NAC as needed

14. Comparison of Earth and Space Mission Costs • Study conducted in response to a 2007 NAC recommendation • Database of 30 recently completed missions (with 162 instruments) • Among the key findings: • Found no correlation between mission cost growth and SMD mission division, acquisition mode, contractor type, Phase B investment or cost reserve. • Cost shows good correlation to a multi-variate instrument Level-of-Difficulty measure • Earth science missions do not show a systemic difference in cost or cost growth compared to other SMD missions

15. Phase BCD Cost vs. Mission ComplexityBy SMD Science Area (Division)

16. Earth Science Decadal Survey Implementation • The NRC’s Earth Science decadal survey was published in January 2007. Since then… • NPOESS “de-manifested” climate sensors (some of which found other homes) • Detailed mission concept studies showed some recommended missions will cost substantially more that the NRC estimated • House and Senate ‘Economic Stimulus’ bills propose additional funds for decadal survey missions • 2008 NASA Authorization Act requires NASA to provide a report to Congress on plans to implement decadal survey missions by July • NASA’s plan should incorporate the recent changes listed above • 2005 NASA Authorization Act requires the NRC to conduct performance assessments on NASA’s implementation of decadal surveys • Earth science assessment will begin in 2010

17. Progress On 2009 Operations Plan

18. Recommendations

19. Recommendation • Short title of proposed recommendation: Communicate lessons learned on large mission cost drivers to the Science Committee and to decadal survey committees. • Short Description of Proposed Recommendation: • Compile lessons learned on pre-phase B cost estimation for large missions, including influence of interactions among the science community, the NRC, and NASA HQ & Centers. Provide initial product to the Science Committee in its July meeting prior provision to the NRC committees undertaking the new round of decadal surveys in the space sciences.

20. Recommendation • Short title of proposed recommendation: International collaboration in space and Earth science. • Short Description of Proposed Recommendation: • NASA should continue planning the implementation of decadal survey recommendations by considering the plans of other nation’s space agencies. Where strategic interests align, NASA should work with foreign partners to collaborate in program architecture development, including coordinated mission commitments with shared data as well as joint missions.