Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee

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Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee

• Astrophysics Division and Update
• May 11, 2006
• Rick Howard
• Astrophysics Division Director (Acting)

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Astrophysics Division Operating Missions Status
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Astrophysics Division Developmental Missions
Status
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Astrophysics DivisionBudget Problems and Issues

• Budget problems and issues that must be dealt
  with during this summers budget formulation
• Additional funding in slip of HST SM4 launch
  date beyond 12/07
• Level of near term contingency for JWST
• Funds required for SOFIA to support final
  decision on path forward
• Additional funds to cover expected GLAST replan
• Potential cost growth in Kepler
• Decision on future of WISE
• Restoration (full or partial) of funds to RA
  program
• Adjustments to mix within Navigator program (TPF
  issue)
• Direction within Balloon Program on future plan
  for ULDBs

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Astrophysics DivisionBudget Principles,
Priorities Constraints (1)

• General Principles
• Follow priorities set by NRC surveys and reports
• Support Administration goals and direction
• In Practice
• Incremental budget solutions can lead to wrong
  global solution
• Best approach is to solve all problems at one
  time each year (POP)
• Slipping current missions not always the right
  answer
• Only solves short term budget problems
• Creates bow wave of funding requirements
  downstream
• Increases total mission cost far more than
  inflation (marching army)
• Cancellation may be more sensible option
• Applying a tax across the board not a good
  approach
• Spread the pain but weakens all programs
• Once or twice may have minor impact eventually
  has significant impact on all projects
• Reserve this approach for directed reductions
  (rescissions, hurricane tax, etc.)

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Astrophysics DivisionBudget Principles,
Priorities Constraints (2)

• Priorities
• Continue healthy operating missions
• Complete and launch missions in development
• Provide for the future ( RA, technology,
  balloons, concept studies)
• Constraints
• Congressional direction/mandates
• Solution must balance each of the 5 years in the
  budget horizon
• Currently working on FY08-12 budget
• Only guaranteed budget is the single year
  approved by Congress in the Operating Plan
• Considerations
• Mission size/launch frequency
• Wavelength
• Mission Phase
• Long term strategy

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Wavelength Mix
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Science Theme Mix
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Mission Size Mix
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The Astrophysics Content of FY07 Budget
Future Explorer Budget is in Heliophysics
Division budget
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Astrophysics DivisionBudget Example

• Hypothetical Issue Restore15 RA funding
  reduction
• Solution 1 Reduce Beyond Einstein Program
  funding
• Hold budget to the FY06 level for FY07-08 (
  14M per year)
• Restores 10 (7M) in FY07 and FY08
• Restores full 15 starting in FY09 (11M per
  year)
• Slips first Beyond Einstein mission
• Solution 2 Apply an across the board tax
• Approximate 1 reduction to all programs
• Some programs may be protected (e.g. HST SM4)
• Solution 3 Restore as part of overall
  Astrophysics budget solution during FY08-12 POP
• Allows more flexible solution space
• Solution is part of Divisions overall strategy