IACG

20th meeting, La Jolla, CA, USA


 

September 27-28, 2000

Summary of discussions and action items

General Policy Matters

During the intervening period from the 19th meeting in Okinawa and in line with the resolutions there adopted (cfr. the Summary conclusion of the 19th meeting), the Preparatory Group had successfully carried out its task and new Terms of Reference for the IACG had been formulated and recently approved by the four Heads of Delegation. In accordance with the new rules, the IACG was presently meeting in a much smaller circle than heretofore to discuss items of an agenda that reflected the new emphasis on forward consultations and discussions on the future planning of the member Agencies. New tools (Task Groups and Working Groups) had been identified in the new Terms to put into practice the decisions of the Heads of Delegation.

Agency Program Status overviews

ESA underlined the on-going discussions in Europe to achieve a closer coordination between the EU and ESA’s activities, that also applies to space science. Presently the Science programme has 6 missions in development with launch within 2007. Recently ESA’s scientific advisory bodies recommended a package of 5 new missions (including two cornerstones and two sizable collaborations with NASA) to be launched within the next twelve years. This additional programme depends on the re-introduction in the science budget of adjustments for inflation and on a decision to be taken by SPC in October 2000.
ISAS has an approved programme of 5 missions to be launched within 2005. ISAS and NASDA will be transferred under the new Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport, Science and Technology.A merger of ISAS and NASDA is not a current issue. The ISAS budget is expected to slightly decrease in the next year.
RASA*. The situation is slowly stabilizing. The internal and international restructure ha been completed. The launches show an unbroken line of successes. Within Space science, some projects are completed or in advanced development (Coronas-F, Spectrum X-Gamma), some in the Phase B (Phobos-Grunt) and others are planned but not yet included in the Russian Federal Space Programme to 2005. The budget, presently heavily earmarked for Astronomy will switch after 2003 in favour of Planetary Exploration.The Space Plasma and Sun-Earth connections line remains stable.

* (RASA: Russian Aviation and Space Agency)

NASA’s on-going programme is articulated in different scientific lines (Discovery, Solar Terrestrial Probes, Mars, Outer Planets, Origins Observatories, Explorers) wherein several missions are in development and to be launched within 2004.The Mars programme is being reviewed and a preliminary outline will be presented in November. A new management structure has been set up with single focus responsibility at NASA HQ.

The updated Strategic Plan is all but completed and will be available shortly. The yearly budget, after a dip in 1997, is steadily increasing, but so are real and expected costs. Many estimates regarding projects cost and technological preparedness proved too optimistic and this ultimately has had, or threatened to have, negative effects on project reliability. The OSS budget is about 22% of the total NASA annual budget.

Agencies Future Planning

Solar System Exploration

ESA’s programme focuses on the study of the evolution of the planetary system and foresees the development and launch until 2009 of 4 missions to the Moon, Mars, Mercury and a comet, of which two are cornerstones (Rosetta (2003) and the newly approved BepiColombo (2009)). European national projects are also contributing to the Mars programme.

ISAS’s programme is built along three main axis: Planetary Interior from Moon to Mars, Mercury; Planetary Atmospheres (Mars and Venus) and Primitive Bodies. Approved missions include: Lunar-A, Selene, Cooperation on BepiColombo, Muses-C. Planned are a further continuation of the Selene series, a set of Asteroid SR missions after Muses-C and a Venus Orbiter and Venus Balloon.

RASA has only one project within this theme in the Federal Space Plan: the Phobos-Grunt sample return project and intends to participate with scientific packages in other Agencies’ Mars missions.

NASA.Beyond the Mars Orbiter (2001) and the Twin Rovers (2003), the Mars programme is being reformulated and a first outline will be presented in November 2000. In the Outer Planets line the Europa Orbiter is presently planned for launch in 2006 and beyond it missions to Pluto and Titan are planned (subsequent to Cassini/Huygens).An as yet to be approved To build a Planet line would in the long term include a Comet Nucleus Sample Return project.

Through open and frequent competitions, the Discovery mission line provides opportunities in focused areas for more rapid response than strategic planning processes to new scientific and technological opportunities.

Findings. Involvement of all Member Agencies (and some national agencies of Europe) in Mars Exploration that is coordinated within the IMEWG. The Small Bodies Exploration programme involves all members and is coordinated by the present Working Group 1 of IACG that also deals with the ESA, ISAS, NASA Mercury programme. The important effort of Japan on Lunar exploration does not find a correspondence within the other agencies. The need is recognized for more efficient propulsion systems to make planetary exploration more efficient and with faster scientific returns.

Sun and Heliosphere

ESA. The programme is centered on Cluster, SOHO and the newly recommended Solar Orbiter to be launched early in the next decade. To the programme contribute a number of national initiatives within Europe.
ISAS. The future planning involves a multispacecraft electron dynamics mission (Geotail 2) a solar mission (Solar-B (2005)) and the study of the magnetosphere of Mercury (MMO of BepiColombo).
RASA.Coronas-F is a solar observatory included in the present Federal Space Plan (up to 2005). Candidates for the next plan (up to 2010) are a multi-s/c plasma physics mission (ROY) and a Sun and Heliosphere High Resolution Observer (InterHelioProbe).
NASA. A large programme is planned which includes in the Solar Terrestrial Probes line projects: STEREO (04), MMS (06), GEC (08), MagCon (10) and a Solar-B (ISAS). Of great significance is the likely imminent approval of a new line Living with a Star with a fleet of missions up to the end of the decade (Solar Dynamic Observatory, Solar Sentinels, Magnetospheric Mappers, Ionospheric Mappers and Solar Probe).

Findings. With the run down of ISTP and in front of the vast number of new initiatives of the agencies there is ground for an evaluation of a possible coordination by IACG of a significant international programme involving all member agencies.

Astronomy and Astrophysics
ESA.The programme, supported by a number of European national projects, features projects from far-IR to X-gamma Rays, including the First cornerstone (launch:2007) and the newly recommended GAIA astrometry cornerstone (2012). It also includes projects in fundamental physics: test of the equivalence principle (STEP w. NASA), gravity waves (LISA w. NASA) and exploring the Big Bang (Planck). In many of the projects International and European national partners are involved on a bilateral basis. Large interferometric and high-throughput facilities are identified in the next decade but at costs that exceed at present the capabilities of ESA and possibly also of bilateral cooperations.
ISAS. The programme focuses on the study of the early Universe and large scale structures, of the formation of stars and planets, and of the physics in extreme situations It includes projects in X-ray astronomy: ASTRO-EII (05), NEXT-X (09) and collaboration with ESA on XEUS; in IR astronomy: ASTRO-F (04) and SPICA (~10); and Radio astronomy: VSOP-2 (08) and follow ups.Later missions could include a successor of SOLAR-B, an IR astrometry project, an OoE Mission.
RASA. The most advanced project is Spectrum X-Gamma, presently being considered for launch in 2003, subject to obtaining financial support from other Agencies. Thereafter the planning includes Spectrum-UV and Spectrum-Radio.
NASA Two roadmaps define the programme: Structure and Evolution of the Universe, and the Astronomical Search for Origins. Several projects at different stages of definition and development are regrouped within scientific lines, some of which approved (Origins Observatories) and some yet to be (Cosmic Journeys). Projects planned for launch within the decade are: GLAST, Constellation-X, LISA (in coop. w. ESA), SIM and ST-3. In the next decade large facilities with high spectral and imaging resolution in the HE and the IR regimes are foreseen.

Findings. In this theme large and sophisticated facilities are planned in the next decade in the main two domains: high energy with large area facilities in X-?-Cosmic Rays and low energy with large IR-optical interferometers and astrometric facilities. The scientific and technological challenges and the costs involved in these projects strongly call for consultations, coordination and identification of possible collaborations among the member agencies (and possibly others) at the earliest possible stage.

Status and reports of the current Working Groups.

WG 1 on Solar System Exploration

Active along two main axes: Small Bodies Exploration (including NEOs) with involvement of all member agencies and Mercury exploration with participation of NASA, ISAS and ESA. Information on last year activities and on the future plan of action was available in the written report distributed to the participants.

Working Group 2 on ISTP.

The harvest of scientific results is very high and expected to further increase in future through the entry in operation of Cluster.The WG made several recommendations that were briefly discussed. A written report was available.

Working Group 4 on Tracking, Commanding and Data Acquisition.

During 2000, major steps have been made on interoperability issues, as described in the written report. This will continue next year. The Group will also address its role with respect to similar other inter-Agency groups and will make recommendations.

IMEWG

A detailed written report was available outlining the past activities and pointing out at the importance of the forthcoming November 2000 meeting in Helsinki at which time the NASA revised programme would be available and consequently a general strategy and missions schedule up to 2010 could be discussed.

ILEWG

It was orally reported that the Group held the 4th International Conference on Exploration and Utilisation of the Moon (ICEUM4) at ESTEC, in July 2000.

Decisions on Task Groups and Working Groups

It was decided to abandon the numbering of Groups in favour of an explicit theme description.

The following Task Groups were established:

Task Group on “The international Living with a Star Programme”

Task: To survey the missions in planning, to explore the possibility of an international programme in Sun-Earth connections as a follow up to ISTP, and identify the potential for coordination and collaborations among the member agencies.

Duration: one year. Report to be delivered to IACG at its 2001 meeting.

Group core members: G. WithbroeNASA HQConvener

M. CoradiniESA HQ

T. KosugiISAS

L. ZelenyiIKI

Task Group on “Large optical-I.R interferometers”

Task: To survey missions in future planning and to identify the potential for coordination and collaborations among the member agencies.

Duration: one year. Report to be delivered to IACG at its 2001 meeting.

Group core members:S. VolontéESA HQConvener

C. BeichmanNASA/JPL

T. MatsumotoISAS

TBDRussia

Task Group on “Large X-ray Observatories”

Task: To survey missions in future planning and to identify the potential for coordination and collaborations among the member agencies.

Duration: one year. Report to be delivered to IACG at its 2001 meeting.

Group core members:N. WhiteNASA/GSFCConvener

H. InoueISAS

B. Taylor (TBC) ESA

`TBDRussia

The following decisions were made as regards Working Groups:

Working Group on “Solar System Exploration”

The IACG agreed with the foreseen course of actions and policies.

Working Group on “ISTP”.

The IACG expressed its highest appreciation for the accomplishments of the Group and noted that the IACG coordination had positively contributed to the success of this scientific endeavor The on-going scientific activities are now successfully conducted on their own. The Heads of Delegation resolved therefore to terminate the activity of the WG 2 on “ISTP” within the framework of IACG. In so doing they expressed the certitude that the science programmme will be successfully continued, (including the Recommendations contained in the last written report of the Group) within the framework of COSPAR

Working Group on “Tracking, Commanding and Data Acquisition”.

The IACG takes note of the report and expects to discuss at its 21 meeting the recommendations of the group on its role relative to similar other inter-agency groups.

Furthermore the IACG requests the Working Group to review the present capabilities of the existing infrastructure, make a projection of the future requirements, based on the plans of the member agencies and discuss possible coordination and sharing of tasks.

and recommendation to:

IMEWG

A key element in the strategy of planetary exploration is the complementarity between in-situ science and return sample science. The IACG is keen to have an evaluation of the matter. The IACG invites IMEWG to discuss this subject as regards Mars, possibly at a workshop, and to issue an analysis, if feasible, within the next 6-8 months in advance of the next IACG meeting. 

Terms of Reference and other policy questions regarding IACG

The Terms of Reference of July 2000 had been formally approved by the Heads of Delegation. Upon request of Dr. Polischuk the following sentence (to be consigned in the minutes) was agreed by all Heads of Delegation:

“Modifications, additions or deletions to these Terms can be introduced at any time upon proposal of at least one Head and upon consensual agreement of all Heads of Delegation”

The need for future international collaboration, the modes for its execution and the interaction with scientific community were elements of a discussion introduced by a study of the ESF carried out on request of ESA’s Director of Science. NASA also had expressed some considerations within that general context. The ESF main conclusion that a mechanism be set up to enable periodic discussions among agencies leading to collaboration for larger missions and coordination for focused missions within the agencies road maps, supported by the input of scientific thematic panels, was found to be useful and indeed in line with the new procedures foreseen for the IACG. Improvements and adaptations could be introduced as experience was gained of the new procedures and mechanisms.

Agency points of contact.

M. AllenNASAA. KorostelevRASA

T. MatsumotoISASG. CavalloESA

Date and Place of next meeting

An informal approach had been made to Dr.Manno with the invitation to hold the 21st meeting of IACG in September 2001 in Padova where 20 years earlier IACG was founded and 15 years earlier it met to celebrate the highly successful completion of the Comet Halley encounters, the first coordination phase of IACG.

The Heads of Delegation gratefully accepted the proposal.

It was agreed that the next meeting would be held over two days, with the first dedicated to hearing the reports of the Groups and the second to the IACG meeting proper.

Acknowledgements

The Chairman, Dr. Weiler, expressed the greatest admiration and gratitude of all Delegations to Dr.Bonnet who had led the ESA Delegation uninterruptedly since 1983 and would relinquish his position as Director of Science of ESA prior to the next meeting. The IACG owed much to his untiring dedication to international collaboration.

Dr. Bonnet remarked that in particular multiparty international collaboration demands continuous dedication and effort. IACG is good example of it and he was particularly happy that IACG continued under new rules to meet the challenges of the future.

Dr. Bonnet, also on behalf of the other Delegations, thanked NASA for the hospitality and the excellent conduct of the meeting.

Dr. Edward WeilerDr. Roger Bonnet

Head of the NASA DelegationHead of the ESA Delegation

Chairman of the 20th meeting
 
 





 














Dr. Hiroki MatsuoDr. Georgiy Polischuk

Head of the ISAS DelegationHead of the RASA Delegation

List of Participants

ESA DelegationRASA* Delegation

R. BonnetHeadG. PolischukHead (27.09)

G. CavalloA. GaleevHead(28.09)

L. CulhaneA. Korostelev

R. Sunyaev(part time)

ISAS DelegationNASA Delegation

H. MatsuoHeadE. WeilerHead

K. TsurudaM. Allen

T. MatsumotoD. Rausch

M. CoradiniChairman Working Group

on Solar System Exploration S. Copeland (logistics)

V. Manno Executive Secretary T. Tawney (trainee intl. off.)

* RASA: Russian Aviation and Space Agency

Documentation distributed

·Report of the IACG Working Group 1 on: Coordination of the missions to the Small Bodies of the Solar System.

·Annual report of IACG WG2 on "Heliospheric and Magnetospheric Physics

·Report of the IACG Working Group 4 on “Tracking, Commanding and Data Acquisition”.

·International Mars Exploration Working Group (IMEWG) Activity Rep.1999/2000

·Report of the International Space Science Institute (ISSI)

·Photocopies of Agency presentations on Programme status and Future Planning

·Summary of results of the Study by the ESSC of ESF on “Future of International Collaboration in Space Science”.