1. The Case for Probe-class NASA Astrophysics Missions
- Author
-
Elvis, Martin, Arenberg, Jon, Ballantyne, David, Bautz, Mark, Beichman, Charles, Booth, Jeffrey, Buckley, James, Burns, Jack O., Camp, Jordan, Conti, Alberto, Cooray, Asantha, Danchi, William, Delabrouille, Jacques, De Zotti, Gianfranco, Flauger, Raphael, Glenn, Jason, Grindlay, Jonathan, Hanany, Shaul, Hartmann, Dieter, Helou, George, Herranz, Diego, Hubmayr, Johannes, Johnson, Bradley R., Jones, William, Kasdin, N. Jeremy, Kouvoliotou, Chryssa, Kunze, Kerstin E., Lawrence, Charles, Lazio, Joseph, Lipscy, Sarah, Lillie, Charles F., Maccarone, Tom, Madsen, Kristin C., Mushotzky, Richard, Olinto, Angela, Plavchan, Peter, Pogosian, Levon, Ptak, Andrew, Ray, Paul, Rocha, Graca M., Scowen, Paul, Seager, Sara, Tinto, Massimo, Tomsick, John, Tucker, Gregory., Ulmer, Mel, Wang, Yun, and Wollack, Edward J.
- Subjects
Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics ,Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies - Abstract
Astrophysics spans an enormous range of questions on scales from individual planets to the entire cosmos. To address the richness of 21st century astrophysics requires a corresponding richness of telescopes spanning all bands and all messengers. Much scientific benefit comes from having the multi-wavelength capability available at the same time. Most of these bands,or measurement sensitivities, require space-based missions. Historically, NASA has addressed this need for breadth with a small number of flagship-class missions and a larger number of Explorer missions. While the Explorer program continues to flourish, there is a large gap between Explorers and strategic missions. A fortunate combination of new astrophysics technologies with new, high capacity, low dollar-per-kg to orbit launchers, and new satellite buses allow for cheaper missions with capabilities approaching strategic mission levels. NASA has recognized these developments by calling for Probe-class mission ideas for mission studies, spanning most of the electromagnetic spectrum from GeV gamma-rays to the far infrared, and the new messengers of neutrinos and ultra-high energy cosmic rays. The key insight from the Probes exercise is that order-of-magnitude advances in science performance metrics are possible across the board for initial total cost estimates in the range 500M-1B dollars., Comment: Submitted to the Astro2020 Decadal Survey call for Activities, Projects or State of the Profession Consideration (APC). 10 pages
- Published
- 2020