In January 2017, NASA selected the new Small Explorer (SMEX) mission IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer) which uses the polarization state of light from astrophysical sources to provide insight into our understanding of X-ray production in objects such as neutron stars and pulsar wind nebulae, as well as stellar and supermassive black holes. It will also discover new worlds outside our solar system and advance the search for worlds that could be suitable for life. Roman will aid researchers in their efforts to unravel the secrets of dark energy and dark matter, and explore the evolution of the cosmos. In spring of 2020, WFIRST was renamed the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. In February 2016, NASA formally started the top Astro2010 decadal recommendation, the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST). Also in work are detectors for ESA's Euclid mission and hardware for JAXA's XRISM (X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy) to provide breakthroughs in the study of structure formation of the universe, outflows from galaxy nuclei, and dark matter.Ĭompleting the missions in development, supporting the operational missions, and funding the research and analysis programs will consume most of the Astrophysics Division resources. Currently in development, with especially broad scientific utility, is the James Webb Space Telescope. The near future will be dominated by several missions. NASA-funded investigators also participate in observations, data analysis and developed instruments for the astrophysics missions of our international partners, including ESA's XMM-Newton. Many of these missions have achieved their prime science goals, but continue to produce spectacular results in their extended operations. All of the missions together account for much of humanity's accumulated knowledge of the heavens. SOFIA, an airborne observatory for infrared astronomy, is in its extended mission phase. Innovative Explorer missions, such as the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, NuSTAR, TESS, as well as Mission of Opportunity NICER, complement the Astrophysics strategic missions. Additionally, the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope explores the high-energy end of the spectrum. The current suite of operational Great Observatories include the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The Astrophysics current missions include three of the Great Observatories originally planned in the 1980s and launched over the past 28 years. These focused programs provide an intellectual framework for advancing science and conducting strategic planning. Current ProgramsĪstrophysics comprises of three focused and two cross-cutting programs. Please visit the " 2020 Decadal Planning" page for additional information about survey. The National Academies have started work on the 2020 Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Are we alone? - Discover and study planets around other stars, and explore whether they could harbor life.How did we get here? - Explore the origin and evolution of the galaxies, stars and planets that make up our universe.How does the universe work? - Probe the origin and destiny of our universe, including the nature of black holes, dark energy, dark matter and gravity.NASA's goal in Astrophysics is to "Discover how the universe works, explore how it began and evolved, and search for life on planets around other stars." Three broad scientific questions emanate from these goals.
And we will search for the signature of life on other worlds, perhaps to learn that we are not alone. We are discovering how planetary systems form and how environments hospitable for life develop.
Astro vision name finder full#
We are starting to investigate the very moment of creation of the universe and are close to learning the full history of stars and galaxies.
The science goals of the SMD Astrophysics Division are breathtaking: we seek to understand the universe and our place in it. In the Science Mission Directorate (SMD), the Astrophysics division studies the universe.
0 kommentar(er)
