National Academies’ Astro2020 Report, Released Nov. 4, 2021, Recommends New Probe Explorer Class

The National Academies released its Astro2020 decadal survey to the public on Nov. 4, 2021, followed by a webinar where its co-chairs presented the main findings and answered questions, according to NASA Science.

The report recommends that NASA create a new Probe Explorer class of astrophysics missions, as noted by Mirage News and the National Academies Press, and emphasizes workforce diversity, inclusive practices, and Indigenous partnership to broaden participation and improve scientific output, according to the National Academies Press. Mirage News and the National Academies Press note that the report recommends creating a new Probe Explorer class of astrophysics missions, a step that could direct federal funding toward mid-scale efforts.

• – Probe Explorer class concept
• – Potential direction of federal funding
• – Focus on mid-scale mission efforts

Mirage News and the National Academies Press state that NASA selected the PRIMA far‑infrared mission for Phase B work, limited its project budget to $1.2 billion apart from launch expenses, and plans to launch it in 2033 for a five‑year mission.

• – Mission name: PRIMA
• – Phase: B work
• – Project budget: $1.2 billion (excluding launch)
• – Planned launch year: 2033
• – Mission duration: five years

Mirage News and the National Academies Press add that the PRIMA spacecraft will carry a 5.9-foot telescope and conduct deep far-infrared surveys designed to bridge the observational gap between infrared observatories like the James Webb Space Telescope and radio facilities.

• – Telescope size: 5.9 feet
• – Survey type: deep far-infrared
• – Purpose: fill gap between JWST-class infrared and radio telescopes
• – Reference facility: James Webb Space Telescope

The National Academies Press notes that the report outlines the budgetary consequences of its recommendations in Section 3.5. The National Academies Press also stresses that sustaining activities across a wide range of cost levels and timeframes, as well as projects that mature future concepts, are essential for a balanced program. Furthermore, the National Academies Press notes that the report ranks research priorities and provides decision rules to adjust for budget shifts or unanticipated discoveries. – Section referenced: 3.5

• – Emphasis on sustaining activities across cost levels
• – Emphasis on sustaining activities across timeframes
• – Value of projects that mature future concepts
• – Ranking of highest priority research activities
• – Provision of decision rules for budget shifts
• – Provision of decision rules for unanticipated discoveries

– Reference to projected budget considerations

The National Academies Press states that the report’s guidance is framed by the principles of diversity, equity, benefit to the nation and the world, sustainability and accountability; it calls for greater investment in people by highlighting the ‘missing millions’ of underrepresented individuals needed for the U.S. science and technology workforce; notes that diversity drives innovation, citing NASA’s Science Plan 2020 and the National Science Board’s Vision 2030 as support; recommends a new model for collaborative decision making that partners with Indigenous and other local communities; introduced a Panel on the State of the Profession and Societal Impacts (SoPSI), a first for the decadal series; and emphasizes that its focus on workforce diversity, inclusive practices, and Indigenous partnership aims to broaden participation and improve scientific output, affecting the astronomy workforce through the 2030s.

• – Guiding principles: diversity
• – Guiding principles: equity
• – Guiding principles: benefit to the nation and the world
• – Guiding principles: sustainability
• – Guiding principles: accountability
• – Call for greater investment in people
• – Reference to the ‘missing millions’ of underrepresented talent
• – Statement that diversity drives innovation
• – Citation of NASA’s Science Plan 2020 as support
• – Citation of the National Science Board’s Vision 2030 as support
• – Recommendation for collaborative decision‑making model
• – Partnership focus: Indigenous communities
• – Partnership focus: other local communities
• – Introduction of the Panel on the State of the Profession and Societal Impacts (SoPSI)
• – Note that SoPSI is a first for the decadal series
• – Emphasis on workforce diversity
• – Emphasis on inclusive practices
• – Emphasis on Indigenous partnership
• – Goal of broadening participation
• – Goal of improving scientific output
• – Impact horizon: through the 2030s

The National Academies Press adds that the report highlights astronomy’s broad public appeal, noting that the Aug. 21, 2017 solar eclipse was viewed by an estimated 215 million Americans; it says the 2019 Event Horizon Telescope picture of the black hole in M87 has recorded the highest number of downloads of any federal government image; it observes that the 2016 LIGO‑Virgo gravitational‑wave breakthrough ranked as the third‑most‑impact research story of that year, showing up in over 900 news outlets worldwide within a day; and it notes that the survey was sponsored by NASA, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy Office of High Energy Physics, and the Air Force Office of Space Research.

• – Aug. 21, 2017 solar eclipse
• – Estimated audience: 215 million Americans
• – Public engagement example: 2019 Event Horizon Telescope image of M87 black hole
• – Achievement: highest number of downloads of any federal government image
• – Public engagement example: 2016 LIGO‑Virgo gravitational‑wave detection
• – Ranking: third‑most‑impact research story of 2016
• – Reach: over 900 news outlets worldwide within a day
• – Sponsor: NASA
• – Sponsor: National Science Foundation
• – Sponsor: Department of Energy Office of High Energy Physics
• – Sponsor: Air Force Office of Space Research