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Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
SUMMARY
11
the implementation phase when expenditures are highest. 8 Significant cost growth in this very important,
but technically challenging, mission beyond the current cap has the potential to disrupt the overall NASA
heliophysics program.
To guide the allocation of reduced resources, the committee recommends the following decision rules
intended to provide flexibility and efficiency if funding is less than anticipated, or should some other disruptive event occur. These rules, discussed in greater depth in Chapter 6, would help maintain progress
toward the top-priority, system-wide science challenges identified in this survey. The decision rules should
be applied in the order shown to minimize disruption of higher-priority program elements:
Decision Rule 1. Missions in the STP and LWS lines should be reduced in scope or delayed to accomplish higher priorities (Chapter 6 gives explicit triggers for review of Solar Probe Plus).
Decision Rule 2. If further reductions are needed, the recommended increase in the cadence of Explorer
missions should be scaled back, with the current cadence maintained as the minimum.
Decision Rule 3. If still further reductions are needed, the DRIVE augmentation profile should be
delayed, with the current level of support for elements in the NASA research line maintained as the
minimum.
Augmentations to Increase Program Value
The committee notes that the resources assumed in crafting this decadal survey’s recommended program are barely sufficient to make adequate progress in solar and space physics; with reduced resources,
progress will be inadequate. It is also evident that with increased resources, the pace at which the nation
pursues its program could be accelerated with a concomitant increase in the achievement of scientific
discovery and societal value. The committee recommends the following augmentation priorities to aid in
implementing a program under a more favorable budgetary environment:
Augmentation Priority 1. Given additional budget authority early in the decade, the implementation
of the DRIVE initiative should be accelerated.
Augmentation Priority 2. With sufficient funds throughout the decade, the Explorer line should be
further augmented to increase the cadence and funding available for missions, including Missions of
Opportunity.
Augmentation Priority 3. Given further budget augmentation, the schedule of STP missions should
advance to allow the third STP science target (MEDICI) to begin in this decade.
Augmentation Priority 4. The next LWS mission (GDC) should be implemented with an accelerated,
more cost-effective funding profile.
8 On January 31, 2012, Solar Probe Plus passed its agency-level confirmation review and entered what NASA refers to as mission
definition or Phase B of its project life cycle.
Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society
SUMMARY
11
the implementation phase when expenditures are highest. 8 Significant cost growth in this very important,
but technically challenging, mission beyond the current cap has the potential to disrupt the overall NASA
heliophysics program.
To guide the allocation of reduced resources, the committee recommends the following decision rules
intended to provide flexibility and efficiency if funding is less than anticipated, or should some other disruptive event occur. These rules, discussed in greater depth in Chapter 6, would help maintain progress
toward the top-priority, system-wide science challenges identified in this survey. The decision rules should
be applied in the order shown to minimize disruption of higher-priority program elements:
Decision Rule 1. Missions in the STP and LWS lines should be reduced in scope or delayed to accomplish higher priorities (Chapter 6 gives explicit triggers for review of Solar Probe Plus).
Decision Rule 2. If further reductions are needed, the recommended increase in the cadence of Explorer
missions should be scaled back, with the current cadence maintained as the minimum.
Decision Rule 3. If still further reductions are needed, the DRIVE augmentation profile should be
delayed, with the current level of support for elements in the NASA research line maintained as the
minimum.
Augmentations to Increase Program Value
The committee notes that the resources assumed in crafting this decadal survey’s recommended program are barely sufficient to make adequate progress in solar and space physics; with reduced resources,
progress will be inadequate. It is also evident that with increased resources, the pace at which the nation
pursues its program could be accelerated with a concomitant increase in the achievement of scientific
discovery and societal value. The committee recommends the following augmentation priorities to aid in
implementing a program under a more favorable budgetary environment:
Augmentation Priority 1. Given additional budget authority early in the decade, the implementation
of the DRIVE initiative should be accelerated.
Augmentation Priority 2. With sufficient funds throughout the decade, the Explorer line should be
further augmented to increase the cadence and funding available for missions, including Missions of
Opportunity.
Augmentation Priority 3. Given further budget augmentation, the schedule of STP missions should
advance to allow the third STP science target (MEDICI) to begin in this decade.
Augmentation Priority 4. The next LWS mission (GDC) should be implemented with an accelerated,
more cost-effective funding profile.
8 On January 31, 2012, Solar Probe Plus passed its agency-level confirmation review and entered what NASA refers to as mission
definition or Phase B of its project life cycle.