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-----Original Message-----
From: "AAS Press Officer Dr. Rick Fienberg" <rick.fienberg at aas.org>
Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 21:21:19 
To: <Rick.Fienberg at aas.org>
Subject: NAS: Report Identifies Top Priorities for Astronomy in the Coming
	Decade

THE FOLLOWING RELEASE WAS RECEIVED FROM THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF
 SCIENCES IN WASHINGTON, DC, AND IS FORWARDED FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
 (FORWARDING DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT BY THE AMERICAN ASTRONOMICAL
 SOCIETY.) Rick Fienberg, AAS Press Officer: rick.fienberg at aas.org, +1
 202-328-2010 x116.
 
 Aug. 13, 2010
 
 Contact:
 Molly Galvin
 +1 202-334-2138
 news at nas.edu
 
 REPORT IDENTIFIES TOP PRIORITIES FOR ASTRONOMY
 AND ASTROPHYSICS IN THE COMING DECADE
 
 A new report by the National Research Council identifies the highest-
 priority research activities for astronomy and astrophysics in the
 next decade that will "set the nation firmly on the path to answering
 profound questions about the cosmos." The decadal survey -- the
 Research Council's sixth -- prioritizes activities based on their
 ability to advance science in key areas, and for the first time also
 takes into account factors such as risks in technical readiness,
 schedule, and cost.
 
 The report identifies space- and ground-based research activities in
 three categories: large, midsize, and small. For large space
 activities -- those exceeding $1 billion -- an observatory the report
 calls the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) is the top
 priority because the space telescope would help settle fundamental
 questions about the nature of dark energy, determine the likelihood of
 other Earth-like planets over a wide range of orbital parameters, and
 survey our galaxy and others. For large-scale, ground-based research
 initiatives that exceed $135 million, the first priority is the Large
 Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), a wide-field optical survey
 telescope that would observe more than half the sky every four nights,
 and address diverse areas of study such as dark energy, supernovae,
 and time-variable phenomena.
 
 "Powerful new ways to observe the universe and bold ideas to
 understand it have created scientific opportunities without
 precedent," said Roger Blandford, chair of the committee that wrote
 the report and Luke Blossom Professor in the School of Humanities and
 Sciences at Stanford. "The program of research that we recommend will
 optimize the science return for future ground-based projects and space
 missions in a time of constrained budgets and limited resources."
 
 The recommended research activities are encapsulated by three science
 objectives: deepening understanding of how the first stars, galaxies,
 and black holes formed, locating the closest habitable Earth-like
 planets beyond the solar system for detailed study, and using
 astronomical measurements to unravel the mysteries of gravity and
 probe fundamental physics.
 
 Along with WFIRST, other priorities in the large-scale space category
 recommended in the report are an augmentation to the Explorer program,
 which supports small- and medium-sized missions that provide high
 scientific returns; the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA),
 which could enable detection of long gravitational waves or "ripples
 in space-time"; and the International X-Ray Observatory, a large-area
 X-ray telescope that could transform understanding of hot gas
 associated with stars, galaxies, and black holes in all evolutionary
 stages.
 
 Other recommended ground-based research projects include the formation
 of a Midscale Innovations Program within the National Science
 Foundation (NSF), which would fill a funding gap for compelling
 research activities that cost between $4 million and $135 million. In
 addition, the report recommends participation in the U.S.-led
 international Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope, a next generation
 large optical telescope that is vital for continuing the long record
 of U.S. leadership in ground-based optical astronomy. The next
 priority is participation in an international ground-based high-energy
 gamma-ray telescope array.
 
 For midsize space-based activities, the first priority is the New
 Worlds Technology Development Program, which lays the scientific
 groundwork for a future mission to study nearby Earth-like planets.
 Top priority for ground-based midsize research is the Cerro Chajnantor
 Atacama Telescope (CCAT), which would provide short wavelength radio
 surveys of the sky to study dusty material associated with galaxies
 and stars.
 
 Research priorities were selected through an extensive review that
 included input from nine expert panels, six study groups, and a broad
 survey of the astronomy and astrophysics community.  With the help of
 an outside contractor, the committee developed independent appraisals
 of the technical readiness and schedule and cost risks. In addition,
 the survey reassessed projects that were recommended in past surveys
 but not formally started alongside newly proposed projects.
 
 The research recommendations represent a cohesive plan with realistic
 budgetary scenarios, the report says, with ranges based on current
 projected budgets for NASA, NSF, and the U.S. Department of Energy --
 the agencies largely responsible for funding and implementing the
 research activities. It also identifies smaller, unranked research
 initiatives to augment core fundamental research. An independent
 standing committee should regularly advise the agencies on strategy
 and progress of the projects and produce annual reports.
 
 The report notes that astronomical research continues to offer
 significant benefits to the nation beyond astronomical discoveries by
 capturing the public's attention and promoting general science
 literacy and proficiency. In addition, the research serves as a
 gateway to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers,
 and a number of important and often unexpected technological
 breakthroughs. The report makes several recommendations to improve
 astronomy and astrophysics education and calls for more U.S.
 participation in international research projects.
 
                         # # #
 
 The study was funded by NASA, the National Science Foundation, the
 U.S. Department of Energy, and a contribution from the Vesto Slipher
 bequest to the Academies. The National Academy of Sciences, National
 Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research
 Council make up the National Academies. They are private, nonprofit
 institutions that provide science, technology, and health policy
 advice under a congressional charter. The Research Council is the
 principal operating agency of the National Academy of Sciences and the
 National Academy of Engineering. A committee roster follows.
 
 Copies of New Worlds, New Horizons in Astronomy and Astrophysics are
 available from the National Academies Press; tel. +1 202-334-3313 or
 1-800-624-6242 or on the Internet at http://www.nap.edu. Reporters may
 obtain a copy from the Office of News and Public Information (contacts
 listed above). In addition, a podcast of the public briefing held to
 release this report is available at
 http://national-academies.org/podcast.
 
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