Towards the Inaugural Australian Decadal Plan for Space Science: 2007-2016

Plan Steering Committee(Iver H. Cairns, Brett Biddington, Graziella Caprarelli, Jon Clarke, David Cole, Peter Dyson, Brian Fraser, Alex Held,

Marc Norman, Carol Oliver, Andrew Parfitt, Peter Robinson, Malcolm Walter, Bob Vincent, and John Zilman)

AIP Congress 6/12/06

I. What is Space Science? II. Intentions for the Decadal Plan & Draft VisionIII. ProcessIV. Science ThemesV. A Taste of the Proposed ScienceVI. Summary & Call for Input.

[See www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~ncss for Plan status and documents.]

I. What is Space Science?

• Science of solar system phenomena and objects.

• Science of space & science from space

• “Everything above the tropopause”.

What is Space Science?

Space Science includes:• space physics and

space weather• planetary geology• remote sensing of

Earth … from orbit• astrobiology • space technology

Astronomy extra-solar system,

Earth Sciences surface and below.

i. Space Physics & Space Weather

Type II radio burst from a CME shock [Knock & Cairns, 2005]

SOHO (LASCO C2)

• Observations: ground (remote) or space (in situ and remote).• Theory/modelling of plasma physics & entire space phenomenon

i. (cont.) Space physic & space weather

• Currents, B and n fluctuations, atmospheric changes, aurorae …• Energetic particle damage …• EMFs, GPS & satellite/ground communication problems, …• major effects on humanity.

Halloween 2003 Storms

[Yizengaw et al., 2005]

ii. Planetary Sciences & iv. Astrobiology

Voyager (L) then Galileo (ices & minerals)

Properties & evolution of planets and Life.

iv. Remote Sensing of Earth ..

Atmosphere, ionosphere, environment, minerals, space weather ..

v. Australian Space Technology

TIGERradar

FedSat – only spacecraftCulgoora

Antarctica

II. Intentions for the Decadal Plan

• National Committees of the Australian Academy of Science aim to: – Foster their area/field of science (and others)– Link Australian and international scientists in the area.

NCSS & Steering Committee intend the Decadal Plan to • Build a sustainable world-class community of Australian space

scientists.• Present exciting, widely-agreed, visionary research themes and

projects directed towards longterm scientific goals of the Australian space science community.

• Link the research and goals with the interests and requirements of Australian constituencies: Government, Industry, wider scientific community, and public.

• Develop and optimize the space science community for the nation’s benefit.

• Be the official position of the space science community and Academy on major science and funding projects.

• Lead to increased Government funding of space science.

Draft Vision

• Australia’s space scientists sustainably make world-class scientific discoveries and technology,

• lead and take part in national and international space projects at our geopolitical level,

• provide strong national benefits ranging from education to defence to industry,

• are highly valued by the Australian Government and all sections of Society,

• and strongly increase Australia’s national prestige and geopolitical rank.

“Space: A Priority for Australia” – Senator Grant Chapman & SPAG [December 2005]

• “Space technologies are essential to resolve vital national interest issues which span … services used by industry, government & citizens …national security, water .. mining, .. transport. ”

• “Currently we are operating in a high-risk environment. Even the temporary loss of many key, space-based services … would damage the nation.”

• Of top 26 nations by GDP only 2 have no space program: Australia (14) and Mexico (11) …

• In ASEAN Australia one of few without a space program.

• In this environment the Decadal Plan is a huge opportunity to advance space science.

III. Process (see www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~ncss)

• Steering Committee: final responsibility for the development, writing, approval, and publication of the Decadal Plan.

• Working Group: researches a specific component of the Decadal Plan and then provides recommendations (e.g., priority research topics, ideas, and projects) and draft text for the Plan to the Steering Committee.

• Now writing Draft Plan & refining inputs (early to mid 2007 release).

Decadal Plan Steering Committee

Science Working Groups

Industry /ScienceWorking Groups

Government Working Group

DemographicsWorking Group

Public Outreach Working Group

Remotesensing

Sun to Ground

Planetary Sciences

Theory, Mod., & data Ground

Space Weather

Space Tech

Participants

Auspace Australian Antarctic DivisionANU British Aerospace Australia

Bureau of Meteorology Bureau of Rural Science

Cisco Systems COSSA

CRCSI DSTO

Geoscience Australia Gravitec

IPS Radio and Space Services La Trobe University

Macquarie University University of Adelaide

University of Newcastle University of NSW

University of Queensland University of Sydney

University of South Australia University of Southern Queensland

University of Technology, Sydney University of Western Australia

Vipac WA Department of Land Inform.

Timeline & Proposed Schedule• September 2005 - NCSS announces Development of Decadal Plan - release of Draft Structure, Purview, and Strawman documents - NCSS asks for written comments & volunteers to develop Plan

• October 2005 - Deadline for initial feedback - NCSS revised the Process, incorporating feedback

• March 2006 - Working Groups formed & started work

• July - WG Reports to Steering Committee

• August-November - Steering Committee meetings, visits & Plan talks

• September - LASP Proposal written & submitted (funding of publication)

• Late December - Draft Plan to Steering Committee • Feb - March 2007 - Draft Plan Released for Comment

• March - April 2007 - Townhall Meeting for final revision & Adoption of Plan

• April – Sept 2007 - Release of Plan (dependent on election & politics)

“brainstorming”

“WG” period

IV. Science Themes

Global Science Themes: Longterm Vision & Big Picture Questions

Science Projects & Facilities

Links and Benefits to Government & Industry

Global Science Themes (draft)(i) Sun and Space to Earth (SSE) Understand how activity on the Sun and in space develops throughout the solar

system and affects humans and human technology.

(ii) Plasma to Planets (P2P)Understand evolution from plasma & dust to the present-day Sun, Earth, and other solar system bodies and then beyond.

(iii) Observing Australia, Earth and Planets from Space Remotely sense and model the atmosphere, climate, oceans, surface, life, and

geology of Australia, Earth and other planets and solar system bodies.

(iv) Life and Technology in Space (LIFTS)Understand the effects of space’s harsh environment on life and technology, develop space technology, and consider how life evolved on Earth and perhaps elsewhere?

(OAEPS)

V. Taste of the Proposed Science & Projects

• Play to our strengths & related Government & industry interests.

• Australian National Space Center/Corp.

• 1 Grand Challenge project (Eurydice)

• 3 Flagship projects (Lightning, Octant, and NISS)

• Multiple smaller & component projects (e.g., Digi-TIGER)

Lightning-1 & -2: Flagship Concept

• Dynamics of equatorial to high-latitude ionosphere & atmosphere

• Lightning, sprites & global electrodynamic circuit.• Greenhouse gases & climate

change, local and large-scale – measurement & verification.

• Remote sensing Australia• Gravimetric & magnetic maps of

Australia (geodesy, minerals..)• Demonstrate Australian

technologies (electric propulsion, spacecraft/comms, instruments)

• Beacon/Rec for ionospheric radars

• 1 equatorial, • 1 highly inclined.• 250-1000 km altitude (alterable)• Upgradable

L1

L2

Flagship: “Octant”

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• Connection to FedSat and international space/ground networks • Provide vital ionospheric info for SKA, NTD, MWA etc. (justify in Oz). • Provide ionospheric, atmospheric, and comms info (and cover) for national security, plus associated high-tech training.• Major industry benefits and high-tech products for export.

• ~1/8 World’s surface: Radar, optical/IR, GPS TEC & scints, magnetometer, digisonde, solar radio, and radio comms.

• Study Sun-Earth connections & space weather from Sun to magsphere

to ionosphere/ground on a global basis (pole ↔ equator).

What Space Science Do You Want to Do?

• Science? Instruments? Missions?

• What can the Decadal Plan do to help you?

• For now prefer existing or cheap instruments (< $2-10 M so missions < $20M).

• Talk to or email i.cairns@physics.usyd.edu.au or Steering Committee members.

VI. Overview & Call for Input• NCSS & the Steering Committee are developing the first

Australian Decadal Plan for Space Science: 2007-2016, www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~ncss .

• Draft Plan likely early 2007, then a Townhall meeting for community to revise & approve it.

• Plan must excite, energise, link, and redevelop the Australian space science community, as well as provide very strong national benefit.

• Detailed Plan Discussion & Workshop follow during lunch.– Tell us what (i) you want to do and (ii) the Plan can do to help you

… science, instruments …. – Provide input and then support the Plan and lobby for its adoption

by the SSC and Government. Join the Decadal Plan email list to keep informed.