Na#onalAcademiesReviewofNASA’sPlanetaryScience

Division’sRestructuredResearchand

AnalysisPrograms

SteveMackwellOPAGmee<ng

September7,2017

ChargetotheCommi;eeTheSpaceStudiesBoardwillconveneanadhoccommiGeetoexaminetheprogramelementsofNASA'sPlanetaryScienceDivision(PSD)ResearchandAnalysis(R&A)programs,astheycurrentlyexistfollowingrestructuring,fortheirconsistencywithpastadvicefromtheAcademies.Inconduc<ngitsreview,thecommiGeewilladdressthefollowingques<ons:1.  ArethePSDR&Aprogramelementsappropriatelylinkedto,anddotheyencompass

therangeandscopeofac<vi<esneededtosupporttheNASAStrategicObjec<vesforPlanetaryScienceandthePlanetaryScienceDivisionScienceGoals,asar<culatedinthe2014NASASciencePlan?

2.  ArethePSDR&Aprogramelementsappropriatelystructuredtodevelopthebroadbaseofknowledgeandbroadrangeofac<vi<esneededbothtoenablenewspaceflightmissionsandtointerpretandmaximizethescien<ficreturnfromexis<ngmissions?

Inconduc<ngitstask,thecommiGeewill:•  NotexaminethePSDR&Aprogramsastheywerepriortotherestructuring;•  Conductitsreviewinthecontextofcurrentbudgetaryreali<esthathavedifferedfrom

projec<onsassumedpriortothereleaseofthemostrecentplanetarysciencedecadalsurvey;and

•  Notcommentonthestrategicsciencegoalsandobjec<vesofPSD,SMD,orNASA. 2

PSDR&AProgramElements*

*Programelementsper2016ROSES

CoreResearch Strategic Focused

EmergingWorlds PDART(dataarchiving,tools) LDAP(lunardataanalysis)

SolarSystemWorkings PSTAR(analogues) CDAP(Cassinidataanalysis)

HabitableWorlds Exoplanets(jointwithAstro)

Exobiology DDAP

SolarSystemObservaIons NFDAP

CoreTechnology LARS

MatISSE MDAP

PICASSO PlanetaryProtecIon

PlanetaryMajorEquipment

2014ReorganizaIonofPlanetaryR&A•  PredominantlytoCoreResearch;CoreTechnologyhadbeenpreviously

reorganized;dataanalysisprogramschangeasneeded•  FirstannouncedinROSES2014•  FirstfundedawardusedFY15funds(around30%of$FY15fundedundernew

program;66%of$FY16)

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OriginsofSolarSystems

Cosmochemistry

PlanetaryGeology&Geophysics

PlanetaryAtmospheres

LunarAdv.Sci&ExpResearch

OuterPlanetsResearch

MarsFundamentalResearch

Exobiology&Evolu#onaryBiology

PlanetaryObserva#ons

Near-EarthObjectObserva#ons

EmergingWorlds

SolarSystemWorkings

HabitableWorlds

Exobiology

SolarSystemObserva#ons

CallsfrompreviousROSESYears NewCoreResearchelementinROSES2014

Answeringtheques#onsInordertoanswerthe2ques#onsweneededtounderstandhowPSDhasimplementedthenewprograminordertoaddress:•  Whethertheimplementa#onstrategyhasbeenop#mizedunderthenew

programstructuretosupportlinkageofR&Asupportedac#vi#estoNASAStrategicObjec#vesforPlanetaryScienceandthePSDScienceGoals;

•  HowstrategicfundingdecisionsaremadebothwithinandbetweenR&Aprogramelements;and

•  Howissuesofbalancearedealtwithunderthemoreencompassingprogramelements-thechallengeshavechanged•  Balanceincludes:targetbodies,sub-disciplines,interdisciplinaryversus

disciplinaryresearch,risk/payofflevel,innova#veversusrou#neac#vi#es,PIcareerlevel,diversity,etc.

•  BalanceisneededbothwithinR&Aprogramelementsandbetweenprogramelements

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ProcessRecommenda#onsWithrespecttotheproceduresfollowedbyPSDintheimplementa#onofthecurrentprogram,thecommi;eerecommendsthefollowing:Recommenda)on2-1:Inconduc#ngscien#ficpeerreviewsofresearchproposals,NASAPSDshouldrecruitseveral(atleasttwoorthree)external(mail)reviewerswellinadvanceofpanelreviews.Thesereviewsarecri#caltoafairandeffec#veproposalevalua#onprocess,par#cularlywhenthereviewpanelshaveamoreinterdisciplinarycharacter.Thepanelchairandgroupchiefs,ifrecruitedearly,cantaketheleadiniden#fica#onofappropriateexternalreviewers.Recommenda)on2-2:NASAPSDshouldexpedi#ouslycompleteestablishmentoftheprocessforreconsidera#onofproposalselec#ondecisions,developandimplementaformalmechanismtotrackdebriefingandreconsidera#onrequestsacrossprogramelements,andinformthecommunityabouttheprocess.Thesta#s#cscollectedinthiswaycanprovidetheplanetarysciencecommunitywithgreaterconfidencethatNASAhasappropriatechecksandbalancesintheselec#onprocess.

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Ques#on1:ArethePSDR&Aprogramelementsappropriatelylinkedto,anddotheyencompasstherangeandscopeofac<vi<esneededtosupporttheNASAStrategicObjec<vesforPlanetaryScienceandthePlanetaryScienceDivisionScienceGoals,asar<culatedinthe2014NASASciencePlan?

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Buildingnewworlds–understandingsolarsystembeginnings

Planetaryhabitats–searchingfortherequirementsforlife

Workingsofsolarsystems–revealingplanetaryprocessesthrough#me

Exploreandobservetheobjectsinthesolarsystemtounderstandhowtheyformedandevolve

Advancetheunderstandingofhowthechemicalandphysicalprocessesinoursolarsystemoperate,interactandevolve

Exploreandfindloca#onswherelifecouldhaveexistedorcouldexisttoday

Improveourunderstandingoftheoriginandevolu#onoflifeonEarthtoguideoursearchforlifeelsewhere

PlanetaryScienceDecadalSurvey:Cross-CuingThemes

2014NASASciencePlan:NASA’sPlanetaryScienceGoals

Iden#fyandcharacterizeobjectsinthesolarsystemthatposeathreattoEarth,orofferresourcesforhumanexplora#on

HowtheCoreResearchProgramsweredesignedbyPSD

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HowcanwetellifthenewprogramelementsfullyencompasstheneedsinNASA’sstrategicplanningdocuments?Wereanyplanetarysciencecommunitygroups

disenfranchisedbyreorganiza<on?

PSDprogramofficersassignkeywordstoeachproposaltoiden#fy:1.  Typeoftask(e.g.,sampleanalysis,theory,experimental,field-based,

missiondataanalysis)2.  Targetbody(e.g.,Venus,Jupiter,extra-solarplanets,outerplanets,and

subsetsthereof)3.  Sciencediscipline(e.g.,cosmochemistry,spectroscopy,astrobiology,

geophysics)4.  Data/samplesource(missionorfacility)(e.g.,Amesver<calgunrange,

PioneerVenus,Juno,MarsOdyssey,Curiosity,NewHorizons)

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NotethatFY2014wasfullyinthepreviousprogramstructure,whileonlyabout30%offundingforFY2015wasunderthenewprogramelementstructure

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NotethatFY2014wasfullyinthepreviousprogramstructure,whileonlyabout30%offundingforFY2015wasunderthenewprogramelementstructure 12

Ques#on1:ArethePSDR&Aprogramelementsappropriatelylinkedto,anddotheyencompasstherangeandscopeofac<vi<esneededtosupporttheNASAStrategicObjec<vesforPlanetaryScienceandthePlanetaryScienceDivisionScienceGoals,asar<culatedinthe2014NASASciencePlan?Dotheyalignwell?YESDidanysubdisciplineortargetbody/groupgetlostinthereorganiza<on?NOTTHATWECANSEE;thereisnoclearevidenceofanysubstan<alchangeindistribu<onoffundsbydisciplineortargetbodyDothenewprogramelementsandassociatedprocessesencompasstherangeandscopeofac<vi<esneeded…?Interdisciplinaryscience,andhigh-risk/high-payoffresearchdonotnecessarilyreviewwell.Therearesomeadvantagestothenewprogram,butthereiss<llworktodo.Whataboutprogrambalance(distribu<onoffundingacrosssub-disciplineswithinaprogramelement,andacrossprogramelements)?Seemstobeworking,butneedstobewatchedandevaluatedperiodicallyTransparencybetweenNASAandthesciencecommunity?Clearlyneedswork,despitePSDefforts

Ques#on1:GeneralConclusions

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Withrespecttohoweffec#velythecurrentR&AprogramelementsalignwithPSDsciencegoals,andwhetherspecificresearchareasorsub-disciplinarygroupsthatarecri#caltoNASA’smissionarenotsupportedappropriatelyinthecurrentprogram,thecommi;eemadethefollowingrecommenda#ons:Recommenda)on3-1:Anappropriatemechanismisneededtoensurethathighrisk/high-payofftechnologyandresearchac#vi#escanreceiveappropriateconsidera#onduringthereviewprocess.Recommenda)on3-2:AformalassessmentbyNASAofhowwelltheprogramstructureandfundingarealignedwithPlanetaryScienceDivision’sScienceGoalsshouldbeconductedatleastevery5years.

MappingtoGoalsRecommenda#ons

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Ques#on2:ArethePSDR&Aprogramelementsappropriatelystructuredtodevelopthebroadbaseofknowledgeandbroadrangeofac<vi<esneededbothtoenablenewspaceflightmissionsandtointerpretandmaximizethescien<ficreturnfromexis<ngmissions?

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Ques<on2:ArethePSDR&Aprogramelementsappropriatelystructuredtodevelopthebroadbaseofknowledgeandbroadrangeofac<vi<esneededbothtoenablenewspaceflightmissionsandtointerpretandmaximizethescien<ficreturnfromexis<ngmissions?Isthecurrentprogramstructuredtoprepareforfuturemissions?Ingeneralyes,thoughscienceinvolvingsurveysofplanetaryobjectsinprepara<onforfuturemissionsdoesnotusuallyfarewellinreview.Isthecurrentprogramop<malforscien<ficreturnfrompastandcurrentmissions?Ingeneral,yes.Arethecurrenttechnologyprogramssufficienttoprepareforfuturemissions?Likelygreaterpriorityisneededtotheseprograms.Istherea<melineproblem?(R&A–3years,missions–6+years,samplereturn–10+years)Thereisaconcernaboutmaintenanceoffacili<esandexper<sefromR&Afundingonmission<melines.Longlead<mesareneededforreceivingandcura<onofreturnedsamples(cryogenic/astrobiologicalsamples)

Ques#on2:GeneralConclusions

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WithrespecttowhetherthecurrentR&Aprogramadequatelysupportsexis#ngmissionsandpreparesthewayforfuturemissions,thecommi;eerecommendedthefollowing:Recommenda)on4-1:NASAshouldsupportthedevelopmentofthecapabilitytoreturnastrobiologicalandcryogenicsamplestoEarthandtheappropriatecontainment,cura#onandcharacteriza#onfacili#esconsistentwithPlanetaryScienceDivisionScienceGoalsandplanetaryprotec#onrequirements.Recommenda)on4-2:InmakingfundingdecisionsforthevariousR&Aprogramelements,NASAshouldconsidertheneedtosustaincri#calscien#fic/technicalexper#seandinstrumental/facili#escapabili#esrequiredforscien#ficreturnonfuturemissions,asdefinedintheplanetarysciencedecadalsurvey.

MappingtoMissionsRecommenda#ons

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OverarchingCommentsThereorganiza#onhaslargelyachievedtheintendedplantoimprovelinkageofPSD’sR&AprogramtoNASA’sstrategicobjec#vesforplanetaryscienceandPSDgoals,aswellastocurrentandfuturemissions.Nonetheless,diligenceisneededtoensuremaintenanceofprogramma#cbalanceandop#maldistribu#onofscarceresources.

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Commi;eeMembership*JoeAlexander NASA(ret.)/NRCMikeA’Hearn U.MarylandJoeBurns CornellNobuShimizu(consultant) WHOILarryEsposito U.Colorado/LASPSco;Hubbard StanfordTorrenceJohnson JPLPeterKelemen ColumbiaU.MakenzieLystrup BallAerospaceSteveMackwell(Chair) USRAJuanPerez-Mercader HarvardJohnRummel McGillU.DavidSmith NRCCharlieHarris NRCDionnaWilliams NRC*CommiGeememberscouldnotbecurrentrecipientsofNASAPSDR&Afunding 19

Mee#ng1:Na<onalAcademies,Washington,DC

May12-13,2016PresentaIonsSenngthestage:JamesGreen NASAHQ backgroundtochargetothecommi;eeJonathanRall NASAHQ statusofPSDR&AprogramMaxBernstein NASAHQ statusofotherSMDR&AprogramsLenFisk U.Michigan reportonAcademies“AnEnablingFounda<onfor

NASA’sEarthandSpaceScienceMissions” MarkSykes PSI reportonPlanetaryScienceSubcommi;ee’s

Greeley-SykesReportCommunitypercep<ons:CliveNeal NotreDame LEAGNancyChabot JHU-APL SBAGAlfredMcEwen U.Arizona OPAGAndyWestphal UCBerkeley CAPTEMJeffJohnson JHU-APL MEPAGJaniRadebaugh BrighamYoung MAPSITBobGrimm SWRI VEXAG

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Mee#ng2:KeckCenter,Washington,DC

August16-18,2016PresentaIonsEllenStofan NASAHQ PlanetaryScienceCommunityDemographicsCenterandPSSpercep<ons:ColleenHartman NASAGoddard GoddardPlanetarySciencePercep#onsEileenStansbery NASAJSC JSCAstromaterialsPercep#onsChristopheSo#n NASAJPL JPLPlanetarySciencePercep#onsJanetLuhmann UCBerkeley OverarchingPSSPercep#onsJimSpann NASAMSFC MarshallPlanetarySciencePercep#onsMichaelBicay NASAARC AmesPlanetarySciencePercep#onsBriefAGrevisits(byphone):AlfredMcEwen U.Arizona OPAGTimSwindle U.Arizona SBAGFollow-upques<onstoNASA:MichaelNew NASAHQ Keywordsandotherissuesraisedbycommi;eeClosedSessionsDratoutlineofreportandprepara#onofaseriesofFindingsandRecommenda#ons 21

Mee#ng3:WoodsHole,MA

September21-23,2016PresentaIonsMeaganThompsonNASAHQ KeywordanalysisClosedSessionsDrattextforreport:Chapter1:Introduc#onChapter2:PSDR&AReview,Recommenda#onandReconsidera#onProcessesChapter3:Ques#on1:MappingtoScienceGoalsChapter4:Ques#on2:MappingtoMissionsCleaningupFindingsandRecommenda#onsinChapters2-4

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VisionandVoyagesforPlanetaryScienceintheDecade2013-2022Cross–cuZngthemes:

Buildingnewworlds—understandingsolarsystembeginnings•  Whatweretheini#alstages,condi#ons,andprocessesofsolarsystemforma#onandthenatureoftheinterstellarma;erthatwas

incorporated?Importantobjectsforstudy:comets,asteroids,Trojans,andKuiperbeltobjects.•  Howdidthegiantplanetsandtheirsatellitesystemsaccrete,andisthereevidencethattheymigratedtoneworbitalposi#ons?

Importantobjectsforstudy:Enceladus,Europa,Io,Ganymede,Jupiter,Saturn,Uranus,Neptune,Kuiperbeltobjects,Titan,andrings.

•  Whatgovernedtheaccre#on,supplyofwater,chemistry,andinternaldifferen#a#onoftheinnerplanetsandtheevolu#onoftheiratmospheres,andwhatrolesdidbombardmentbylargeprojec#lesplay?Importantobjectsforstudy:Mars,theMoon,Trojans,Venus,asteroids,andcomets.

Planetaryhabitats—searchingfortherequirementsforlife•  Whatweretheprimordialsourcesoforganicma;er,andwheredoesorganicsynthesiscon#nuetoday?•  Importantobjectsforstudy:comets,asteroids,Trojans,Kuiperbeltobjects,Enceladus,Europa,Mars,Titan,anduraniansatellites.•  DidMarsorVenushostancientaqueousenvironmentsconducivetoearlylife,andisthereevidencethatlifeemerged?Important

objectsforstudy:MarsandVenus.•  BeyondEarth,aretherecontemporaryhabitatselsewhereinthesolarsystemwithnecessarycondi#ons,organicma;er,water,

energy,andnutrientstosustainlife,anddoorganismslivetherenow?Importantobjectsforstudy:Enceladus,Europa,Mars,andTitan.

Workingsofsolarsystems—revealingplanetaryprocessesthrough)me•  HowdothegiantplanetsserveaslaboratoriestounderstandEarth,thesolarsystem,andextrasolarplanetarysystems?Important

objectsforstudy:Jupiter,Neptune,Saturn,andUranus.•  WhatsolarsystembodiesendangerEarth’sbiosphere,andwhatmechanismsshieldit?Importantobjectsforstudy:near-Earth

objects,theMoon,comets,andJupiter.•  Canunderstandingtherolesofphysics,chemistry,geology,anddynamicsindrivingplanetaryatmospheresandclimatesleadtoa

be;erunderstandingofclimatechangeonEarth?Importantobjectsforstudy:Mars,Jupiter,Neptune,Saturn,Titan,Uranus,andVenus.

•  Howhavethemyriadchemicalandphysicalprocessesthatshapedthesolarsystemoperated,interacted,andevolvedover#me?Importantobjectsforstudy:allplanetarybodies. 23

NASA’s2014SciencePlanPlanetaryScienceQuesIons:1.  Howdidoursolarsystemformandevolve?2.  IstherelifebeyondEarth?3.  WhatarethehazardstolifeonEarth?PlanetaryScienceGoals2014(with2010SciencePlanquesIonsinparentheses)1.  Exploreandobservetheobjectsinthesolarsystemtounderstandhowtheyformed

andevolve(HowdidtheSun’sfamilyofplanets,satellites,andminorbodiesformandevolve?)

2.  Advancetheunderstandingofhowthechemicalandphysicalprocessesinoursolarsystemoperate,interactandevolve(Howdothechemicalandphysicalprocessesac<veinoursolarsystemoperate,interactandevolve?)

3.  Exploreandfindloca#onswherelifecouldhaveexistedorcouldexisttoday(Whatarethecharacteris<csofthesolarsystemthatleadtohabitableenvironments?)

4.  Improveourunderstandingoftheoriginandevolu#onoflifeonEarthtoguideoursearchforlifeelsewhere(HowdidlifeoriginateandevolvehereonEarthandcanthatguideoursearchforlifeelsewhere?)

5.  Iden#fyandcharacterizeobjectsinthesolarsystemthatposethreatstoEarth,orofferresourcesforhumanexplora#on(Whatarethecharacteris<csofplanetaryobjectsandenvironmentsthatposethreatsto,orofferpoten<alresourcesfor,humanasweexpandourpresenceintothesolarsystem?) 24

FlowchartforNASAPSDprocessingofproposalssubmi;edtoR&Aprogramelements-agoodprocessifitisfollowed

PI’sStep-1proposalsubmittedtoNRAbyAOR

Caucusevaluation

PI’sStep-2proposalsubmittedbyAOR

discouraged

encouraged

CaucusandPanelChairplaceproposalsintosub-

panels

PanelReviewwithsub-disciplinesub-panels

PIinformedoffundingdecision

ResearchnotfundedPIrequests

reconsiderationfromProgramOfficer

PIdecideswhethertosubmitStep-2

SelectingOfficialmakesfundingdecision

Caucusrecommendsproposalsforfunding

yes

notfund no

fund yes

SelectingOfficialmakesfundingdecision

PIinformedofreconsiderationdecision

no

PIinformedoffundingdecision

Caucus,PanelChairandGroupChiefsrecruitExternalandPanel

Reviewers

PIsubmitstootherNRAorseeksothersupportfor

research

no

yes

PIrequestsreconsiderationfromSelectingOfficial

ProgramOfficerdebriefing/

reconsideration

yes

Glossary:NRA NASAResearchAnnouncementPI PrincipalInvestigatoronProposalAOR PIInstitutionAuthorizedOrganizationalRepresentativeCaucus GroupofNASAProgramOfficerswithNRAdisciplinaryexpertiseSelectingOfficial NASAPSDofficialwithselectionauthorityforR&AproposalsPanelReview reviewofproposalssubmittedtoaprogramelementbyagroup

ofdisciplinaryexpertsfromthecommunitySub-panel subsetofpanelreviewgrouprepresentingasub-disciplinePanelChair memberofcommunitywhochairsthePanelReviewmeetingGroupChiefs membersofcommunitywholeadpanelsub-panels

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