Author Topic: Earth Science Decadal Survey  (Read 2427 times)

Offline AegeanBlue

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Earth Science Decadal Survey
« on: 01/05/2018 10:40 pm »
Earth Science is the more neglected part of this forum. Looking for life in another body in the solar system and exploring the far frontier is far more exciting to the general public, and apparently NSF posters, than tracking and understanding how the Earth is changing. Today the National Academies released their Decadal Survey for Earth Science and a livestreamed press conference took place:

https://livestream.com/NASEM/ESAS2017

There is already a series of articles on the web about that press conference, which I have no doubt will only increase. The most interesting article I found was on how the previous 2007 Decadal's recommended missions went:

http://spacenews.com/2007decadal/

Now as far as I know the Germans are developing a mission similar to HyspIRI but otherwise 3/17 does not look good, especially when you consider that the Obama administration prioritized Earth Science. The article could be a bit misleading because I am not seeing Landsat 8 and 9 there, but then again Landsat is a USGS, not a NASA mission. Per the article there were huge disparities in the 2007's decadal survey's price tags and what the actual satellites that were launched cost. It would be nice to hear from people more knowledgeable on this front, much as the Space Science and exploration discussion takes places online, for Earth Science it seems to mostly take place at the ASPRS and AGU conferences during the sessions and happy hours.

Offline AegeanBlue

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Re: Earth Science Decadal Survey
« Reply #1 on: 01/08/2018 05:50 pm »
The actual decadal report is here:

https://www.nap.edu/catalog/24938/thriving-on-our-changing-planet-a-decadal-strategy-for-earth

Do not be scared by the pay tag, if you click on "read online" you can read it. The price is for the printed version. I have been reading the continuing coverage, especially in articles in Science and Nature. In the 2007 survey the proposed missions were specific, tied to NASA field centers. In the 2017 report the committee proposes the desired end product, not the specific mission though in several cases proposed missions are intended to produced the specific product. Apparently there is a tension in earth observation between data continuity and getting new types of data, both of which require missions and money. Compared to the other divisions of NASA Science Earth Science was very well funded under the Obama administration, yet it could not meet its new mission goals from 2007 since a large part of this funding went into plugging gaps left by the neglect of the George W. Bush administration, think Landsat 8 and now 9 which is under construction. In my personal opinion it would be great it USGS would get Landsat construction budget like NOAA gets its weather satellites budget. However, knowing that Congress is likely to transfer this money from NASA rather than give extra new money to USGS, it is likely not a good idea. Cuts to USGS's budget are far less visible than cuts to NASA's budget.

Offline AegeanBlue

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Offline AegeanBlue

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Re: Earth Science Decadal Survey
« Reply #3 on: 05/03/2018 08:55 pm »
This is a presentation from the National Academies’ Space Studies Board meeting, May 1 to 3 2017

http://sites.nationalacademies.org/cs/groups/ssbsite/documents/webpage/ssb_186117.pdf

Offline AegeanBlue

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Re: Earth Science Decadal Survey
« Reply #4 on: 12/14/2018 10:29 pm »
NASA moving forward on implementing Earth science decadal survey recommendations:

https://spacenews.com/nasa-moving-forward-on-implementing-earth-science-decadal-survey-recommendations/

News coming out of AGU 2018

Offline su27k

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Re: Earth Science Decadal Survey
« Reply #5 on: 01/20/2023 02:14 am »
NASA faces “difficult choices” for current and future Earth science missions

Quote from: SpaceNews
The co-chair of the most recent Earth science decadal survey warned that NASA faces “difficult choices” between continuing current missions and starting new missions given limited funding.

At a Jan. 17 meeting of the NASA Advisory Council, Waleed Abdalati, a member of the council and former NASA chief scientist, said several factors have resulted in a budget crunch for the agency’s Earth science program and that the decadal survey’s advice for dealing with funding problems has largely been exhausted.

“It’s pretty clear that the resources are not and will not be available to fully implement the intended program,” he said. “The options are delaying planned missions or terminating extended missions.”


https://twitter.com/Dr_ThomasZ/status/1616152002811269120

Quote
It is remarkable to me how little attention this has gotten in the broad @NASAEarth science and tech communities thus far. A decision needs to be made about the importance of that priority.
« Last Edit: 01/20/2023 02:43 am by su27k »

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