--------------------------------------------------------------- 4. REPORT OF THE NRC SPACE STUDIES BOARD NOVEMBER 28-30 MEETING --------------------------------------------------------------- From: Janet Luhmann (jgluhman@sunspot.ssl.berkeley.edu) The Space Studies Board of the National Research Council met on November 28-30 at the Beckman Center in Irvine, California.. Discussions of interest to the Space Physics community included reports from NASA's Chief Scientist, Dr. France Cordova, from Office of Space Science Associate Administrator Dr. Wesley Huntress, from NASA Associate Administrator in charge of the creation of NASA's new Science Institutes, Dr. Al Diaz, and from Dr. Charles Elachi of JPL. Dr. Cordova described NASA's efforts to respond to the recommendations of the NRC's report, "Managing the Space Sciences" (drafted by the SSB's Committee on the Future of Space Science (FOSS)), which include the enhancement of the role of the chief scientist in budgetary decisions. NASA seems to be exploring, with OMB's input, whether a formal role is preferable to a strong advisory role. There is expected to be some clarification meetings between representatives from FOSS and NASA to address this and the other issues raised by the FOSS study. Copies of the FOSS study report can be obtained by calling the SSB at 202-334-3477. Dr. Huntress described the NASA mission activities that are on the horizon. There are numerous launches expected this year and next, including SOHO (which was scheduled for Dec. 2), Polar, now due in mid-January, NEAR in mid-February, Shuttle Tether also in February. New selections include "Stardust" for the next Discovery slot, and the MIDEX first phase "short list". Instruments for Champollion on Rosetta have also been chosen. Galileo is about to undergo JOI on December 7, and the Ulysses second polar pass continues. Prototypes of the NSTAR Solar Electric Propulsion and several other technological systems have been picked for the first New Millenium mission in 1998. Solar Terrestrial Probes (TIMED and MI) will get some initial funding if the current budget is agreed upon by Congress and the White House. The reorganization of NASA Headquarters that includes a single science division with four science-themes (including the "Sun-Earth-Heliosphere Connection"), and a Board of Directors based on the four themes should be in place by mid-December. Space Physics activities on the horizon include participation in a NASA long-range planning exercise for the next OSS missions in the spring or summer of 1997 at Woods Hole. This activity will focus on missions beyond the Explorer and Discovery class (including Solar Terrestrial Probes). Dr. Al Diaz explained the current plans for the "privatized" Science Institutes that will be spawned by the NASA Centers. The Life Sciences group at Johnson has been slated as the first test case, to be followed by the Astrobiology Institute to be formed at Ames. It appears as if commitment on the order of 50% FTE for NASA-related support activities will be expected from each Institute scientist. The balance will come from R&A and other competed programs. NASA is currently exploring how rules regulating competition by Institute employees following employment in the agency must be altered to allow this mix. The expectation is that some of the resources derived from the old civil service salaries will appear in the competed research pool. The space physics workforce at the GSFC is not as greatly affected by this change in NASA Center operations because it is not slated for "Institutionalization" as a whole. However, the provision of support services by scientists may become more formalized. Dr. Charles Elachi described the current status and plans of the New Millenium program, a line of technology demonstration missions managed by JPL. Dr. Elachi stressed the need for the science community to be involved. Space physicists on the current New Millenium SWG include Bill Feldman (LANL), Tim Killeen (Michigan), Alan Stern (SWRI), Bruce Tsurutani (JPL). As mentioned above, the first mission has already been selected. In addition to SEP, it includes new flight computers capable of intelligent, autonomous operations, new-technology batteries, a reduced-volume deep space transponder, advanced solar cells, and a new low mass, low power, increased sensitivity planetary camera spectrometer. Future New Millenium projects may include microlanders and penetrators and multi-small spacecraft interferometry systems. A competition has already been held for teams of providers from outside NASA. The makeup of these "IPDTs" can be seen on the WWW home pages for New Millenium that can be reached through the NASA OSS URL. These pages also include information on future New Millenium program opportunities and give contacts for further information on involvement. Future Space Studies Board activities include panel reports on NASA's R&A Programs and on Mission Collaborations between NASA and ESA. The next Space Studies Board meeting will be held in Washington, D.C., on February 28-March 1, 1996.