# Presentation: 569368

## Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory CommitteeAstrophysics Division Update

- Dr. Jon Morse
- Astrophysics Division Director
- Science Mission Directorate
- NASA Headquarters
- May 10, 2007

## The Brightest Supernova Ever Seen

**The Brightest Supernova Ever Seen**

**Notes:**
ccording to observations by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and ground-based optical telescopes, the supernova SN 2006gy is the brightest and most energetic stellar explosion ever recorded and may be a long-sought new type of explosion. The top panel of this graphic is an artist's illustration that shows what SN 2006gy may have looked like if viewed at a close distance. The bottom left panel is an infrared image, using adaptive optics at the Lick Observatory, of NGC 1260, the galaxy containing SN 2006gy. The panel to the right shows Chandra's X-ray image of the same field of view, again showing the nucleus of NGC 1260 and SN 2006gy.

The Chandra observation allowed astronomers to determine that SN 2006gy was indeed caused by the collapse of an extremely massive star, and not the most likely alternative explanation for the explosion, the destruction of a low-mass star.

Image credit: Illustration: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss; X-ray: NASA/CXC/UC Berkeley/N.Smith et al.; IR: Lick/UC Berkeley/J.Bloom & C.Hansen 

**Notes:**
In celebration of the 17th anniversary of the launch and deployment of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, a team of astronomers is releasing one of the largest panoramic images ever taken with Hubble's cameras. It is a 50-light-year-wide view of the central region of the Carina Nebula where a maelstrom of star birth - and death - is taking place.

Hubble's view of the nebula shows star birth in a new level of detail. The fantasy-like landscape of the nebula is sculpted by the action of outflowing winds and scorching ultraviolet radiation from the monster stars that inhabit this inferno. In the process, these stars are shredding the surrounding material that is the last vestige of the giant cloud from which the stars were born.

The immense nebula contains at least a dozen brilliant stars that are roughly estimated to be at least 50 to 100 times the mass of our Sun. The most unique and opulent inhabitant is the star Eta Carinae, at far left. Eta Carinae is in the final stages of its brief and eruptive lifespan, as evidenced by two billowing lobes of gas and dust that presage its upcoming explosion as a titanic supernova.

The fireworks in the Carina region started three million years ago when the nebula's first generation of newborn stars condensed and ignited in the middle of a huge cloud of cold molecular hydrogen. Radiation from these stars carved out an expanding bubble of hot gas. The island-like clumps of dark clouds scattered across the nebula are nodules of dust and gas that are resisting being eaten away by photoionization.

The hurricane blast of stellar winds and blistering ultraviolet radiation within the cavity is now compressing the surrounding walls of cold hydrogen. This is triggering a second stage of new star formation.

Our Sun and our solar system may have been born inside such a cosmic crucible 4.6 billion years ago. In looking at the Carina Nebula we are seeing the genesis of star making as it commonly occurs along the dense spiral arms of a galaxy.

The immense nebula is an estimated 7,500 light-years away in the southern constellation Carina the Keel (of the old southern constellation Argo Navis, the ship of Jason and the Argonauts, from Greek mythology).

This image is a mosaic of the Carina Nebula assembled from 48 frames taken with Hubble Space Telescope's Advanced Camera for Surveys. The Hubble images were taken in the light of neutral hydrogen. Color information was added with data taken at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. Red corresponds to sulfur, green to hydrogen, and blue to oxygen emission. 

## SOFIA First Flight April 26, 2007 

## SMD Organization Chart

**Chief Scientist**
**(J. Mather)**
**DCS for ES (R. Friedl) **
**DCS for SS (A. Cheng)**

**SMD Organization Chart**

**Management &****Policy Division****Dir. (R. Maizel)****Deputy (Vacant)**

**Heliophysics****Division**
**Dir. (R. Fisher)****Deputy (C. Gay)**

**Astrophysics****Division**
**Dir. (J. Morse)****Deputy (R. Howard)**

**Planetary Science**
**Division**
**Dir. (J. Green)****Dep. (J. Adams)**

**Associate Administrator (AA) (A. Stern)**
**Deputy AA (C. Hartman)**

**Deputy AA ****for Programs****(T. May)**

**Chief Engineer**
**(K. Ledbetter)**

**Senior Advisor for R & A **
**(Y. Pendleton)**

**Earth Science**
**Division**
**Dir. (M. Freilich)****Deputy (B. Cramer)**

**Budget (C. Tupper)**

**Policy (M. Allen*)**

**Administration (D. Woods)**

**Applied Science ****(T. Fryberger)**

**Research (J. Kaye)**

**Flight (T. Hammer-Act)              **

**Mars Program****(D. McCuistion)**

**As of: May 2007**

- * Dr. Allen is an ST and serves as Team Lead for this Branch.  Mr. Maizel is the supervisor on record.

**DRAFT**

**Science Policy, Process and Ethics Officer**
**(P. Hertz)**

## SMD Guiding Principles

- To advance the priorities of all four decadal surveys.
- To get more from our budgets through better management and investments in R&A.
- To help the Vision for Space Exploration succeed   (i.e., fostering a lunar science community).

## Improvements to R&A 

- Strategic improvements related to R&A and data analysis across SMD
- Outreach Activities
- Site visits to centers, universities, and affiliates
- To the community through science conferences, newsletters, website, and e-mail contact
- E-mail for R&A issues: **sara@nasa.gov**

## Astrophysics DivisionWhat’s New

- New SMD focus on Strategic Investments in: Research and Analysis, Data Analysis, and Suborbital Opportunities.
- For example, the next Small Explorer (SMEX) AO announced on April 24:
- Draft AO target June 2007
- Final AO target October 2007
- Proposals due 90 days after AO release
- Mission cost cap of $105M (FY08$), not including launch vehicle
- Mission of Opportunity allocation of $70M (FY08$)
- Selections anticipated 4 months after proposals due
- Approximately 6-8 Phase A concept studies
- Anticipate selecting up to 3 for flight
- New experience standards for PI, but only PI

## SMD Science Plan

- The Science Plan fulfills a Congressional requirement from the NASA Authorization Act of 2005. It is SMD’s implementation plan, per the new NASA Strategic Management and Governance Handbook, under the 2006 NASA Strategic Plan.
- The Plan:
- Articulates science questions to be pursued in the context of national priorities, esp. the Vision for Space Exploration
- Defines and prioritizes missions
- Describes the associated research & analysis, technology, and related programs
- Available on-line at:
- 		   **http://science.hq.nasa.gov/strategy/index.html**

## NASA Science Mission Launches (CY06-CY14)

** ****New Horizons**** **
****** ****ST-5**
****** ****STEREO**
****** ****Cloudsat**
****** ****CALIPSO**
****** ****GOES-N**
****** ****ST-6**
****** ****TWINS-A**
** ******** ****Hidode**

** ****THEMIS**
** ****AIM**
**Phoenix**
**GLAST**
**Dawn**
**GOES-O**
**TWINS-B**

**Kepler**
**IBEX**
**SDO**
**OCO**
**Glory**
**HST SM-4**
**OSTM**
**GOES-P**
**CINDI**
**Chandrayan 1**
**Herschel**
**Planck**

**NPP**
**MSL**
**WISE**
**ST-8**
**Aquarius**
**NOAA-N’**
**ST-7**

**SOFIA***

**2006**

**2007**

**2008**

**2009**

**2010**

- NASA Mission on US ELV

- DoD Mission with Substantial NASA Contribution

- Foreign Mission with Substantial NASA Contribution

- Joint NASA - International Partner Mission

- Reimbursable for NOAA

**NASA Science Mission Launches ****(CY06-CY14)**

**2011**

**RBSP**
**Juno**
**LDCM**
**Mars Scout 2**

**2013**

**2012**

**Discovery 12**

**MMS**
**MSO **
**Discovery 13**
**MIDEX-7**
**GPM Core**
**JWST**

*As of 05-07-07*

**GPM Const**
**ESSP-7**
**New Frontiers 3**
**SMEX-12**

**2014**

-  = Successfully launched to date
***** = Shared risk science

## FY2008 NASA Budget ($M)

**FY2008 NASA Budget ($M)**

## FY2008 SMD Budget by Division ($M)

## Astrophysics Division Budget(Proposed FY08 President’s Budget vs FY07 President’s Budget)

- _What’s Changed_:
- SOFIA mission reinstated with ~2010 Initial Operations Capability (IOC) and ~2013 Full Operations Capability (FOC).
- Navigator Program re-focused; funds core interferometry, related planet-finding science, and project risk reduction efforts via remaining SIM funding, limited TPF funding, and ground-based projects (Keck and LBTI).
- Reserves added to JWST in 2008 and 2009.
- Budget for HST supports May 2008 SM4; working to identify additional funding to support September 2008 Shuttle manifest.
- Funds Kepler (LRD NET November 2008) and GLAST (LRD NET November 2007) replans due to cost growth, schedule slip.
- WISE entered development in October 2006 (LRD NET November 2009).
- New “Future Missions” wedge added to be available for the highest priority Decadal Survey mission(s).
- Beyond Einstein Program Assessment Committee (BEPAC) formed to determine which mission (LISA, Con-X, JDEM, Inflation Probe or Black Hole Finder) will be selected to proceed first; results available ~ September 2007.
- Herschel and Planck launch delayed until NET July 2008.
- _What’s Stayed the Same_:
- All operating missions continue to produce science results.
- Maintains FY07 R&A funding levels.

## Astrophysics Missions

## Astrophysics: Content of FY08 Budget

## FY 2008 President’s Budget(Astrophysics Budget Changes)

## Astrophysics DivisionBudget Problems and Issues

- Budget problems and issues that must be dealt with during this summer’s budget process:
-  Resolving impacts of 2007 budget (full year CR).
-  Additional funding to support Sept 2008 HST SM4 (4 month slip).
-  Any launch slip to GLAST (schedule tight and range conflicts).
-  Additional cost growth in Kepler?
-  Any adjustments in balance within Navigator Program.
-  Direction of Balloon Program (ULDB future).
-  Strategy for Astrophysics Future Missions line.

## Astrophysics R&A Elements

**Astrophysics R&A Elements**

- Supporting Research & Technology (SR&T)
- Astronomy & Physics Research & Analysis (APRA)*****
- Astrophysics Theory Program (ATP)*****
- Origins of Solar Systems (SSO)*****
- Data Analysis (DA)
- Astrophysics Data Analysis (ADP)*****
- Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE)*****, X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE)*****
- GALEX*****, Swift*****, Suzaku*****
- Hubble, Chandra, Spitzer, XMM, INTEGRAL
- Mission science teams for the above missions, plus those in development
-  GLAST, JWST, Kepler, SOFIA, WISE

***** ROSES Element

## Astrophysics “Research” Budget

**Astrophysics “Research” Budget**

- For FY2006, the following aggregates the competed Astrophysics research budget excluding flight hardware development
- “Astrophysics R&A” 	......................................................$65M
- SR&T
- R&A embedded in flight programs (Beyond Einstein, TPF)
- Data analysis (other than “Astrophysics R&A”)	.......................$90M
- Mission specific General Observer/Guest Investigator programs
- Archival data analysis programs
- Mission Science Teams (other than “Astrophysics R&A”)	........~ $75M
- PI teams for missions and instruments selected through AO
- Additional team members selected through competition
- Participating scientists, interdisciplinary scientists, science working group members, etc.
- Total Astrophysics research and data analysis funding 	...........~ $230M

## Supporting Research & Technology (SR&T)

**Supporting Research & Technology (SR&T)**

** ****Astronomy & Physics Research & Analysis (APRA)**
** ****Disciplines**
-  Particle Astrophysics
-  Gamma-Ray
-  X-ray
-  UV/Optical
-  IR/Sub-mm/Radio** **
** ****Categories of Investigations**
-  Suborbital Investigations
-  Detector Development
-  Supporting Technology (Optics, Coatings, Coronagraphs, ...)
-  Laboratory Astrophysics
-  Ground-based
** ****Astrophysical Theory & Fundamental Physics (ATFP)**
** ****Origins of Solar Systems**

**$53M “Astrophysics R&A”**

## Total FY07 Funding $53M

## Statistics

**Statistics**

## Assessment of Status – ROSES-2006

**	****Reviews Completed: ADP, APRA, ATP/BEFS, GALEX GI #3, FUSE GI #8, Swift GI #3,**
**                                         ****Suzaku GO #2**
**	****Reviews Upcoming: APRA-2007**
_**Grants status:**_
- WBS 399131.02.xx (Universe R&A)
- 	xx: 01 (APRA/X-ray, Gamma-ray)	80% funding sent
- 	xx: 02 (ATP + BEFS)	75% funding sent
- 	xx: 03 (APRA/Particle Astrophysics)	80% funding sent
- 	xx: 04 (Carriers)	moved to Balloon Program
- 	xx: 05 (APRA/UV, Opt)	80% funding sent
- 	xx: 06 (APRA/IR, Sub-mm)	79% funding sent
- 	xx: 07 (Origins of Solar Systems)	79% funding sent
- 	xx: 08 (Keck)	moved to Navigator Program
- UPN 391953.02.01 (BEFS)	moved to Universe R&A (ATP)
- UPN 907524.02.01 (ADP/LTSA)	75% funding sent
_**Concerns:**_
- Partial funding release due to CRs enables only partial funding of grants.

**Assessment of Status – ROSES-2006**

## Backup

**Backup**

## Principles for the Research Program

**Principles for the Research Program**

**Scientific merit through peer review**
- Use scientific merit, as determined through community and peer review, as the primary criterion for science program planning and resource commitment.
**Timely availability of data**
- Ensure vigorous and timely interpretation of mission data, requiring that data acquired be made publicly available as soon as possible after scientific validation.
**Community participation**
- Ensure the active participation of the research community outside NASA, which is critical to success.
**Maintain NASA capabilities**
- Maintain essential technical capabilities at the NASA Centers.

## How awardees are selected

**How awardees are selected**

- Solicitations for proposals are made via NASA Research Announcements (NRAs)
- Annual R&A solicitation, “Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences” (ROSES), is open to University, NASA, FFRDC, & Industry
- SMD’s omnibus NRA; ROSES-2006 has 64 program elements
- Used to solicit virtually all non-flight opportunities
- No special treatment for successor proposals
- Peer Reviews - panels evaluate:
- Scientific or technical merit
- Relevance to NASA’s objectives
- Cost realism and reasonableness
- Program officer recommends selections based on peer review evaluations and programmatic considerations