Astrophysics 2020 Decadal Survey

[NFUN]

https://www.nationalacademies.org/event/11-04-2021/pathways-to-discovery-in-astronomy-and-astrophysics-for-the-2020s-public-briefing

 

Finally coming out in a few days. This followed by Webb will make for a good end to the year.

[RCgothic]

It's been released:

 

I'm a little disappointed by the headline telescope at first glance. I was hoping for a 15m LUVOIR, or maybe something using distributed launch.

But it's not recommending even 8m LUVOIR, but a 6m version merged with an extra-large HabEx.

Edited November 5, 2021 by RCgothic

[NFUN]

On 11/4/2021 at 1:39 PM, RCgothic said:

It's been released:

 

I'm a little disappointed by the headline telescope at first glance. I was hoping for a 15m LUVOIR, or maybe something using distributed launch.

But it's not recommending even 8m LUVOIR, but a 6m version merged with an extra-large HabEx.

considering the JWST, I can't say I blame them for being skeptical of the feasibility for such an ambitious telescope, at least to be finished anywhere remotely near budget and deadline. We'll see if Starship can change the math on that by the end of the decade

[UmbralRaptor]

18 hours ago, NFUN said:

considering the JWST, I can't say I blame them for being skeptical of the feasibility for such an ambitious telescope, at least to be finished anywhere remotely near budget and deadline. We'll see if Starship can change the math on that by the end of the decade

JWST being JWST along with NGRST getting somewhat downs-coped to keep costs in line probably factor into IROUV's size and timeframe.

 

I feel bad for the FIR and X-ray proposals, though. (Probably probe-class missions in 10 years.)

[UmbralRaptor]

Okay, after reading a bit more of the report:

• All Great Observatories get R&D, though technically none are actually selected.
• IROUV (I'm going to insist on calling it this) is to be a flagship circa 2045, so hopefully that gives NGRST plenty of time. I guess I we can justify fancy ground based RV surveys to find a lot of planets/make direct imaging be more about characterization than detection in the interim. It's cool that it gets the highest priority, but seeing as the 2000 and 2010 highest priority telescopes are still on the ground...
• Both FIR and X-ray missions are supposed to get probe class craft, presumably one in 2030 and one in 2040. (Probe class being something in between Explorer and Flagship with a 1/decade cadence). I don't have a good handle on which previous missions are FIR. There are still a fair number of X-ray telescopes up, though they're all getting old. (Hitomi getting all of one science observation hurts)
• Some missions outside of NSF/NASA get mentioned (eg: VRO, Athena), and there's discussion of need for collaborations/data archives and curation.
• "mid-scale" ($4 million to $120 million) for various ground-based instruments with an emphasis on 4-10 m class.
• While not hugely specific, considerations of diversity, sustainability, and outreach are mentioned.
• GMT and TMT are supported as the highest priority ground based programs, though they waver a bit as to the TMT being in Hawaii or the Canary Islands.
• Various gravitational wave, CMB, radio, neutrino, and balloon projects. I'm a bad person to comment on these, and will defer to someone else.
• Recommend that SOFIA end operations in 2023 (ow).
• Solar physics is mentioned as important, though no specific programs are recommended for or against.