Division of Astronomical Sciences Update (Life After the Senior Review)

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Division of Astronomical Sciences Update (Life
After the Senior Review)

• Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee
• 11 October 2007

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Outline

• Senior Review implementation
• Progress
• Concerns
• Interagency and AST News
• FY2008 and beyond

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Finding 1 - The Scientific Challenge

• NSF finds this the most important conclusion of
  the report
• Proper maintenance of current facilities while
  simultaneously developing and beginning operation
  of the proposed new facilities is infeasible
  under any reasonable expectations for federal
  budget support based on past funding levels. The
  cuts that are proposed to the existing program
  are as deep as possible without causing
  irreparable damage and will only allow a start to
  be made on new initiatives.

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Senior Review

• Recommended changes
• Reduce support to VLBA to 3M by FY2001, closure
  if sufficient outside funds not found
• Reduce support to Arecibo/NAIC to 8M by FY2009
  and to 4M in FY2011, closure if additional
  outside funds not found
• Support of GONG to cease 1 year after
  successful deployment of NASAs Solar Dynamics
  Observatory (unless other support forthcoming)
• Investigate possible reductions in administrative
  costs, scientific staff costs, selective
  observatory programs and site operations
• Shift balance of NOAO programs to provide
  increased access to an optimized suite of high
  performance telescopes of all apertures in both
  hemispheres

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From the Conclusion

• It should be emphasized that, in none of the
  proposed actions can the facilities targeted be
  seen as redundant to the scientific enterprise.
  Instead, the SR is recommending reduced AST
  funding or closure of some telescopes that could
  be unique and productive for 20 years.
• These findings, which go beyond the SRs charge,
  may appear defeatist to some. However, the SR
  developed the more optimistic view that, with
  patience, cooperation and wise planning, it will
  be possible to realize the promise of the next
  generation of major observatories.

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Executive SummaryRadio-millimeter-submillimeter
Program
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NRAO Transition Program

• Very Long Baseline Array
• Seek partners who will contribute personnel or
  financial support to the operations of the VLBA
  by 2011.
• Limit AST support to 3M, close if remaining
  costs are not found elsewhere.
• Reduction in operating costs of GBT
• Reduction in the cost of administrative support
• Reductions in scientific staff costs

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NAIC (Arecibo) Transition Program

• Taper to 8M per year AST support over next 3
  years
• Concentrate on surveys
• 20 time for individual PIs
• Assumes ATM support at 2M/yr continues
• Need to consider alternate operational models
• See cost review slides
• Seek other sources of support for operations
• By 2011, AST support limited to 4M. If other
  support not sufficient to produce a viable
  operational model, recommends closure.
• Cornell plan closes planetary radar Oct 2008

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Executive SummarySolar Program
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NSO Transition Program

• NSO should
• organize an orderly withdrawal of personnel and
  resources, including the SOLIS telescope, from
  Kitt Peak/Tucson and Sacramento Peak and start to
  close down operations at these sites as soon as
  ATST funding begins.
• consolidate its management and science into a
  single headquarters as soon as possible.
• Support of the Global Oscillations Network Group
  (GONG) project should cease one year after the
  successful deployment of NASAs Solar Dynamics
  Observatory, unless the majority of operations
  support is found from other sources.

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Towards a National GSMT Program

• Need to assure a healthy scientific enterprise
  going into the GSMT era (community was heard in
  SR process)
• Define the System
• Appropriate range of aperture and access
• Necessary instrumentation, maintained and
  supported
• Assure that the system is robust against delays
  and uncertainty along the GSMT path
• Path from development through construction and
  into operations, including successful partnership
  formation, is complex
• Requires leadership and planning at unprecedented
  level at NSF

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Towards a National GSMT ProgramNOAOs Role

• NSF has asked AURA/NOAO to act as NSFs Program
  Manager for GSMT development
• Role similar to NASA center in development of
  major space missions
• Lead in defining the system and assuring its
  long-term health
• Understand and champion national needs for a GSMT
• National Science Working Group (Meeting 8-9
  November)
• National Design Reference Mission to set
  scientific performance expectations, operational
  models
• Promote development at a pace that recognizes
  both private and federal timescales
• Establish appropriate, symmetrical interfaces
  with TMT and GMT

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Developing an NSF Response and Implementation Plan

• AST is working closely with facilities to
  understand implications of recommendations as we
  consider possible implementation paths
• NSF is active in encouraging and engaging in
  discussion with other possible partners in
  facility operations, including international
  partners and other funding agencies.
• NASA for Arecibo, VLBA, GONG
• Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Puerto Rican
  Universities local business
• International agency meetings convened by AST
• AST is working with the community and NOAO to
  determine where re-investment in existing OIR
  facilities should occur and in the development of
  an integrated and coordinated System
• NOAOs ReSTAR deliberations

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Developing an NSF Response and Implementation Plan

• AST is undertaking detailed cost reviews of each
  observatory necessary to understand where cost
  reductions can be made
• Understand operational costs, appropriate
  staffing levels
• Consider other operational and business models
• RFP has been issued three bids likely
• Explore costs and legal issues associated with
  recommendations e.g. environmental,
  deconstruction, divestiture, termination costs
  engaging outside studies over the next year
  first study is for Arecibo and first site visit
  just finished yesterday (report due 1 Feb)
• Now constructing the forward look - What can we
  accomplish as the funds become available under
  various budget models?

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The Operations Challenge

• We have a 50 year tradition of operations that we
  must examine, both for now and for future
  facilities
• Can current level of service be delivered for
  less?
• Some opinions based on university-scale ops
• We must understand the costs thoroughly
• Answer may well be, No
• Do we need to look at different service models?
• Changes similar to those at NAIC may be necessary
  at all AST facilities
• Facilities managers and NSF must have an open
  dialogue
• Domenici press release, e.g., is not a healthy
  reaction

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AST Concerns

• Apparent short half-life of community attention
• Many rumors
• Statements indicating report not read/assimilated
• AST met with community leaders in Chicago and
  jointly crafted Dear Colleague letter recently
  circulated by AAS
• Increasing political pressure and interference
  with science community-based process and plan.
• Budget doubling removes need for Senior Review
  and invalidates conclusions?
• Growth in MREFC account can easily cover Arecibo
  problem?
• Arecibo future being determined without ATM
  consultation?
• Letters from members of Congress to Director
• Bill introduced to guarantee continued support of
  Arecibo

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Good Interagency News!

• Virtual Observatory MOU signed!
• Onward to a joint solicitation
• Excellent interactions with both NASA and DOE
• Joint consideration of decadal survey proposal
  review and structure (including OMB and OSTP)
• Regular, fruitful discussions between AST and
  NASA Astrophysics Division
• NSF AST DOE HEP interface very effective in
  on-going, joint reviews, decisions, and oversight

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Other AST News

• 2008 Committee of Visitors
• Planning underway - John Carlstrom will chair the
  committee
• Dates 6 8 February
• Consider serving if asked!
• FY2007 Close out
• Success rate 24
• NSB declared ATST to be ready for inclusion in a
  future budget

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Charting the Future

• Sine qua non
• Healthy grants program
• Successful completion and operation of ALMA
• Robust support of base facilities (as defined by
  Senior Review)
• Progress on GSMT, LSST, SKA ? TDPs
• Resources for mid-scale projects ? Mid-scale
  CMB, DETF, ExoPlanet, next Decade Survey small
  and moderate
• Models of budget outlook

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Looking Forward to 2008(At Presidents Request
Level)

• Healthy increase (10) in grants program
• Grant support for facility users under study
• Partnerships in Astronomy and Astrophysics
  Research and Education (PAARE, NSF 07-561)
• New program helping young investigators start
  instrumentation careers (grad students,
  post-docs, beginning faculty)
• Increases in ATI (30), TSIP (25) and UROs
• NOAO up 2.3M to refurbish and modernize KPNO and
  CTIO facilities
• NRAO up 2M for ALMA early operations
• GSMT program at 5M and SKA TDP at 3M per year

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