NSF Program Update

Astronomy and Astrophysics Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory CommitteeAdvisory Committee

Oct 11, 2005Oct 11, 2005

Status of Decadal Survey Recommendations

Small Initiatives:

–National Virtual Observatory (NVO) - Framework development funded; discussion with NASA planning long-term support through joint solicitation, currently in legal review; Cyber funds in ’06 and beyond?

Status of Decadal Survey RecommendationsUpdate

Moderate Initiatives:

–Advanced Technology Solar Telescope (ATST)

Advanced to “Readiness” at last NSB meeting

–VERITAS -

Awaiting outcome of NEPA and NHPA processes

Construction re-start ~December at earliest

Status of Decadal Survey Recommendations

Major Initiatives:–Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) – update tomorrow

– Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope (GSMT) – joint technology development program proposal funding in process

– Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) - $14M development award in place.

Status of Quarks to Cosmos recommendationsUpdate

– CMB Research Task Force – Final report today

– Interagency initiative on Physics of the Universe

Physics of the Universe Interagency PlanUpdate

Highest priority, ready

– LSST

– CMB Research Task Force – Final report this afternoon

– Dark Energy Task Force formed under AAAC and HEPAP

Status report tomorrow

GSMT Planning

National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) Science Working National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) Science Working Group has formulated a detailed science caseGroup has formulated a detailed science case. .

Consortium formed to undertake an extensive technology development Consortium formed to undertake an extensive technology development and site characterization effort. and site characterization effort.

Would result in a public-private partnership with private funds Would result in a public-private partnership with private funds supporting approximately 50% of the $70M estimated cost; proposal supporting approximately 50% of the $70M estimated cost; proposal to NSF for the remaining 50%. Public funds would support to NSF for the remaining 50%. Public funds would support community effort in several major groups.community effort in several major groups.

Current estimate is that this effort would take five to seven years.Current estimate is that this effort would take five to seven years. Proposal funding has begun.Proposal funding has begun.

NSF has met with consortium and with individual Boards to discuss NSF has met with consortium and with individual Boards to discuss timing and are continuing a constructive dialoguetiming and are continuing a constructive dialogue

Funds in FY2005 appropriation limited; similar for FY2006; Planned Funds in FY2005 appropriation limited; similar for FY2006; Planned growth awaits outcome of Senior Reviewgrowth awaits outcome of Senior Review

LSST Planning

National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) Science Working National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) Science Working Group formulated detailed science case.Group formulated detailed science case.

LSST Corporation established. LSST Corporation established. Pan-STARRS underway in Hawaii with DoD funding. No operations Pan-STARRS underway in Hawaii with DoD funding. No operations

money at all and insufficient resources for software.money at all and insufficient resources for software. NSF provided $1.3M in FY03 for detector development for LSST NSF provided $1.3M in FY03 for detector development for LSST

Camera; NOAO has been funding telescope design at roughly Camera; NOAO has been funding telescope design at roughly $1.7M/year. $1.7M/year.

DOE labs have expressed strong interest in participating in the project DOE labs have expressed strong interest in participating in the project through provision of the camera. DOE science budget a problem?through provision of the camera. DOE science budget a problem?

Technology development program ($14M) underway in FY2005, Technology development program ($14M) underway in FY2005, FY2006 (Physics of the Universe)FY2006 (Physics of the Universe)

The ATSTProject

The Advanced Technology Solar Telescope

Improvements over current state of the art:• Resolution – ~7X improvement• Light grasp – 10X improvement (solar physics is actually photon starved in some experiments)

Technical Specifications:• 4-m, off-axis Gregorian (all reflective), alt-az mount.• Integrated adaptive optics.• Hybrid enclosure with thermal control and dust mitigation.• Wavelength sensitivity from 0.3-28 microns (near-UV through thermal infrared).• Field of view: 3 arcminutes (5 arcminute goal).• Angular resolution < 0.03 arcsecond.• Polarization accuracy < 0.01%.

ATST will be the world’s flagship facility for ground-based solar physics observation and the first large US solar telescope constructed in the past 30 years.

The Telescope

Marching toward MREFC• ATST team had planned aggressively for an FY06 start of construction. This will not happen.

• Additional funding will be required to pay marching army and produce final design (note that current MREFC rules preclude funding design from MREFC). AST will fund through FY06 (FY07).

• The next steps:

ATST and AST craft development plan for FY06-7. Site selection complete – environmental impact study underway. Brought to MREFC panel in March 2005; advanced to readiness 9/05 In-depth cost review endorsed costing models completed Attempt to address critical path items – early procurement of primary mirror possible through AFOSR partnership Let contracts for final design to design and engineering firms. Complete Project Execution Plan. Final design review in early 2006. Construction begins in FY2008?

Planning(Activity Accelerating)

O/IR roadmap team convened by NOAO O/IR roadmap team convened by NOAO has posted reporthas posted report

Radio/mm/sub-mm convened by AUI has Radio/mm/sub-mm convened by AUI has posted reportposted report

CMB Roadmap – this meetingCMB Roadmap – this meeting Dark Energy Task Force – end of 2005Dark Energy Task Force – end of 2005

Building a Sustainable Program Promises to be transformationalPromises to be transformational Built on underpinnings of community involvement in Built on underpinnings of community involvement in

planning, advice, advocacy and “formal” agency planning, advice, advocacy and “formal” agency recognition of those structuresrecognition of those structures

Realistic (ambitious is OK, but….)Realistic (ambitious is OK, but….) Supportable by the astronomical communitySupportable by the astronomical community Supported by the astronomical community (over the long Supported by the astronomical community (over the long

haul – now 15 years)haul – now 15 years) Appeals to broader scientific communityAppeals to broader scientific community ““Understands” and meshes with agency processes (helping Understands” and meshes with agency processes (helping

to shape them if possible)to shape them if possible)

Near Term Intermediate

Term

Horizon Facilities

Gemini

GSMT

EVLA I

VLA

GBT LOFAR

EVLA Phase II

LSST

SKA

OWL?

LOI?

CHARA

ALMA

CARMA

VLA

GBT LOFAR

LSST

GSMTNAIC

ATST

NSF and AST Developments

New Deputy Director – Dr. Kathie OlsenNew Deputy Director – Dr. Kathie Olsen NSF program officer, Deputy Div DirNSF program officer, Deputy Div Dir NASA Chief ScientistNASA Chief Scientist OSTP Deputy Director for ScienceOSTP Deputy Director for Science

New Positions in ASTNew Positions in AST Two facilities/large projects managersTwo facilities/large projects managers Additional grants program rotatorAdditional grants program rotator Additional program officer for ESM (upgrade)Additional program officer for ESM (upgrade) Upgraded administrative position – finance and Upgraded administrative position – finance and

project supportproject support

1990s Decadal Survey - Approx.

0

10

20

30

40

50

FY91 FY92 FY93 FY94 FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY99 FY00 FY01

Fiscal Year

Millio

ns

of

Do

lla

rs

MMA SOAR Construction WIYN ConstructionCHARA Construction ISI Construction Fly's EyeEVLA I Adaptive Optics CfAO Adaptive Optics ATI

Operating budgets and grant increments to realize the Decadal Survey recommendations

___________________________________________

Astronomy Division Budget - FY2005

Astronomy Division Budget - FY2005

Facilities - $119.1 M

National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO)

National Solar Observatory (NSO)

Gemini Observatory

National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO)

National Astronomy & Ionosphere Center (NAIC)

University Radio Observatories

$24.1 M

$10.6 M(excludes TSIP, AODP)

$15.5 M

$47.0 M

$10.5 M

$11.3 M

Astronomy Division Budget - FY2005

Astronomy Research & Instrumentation - $75.4 M

Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Grants (AAG)Particle AstrophysicsEducation & Special Programs (ESP)

CAREER, REU, Postdoctoral fellowships

Advanced Technologies & Instrumentation (ATI) Technology Development & Design for future facilities

Electromagnetic Spectrum Management (ESM)Science & Technology Centers (STC)

Center for Adaptive Optics (CfAO)

NSF/MPS Priorities and programs e.g. Cyberinfrastructure, Math Sciences

AST Budget FY1995-2006

Astronomy Division Budget Growth

Annual budget has grown by 60% since 2000 ($73 M)

But with $52M in directed appropriations in FY2001-2004- $32M to NRAO- $4M to NAIC- $4M to NOAO- $5M to ‘grants’

- $7M to instrumentation

Unable to plan for the increase and limited discretion over its use.

Growth has stopped (FY2005 budget down by $2M from FY2004)

Astronomy Division Budget Growth

Observatory budgets FY1990 - 2006

How can we afford it?

Proposals and studies Proposals and studies will sharpen costwill sharpen cost

Planning will provide Planning will provide phasing, decision phasing, decision points, down-selectspoints, down-selects

Overall plan must Overall plan must meet fiscal realitymeet fiscal reality

How?How?

NSF Budget Authority Projection

$4.40

$4.60

$4.80

$5.00

$5.20

$5.40

$5.60

$5.80

$6.00

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Fiscal Year

Bil

lio

ns

of

Do

llar

s