Conversation with ACCORD on GSMT

1
Conversation with ACCORD on GSMT

• 21 January 2005
• Michael S. Turner, Assistant Director
• Directorate for Mathematical Physics Sciences
• National Science Foundation

2
NSF Vision for Ground-based Optical/IR Astronomy

• Goal Ground-based observing system that makes
  possible the grand opportunities in astronomy
  
• Strategy
• Strong public/private partnering
• Work in a world context
• Coordination with space-based program to the
  degree possible
  
• Strong public capability
• Full utilization of Gemini
• Significant participation in a 10m telescope
  project
  
• Diminishing public investment in CTIO/KPNO
  (rising private investment?)
  
• Strong grants program

3
Major Phases of the MREFC Process

• CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PHASE (small, RRA)
• Need and concept established community
  workshops NRC studies FACA committee input
  
• READINESS PHASE (RRA, 10 of construction)
• Fund enabling RD re-solve technical issues --
  buy down risk establish robust cost, schedule
  and scope ready for approval process proposal
  review
• APPROVAL PHASE
• Division Directorate MREFC panel (NSF) NSB
  OMB/Presidents Budget Congress
  
• CONSTRUCTION PHASE (MREFC account)
• Initiated by NSB authorization of funds for a
  baselined project NSF oversight and reviews
  
• OPERATIONS (RRA, 10 of construction/yr)
• Oversight and review re-competition renewal
  eventual termination

4
Panel Review, NRC, MPSAC
Conceptual Design
NSF(Div/Dir )
Horizon (Blue Sky Phase)
Genius of the Community
Concept/Design/ Development from Div/Dir
Community (eg, NRC, MPSAC)
Div/Dir Decision
Readiness
MREFC Panel Approves NSB Concurs
MREFC Panel NSF Director
Getting Ready Stage
Proposed for New Start
MREFC Process
Approval
Congress
MREFC Appropriation
Candidate for New Start
Presidents Budget
NSB
NSF, NSB, OMB, OSTP
NSB, Director
Priority List
Construction, Operations
Construction from MREFC Account
Operations Research from Div/Dir
Community Sweat, NSF Oversight
NSB
5
Approval Phase

• Divisonal/Directorate Review
• Review by NSF MREFC Committee
• Review by Directors Review Board
• Approved by Director for consideration by the
  NSB
  
• Approved by the NSB for inclusion in the queue
• Approved by Director and NSB for inclusion in
  NSFs budget request to the President
  
• Approved for inclusion in the Presidents budget
  request (currently working on FY06)
  
• Congress appropriates Funds
• NSF (Director and NSB) approves award when
  appropriated funds are available, begins
  construction

Must compete against other proposals, now
including LSST, ATST, GSMT, ERL
Must compete against projects proposed by other
Directorates If Division/Directorate review be
gins in FY06, could compete for slot in FY08
6
MREFC Update

• Brinkman Report (Early 04) commissioned by
  Congress emphasized changes needed for
  transparency of process and community
  input/planning
• NSF/NSB Response to Brinkman Oct 04
• New MREFC Plan and Guide Mar 05
• Queue is emptying
• just as the Treasury is emptying

7
From the FY2005 Budget Request
The Queue is Emptying
Under Construction
Approved by NSB
Since then, NEON has been deferred and AdvLIGO
has been added as a possible FY07 Start with pro
file of 31M, 44M, 45M, 35M, 22M and 7M
8
MPS MREFC Projects

• ALMA, IceCube (Construction Phase)
• RSVP (completed Approval Phase, awaiting NSB
  approval for initiation of construction)
  
• AdvLIGO (Approval Phase, ready to go in Budget)
• ATST (ready to begin Approval Phase)
• GSMT (entering Readiness Phase)
• LSST (entering Readiness Phase)
• Deep, Underground Lab (entering Readiness Phase)
• Coherent, x-ray light source (Conceptual)
• EVLA-II (Readiness Phase)
• SKA (Conceptual)

9
GSMT Timeline

• Conceptual design phase complete (now)
• Entering Readiness Phase (2005)
• RD proposal received and being reviewed
• AST expects to make an award
• 4 5(?) years of enabling RD
• Related activities
• Making headroom for new facilities
• Optical/IR Long-range Plan (2020 Vision)
• Senior Review to re-balance portfolio
• International dialogue (coordination of RD, .)
• Pick a partner(s) (no loser strategy)
• Ready for the Approval Phase as early as 2010
• Begin Construction Phase as early as 2012

10
Budgetary Context

• 68 increase in NSF budget 1995 to 2005
• AST budget doubled, from 100M to 200M
• 2002 NSF Budget Doubling Strategy
• But, New Realities
• 500B Deficit 20 of Federal Budget, about
  equal to nonDefense Discretionary Spending
  portion of the 2.4T Budget
  
• Administration priorities War on terrorism
  Homeland Security Economy
  
• FY05
• Request only 3 above FY04 -- off the doubling
  curve
  
• Actual 2 below FY04 (5 Congressional mark down)
  only the 3rd budget decrease in 54 years(!)
  
• Projection in FY05 budget request for 06 and
  beyond -1.8 (06) -1.6 (07) -0.8 (08)
  -0.4 (09)
  
• Expectations for 06 and beyond flat or
  decreasing

11
NSF FundingFY 1995 2005 Request in Millions
68 since 1998
12
MPS FundingFY 1995 2005 Request
13
GSMT Next Steps

• AST Funds RD (2005)
• Senior Review, 2020 Vision activities (create
  free energy)
  
• NSF leadership willing to meet with privates
• Express its commitment to public/private
  partnership concept
  
• Express commitment to 10m telescope
• Discuss funding of RD
• Discuss NSF process (including the fact that 100
  of projects that began serious RD have gone to
  completion)
  
• After 05/06 budgets are public, get together to
  discuss implications
  
• Community prepares Quantum Universe like
  document to convey science goals
  
• Come up with a common timeline
• Community enthusiasm is important,
• but community realism is essential