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Science Mission Directorate NASA: Earth Science Initiatives and Plans Presentation to AMS Corporate Forum March 22, 2007 Jack A. Kaye, Ph.D. Associate Director for Research Earth- Science Division Slide 2 2 NASAs Mission and Vision NASA will continue the objectives for space exploration established in the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958. To pioneer the future in space exploration, Scientific discovery, and aeronautics research. NASA has embraced President George W. Bushs directive, A Renewed Spirit of Discovery: The Presidents Vision for Space Exploration, as the Agencys Vision. Explore the solar system and beyond; Return humans to the Moon in the next decade; Ultimately send humans to Mars and beyond; Enhance understanding of the planets; and Ask new questions and answer questions as old as humankind. Slide 3 3 NASAs Strategic Goals: 2006 Through 2016 Strategic Goal 1: Fly the Shuttle as safely as possible until its retirement, not later than 2010. Strategic Goal 2: Complete the International Space Station in a manner consistent with NASAs International Partner commitments and the needs of human exploration. Strategic Goal 3: Develop a balanced overall program of science, exploration, and aeronautics consistent with the redirection of the human spaceflight program to focus on exploration. Strategic Goal 4: Bring a new Crew Exploration Vehicle into service as soon as possible after Shuttle retirement. Strategic Goal 5: Encourage the pursuit of appropriate partnerships with the emerging commercial space sector. Strategic Goal 6: Establish a lunar return program having the maximum possible utility for later missions to Mars and other destinations. Slide 4 4 Management & Policy Division Dir. (R. Maizel) Deputy (Vacant) Heliophysics Division Dir. (R. Fisher) Deputy (C. Gay) Astrophysics Division Dir. (R. Howard-Act) Deputy (Vacant) Planetary Science Division Dir. (J. Green) Dep. (J. Adams) Associate Administrator (AA) (C. Hartman, acting)* Deputy AA (C. Hartman) Chief Scientist (P. Hertz) Deputy AA for Programs (M. Luther) Chief Engineer (K. Ledbetter) Deputy AA for Technology (G. Komar) Earth Science Division Dir. (M. Freilich) Deputy (B. Cramer) Budget (C. Tupper) Policy (Vacant) Administration (Vacant) Applied Science (T. Fryberger) Research (J. Kaye) Flight (T. Hammer-Act) Mars Program (D. McCuistion) Science Mission Directorate Organization * A. Stern arrives 4/2/07 Slide 5 5 NASAs Science Goals Study Earth from space to advance scientific understanding and meet societal needs. (Earth Science) Understand the Sun and its effects on Earth and the solar system. (Heliophysics) Advance scientific knowledge of the origin and history of the solar system, the potential for life elsewhere, and the hazards and resources present as humans explore space. (Planetary Science) Discover the origin, structure, evolution, and destiny of the universe, and search for Earth-like planets. (Astrophysics) Slide 6 6 Broader Governmental Context NASA Earth Science Supports Multiple Presidential Initiatives Climate Change Science Program Earth Observations Ocean Action Plan Congressional Direction Addresses Several Aspects, most notably linkage between NASA and NOAA, but also other areas (ozone, land cover) NASA is part of NPOESS program, in particular through the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) mission Slide 7 7 Earth Science Framework Slide 8 8 Earth Science Questions & Focus Areas How is the global Earth system changing? What are the primary causes of change in the Earth system? How does the Earth system respond to natural and human- induced changes? What are the consequences for human civilization? How will the Earth system change in the future? Atmospheric Composition Weather Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Water & Energy Cycle Climate Variability & Change Earth Surface & Interior Science Focus Areas How is the Earth changing, and what are the consequences for life on Earth? Slide 9 Landsat Tools - 14 Major Satellites in Orbit TRMM Jason Aqua Terra GRACE Cloudsat* CALIPSO* SORCE Aura ICESat EO-1 NOAA POES QuikSCAT *Launched Spring, 2006 NOAA GOES Slide 10 10 OMI absorbing aerosol aerosol profiles, cloud tops thick clouds drizzle polarization, multi-angle CERES: TOA fluxes MODIS: cloud r e, AMSR: LWP O 2 A-band The A-Train Moving Toward the Future of Global Integrated Earth Observation Slide 11 11 NPOESS Preparatory Project (2009)^ Strategic mission - Systematic measurement Required for continuity of several key climate measurements between EOS and NPOESS Landsat Data Continuity Mission (2010)^ Strategic mission - Systematic measurement Required for continuity of long-term global land cover change data; plan for post-LDCM acquisition operational agency in work Ocean Surface Topography Mission (2008)*^ Strategic mission - Systematic measurement Required for continuity ocean altimetry; planned as part of a transition to operational agencies Glory (2008) Strategic - Initializes a systematic measurement Addresses high priority objective of the US Climate Change Science Program Orbiting Carbon Observatory (2008) Competed mission - Earth System Science Pathfinder First global measurement of CO2 from space Aquarius (2009)* Competed mission - Earth System Science Pathfinder First global measurement of sea surface salinity from space Global Precipitation Measurement (2013)* Initializes a systematic measurement Extend spatial coverage to global and temporal coverage to every 3 hours with constellation Earth System Science Pathfinder TBD (2014) Competed mission - 2008 solicitation for 2014 launch; subsequent TBD Could address one of the future representative mission elements below; focus and relative priority to be determined using decadal survey Earth Science Mission Priorities and Rationale * Represents International Partnership ^ Represents Interagency Partnership Slide 12 12 Earth Science Flight Mission Summary Slide 13 13 Slide 14 14 New Horizons ST-5 STEREO Cloudsat CALIPSO GOES-N ST-6 TWINS-A Hinode THEMIS AIM Phoenix GLAST Dawn GOES-O TWINS-B Kepler IBEX SDO OCO Glory HST SM-4 OSTM GOES-P CINDI Chandrayaan-1 Herschel Planck NPP MSL WISE ST-8 Aquarius NOAA-N ST-7 SOFIA* 20062007200820092010 NASA Mission on US ELV NASA Mission on STS International Mission with Substantial NASA Contribution Joint NASA - International Partner Mission Reimbursable for NOAA 2011 RBSP Juno LDCM Mars Scout 2 20132012 Discovery 12 MMS MSO Discovery 13 MIDEX-7 GPM Core JWST As of 2/17/07 GPM Const ESSP-7 New Frontiers 3 SMEX-12 2014 = Successfully launched to date * = First science flight DoD Mission with Substantial NASA Contribution NASA Science Mission Launches (CY06-CY14) Slide 15 15 Slide 16 16 Slide 17 17 NASA Advisory Council Chair: Harrison H. Schmitt Aeronautics Committee Chair: Neil Armstrong Audit and Finance Committee Chair: Bob Hanisee Exploration Committee Chair: James Abrahamson Human Capital Committee Chair: Gerald Kulcinski Science Committee Chair: Edward David Astrophysics Subcommittee (David Spergel) Earth Science Subcommittee (Daniel Jacob) Heliophysics Subcommittee (Alan Title) Planetary Science Subcommittee (Sean Solomon) Planetary Protection Subcommittee (Ronald Atlas) Space Operations Committee Chair: Paul Robinson Ex-Officio Members Ray Colladay Lennard Fisk Ad Hoc Biomedical Committee (David Longnecker) NASA Advisory Council Structure Slide 18 18 NAC Science Committee Members Dr. Edward David [Chair] - NAS/NAE, EDD Inc. Dr. Owen Garriott - Skylab & Spacelab astronaut Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson - AMNH- NY Dr. Bradley Jolliff - Washington U/St. Louis Dr. Mark Robinson - Arizona St. Univ. Dr. Byron Tapley - U. Texas Dr. Lennard Fisk - NRC Space Studies Board chair (ex officio) Slide 19 19 Earth System Subcommittee Membership Earth System Subcommittee has been reconstituted and met several times - membership list: R. Avissar Duke U.P. MatraiBigelow L J. ChristyUAHJ. McCrearyU. Hawaii L. CurranYale U. B. MinsterUCSD J. FoleyU. Wisc.M. RamseyU. Pitts. J. HansenGISSK. SarabandiU. Mich. D. Jacob (chair)Harvard U.M. SimonsCaltech G. JenkinsHoward U.K. SteffenU. Colo. J. JensenU. S. Carol.E. ZipserU. Utah Slide 20 20 NRC Decadal Survey NRC Decadal Survey was requested by NASA (with NOAA and USGS) for first time - Having this will bring Earth Science in line with other SMD divisions - One Difference for ESD is not having prior roadmap, so we will need to constitute/anticipate Interim report was released in 2005 and made several recommendations after noting significant cuts to program; NASA ability to respond was limited by budget -Proceed with the GPM and the Atmospheric Soundings from Geostationary Orbit (GIFTS) missions; -Evaluate plans for transferring needed capabilities to NPOESS (Ocean Vector Winds, LDCM, GLORY); -Develop a technology base for future Earth observation; -Reinvigorate the NASA Earth Explorer Missions Program; -Strengthen research and analysis programs; -Strengthen baseline climate observations and climate data records. Final report released January, 2007 Slide 21 21 Decadal Survey Recommendations Overarching Recommendation -The U.S. government, working in concert with the private sector, academe, the public, and its international partners, should renew its investment in Earth observing systems and restore its leadership in Earth science and applications. Agency Recommendations -NOAA-restore key climate, environmental, and weather capabilities to NPOESS mission Total solar irradiation and Earth radiation Passive ocean surface vector winds and sea-surface temperatures Ozone Monitoring and Profiling Suite (OMPS) -NOAA, working with NASA, restore capability to make high-temporal and vertical-resolution measurements of temperature and water vapor on GOES- R Complete GIFTS, orbit via launch of opportunity and/or Extend the HES Study focusing on cost-effective approaches to achieving essential sounding capabilities in the GOES-R time frame -NASA-continuity of precipitation and land cover Launching GPM by 2012 Obtaining a replacement to Landsat 7 data before 2012. The committee also recommends that NASA continue to seek cost-effective, innovative means for obtaining land cover change information. Slide 22 22 Main Recommendation (for next decade) NOAA and NASA should undertake a set of 17 recommended missions, phased over the next decade NOAA research to operations - Vector ocean winds - GPS radio occultation temperature, water vapor and electron density profiles - Total solar irradiance/and Earth Radiation (NPP) and restored to NPOESS NASA -15 missions in small, medium and large categories -Support R&A, applied science, technology, geodetic networks Slide 23 23 Decadal Survey MissionMission DescriptionOrbitInstruments $ Estimate Timeframe 2010 2013, Missions listed by cost CLARREO (NASA portion) Solar and Earth radiation: spectrally resolved forcing and response of the climate system LEO, Precessing Absolute, spectrally- resolved interferometer $200 M SMAPSoil moisture and freeze/thaw for weather and water cycle processes LEO, SSOL-band radar L-band radiometer $300 M ICESat-IIIce sheet height changes for climate change diagnosis LEO, Non- SSO Laser altimeter$300 M DESDynISurface and ice sheet deformation for understanding natural hazards and climate; vegetation structure for ecosystem health LEO, SSOL-band InSAR Laser altimeter $700 M Timeframe: 2013 2016, Missions listed by cost HyspIRILand surface composition for agriculture and mineral characterization; vegetation types for ecosystem health LEO, SSOHyperspectral spectrometer $300 M ASCENDSDay/night, all-latitude, all-season CO 2 column integrals for climate emissions LEO, SSOMultifrequency laser$400 M SWOTOcean, lake, and river water levels for ocean and inland water dynamics LEO, SSOKa-band wide swath radar C-band radar $450 M GEO- CAPE Atmospheric gas columns for air quality forecasts; ocean color for coastal ecosystem health and climate emissions GEOHigh and low spatial resolution hyperspectral imagers $550 M ACEAerosol and cloud profiles for climate and water cycle; ocean color for open ocean biogeochemistry LEO, SSOBackscatter lidar Multiangle polarimeter Doppler radar $800 M 17 Missions ( Pink =