Inter-Agency Consultative Group
for Space Science
IACG
Presentation at the Symposium on
Recent Progress and Future Plans for Exploration of
the Solar System
UNISPACE III
Vienna, 22 July 1999
IACG Phases of Activity
Phase 1(1981-1986): Halley Comet Exploration
Spacecraft: Giotto, Vega 1-Vega 2, Suisei, Sakigake
Ground International Halley Watch
Phase 2 (1987-2001/3): Solar Terrestrial Science
Spacecraft about 25 from the four Agencies (SOHO, Interball Aurora and Interball Tail, Polar, Wind, Geotail, Cluster, Ulysses, Yohkoh, Coronas etc.
Ground based observations
Phase 3 (1996- ): Solar System Exploration with focus on Small Bodies.
Spacecraft (Rosetta, Muses-C, NEAR, Stardust, DS-1, Contour, SMART 1, Phobos, Pluto Kuiper Express etc)
Ground based observations
Phase 2: Solar Terrestrial Science
The IACG mission coordination is primarily achieved through conducting specific campaigns, each of which has a definitive scientific focus.
A "Campaign" involves the coordinated collection, analysis, interpretation, and eventual publication of core and ancillary data sets from multi-spacecraft and
ground based observations covering limited time periods to achieve specific scientific objectives. Aspects of a campaign include: determination of campaign
objectives, identification of key observing time periods, identification and coordination of required data sets, and coordination of data analysis.
There are currently five IACG campaigns in the planning or implementation stage:
The First IACG Campaign - Magnetotail Energy Flow and the Role of Non-Linear Dynamics
Lead Coordinator for Campaign 1: Dr. James L Green
The Second IACG Campaign - Boundaries in Collisionless Plasma
Lead Coordinators for Campaign 2: Dr. H. Kawano and Dr. S. Savin
Co-Coordinators for Geospace: Dr. I. Sandahl and Dr. N. Maynard
The Third IACG Campaign - Solar Events and their Manifestations in Interplanetary Space and in Geospace
Lead Coordinator for Campaign 3: Dr. Richard A. Harrison
Co-Coordinator: Dr. Daniel N. Baker
The Fourth IACG Campaign - Solar Sources of Three Dimensional Structures in the Solar Wind
Lead Coordinators for Campaign 4: Dr. Antoinette B. Galvin and Dr. Hugh Hudson
The Fifth IACG Campaign - Solar Maximum Science
Lead Coordinators for Campaign 5: To be determined.
Present IACG Organizational Structure
The IACG set up a structure to carry out its current and potential future space science coordination activities. Therein working groups deal with all matters
concerning coordination among missions within the approved areas of activity of the IACG and panels deal with promising scientific areas that benefit from
interagency coordination .
Working Group 1 will focus on coordination of exploration of the small bodies in the Solar System (Phase 3 of IACG).
Working Group 2 continues coordination in science, data analysis and spacecraft operations among the ISTP missions througout the next solar maximum.
Working Group 3 focusses on policies, procedures and standards of data archiving of the space missions within the IACG areas.
Working Group 4 is to focus on tracking, commanding and data acquisition inter operability between the four Agencies.
Panel 1 promotes complementarity of capabilities and coordination of observing programmes of the H.E Astrophysics facilities.
Panel 2 focusses on coordination of "key projects" (SIRTF, ASTRO-F, NGST, FIRST), coordination of multiple IR/sub-mm contributions to
NEOs data base in the Planetary Data System and coordination of conferences in the subject area.
Panel 3 serves as a planning forum for the development of appropriate technologies and infrastructure for future space VLBI missions.
INTER-AGENCY CONSULTATIVE GROUP FOR SPACE SCIENCE
(IACG)
November 4, 1986
TERMS OF REFERENCE (short version)
The objectives of the Inter-Agency Consultative Group for Space Science (IACG) are to maximize opportunities for multilateral scientific
coordination among approved space science missions in areas of mutual interest. The IACG is a multi-agency international forum in which space science
activities are discussed on an informal basis among representatives of the member agencies.
2. POLICIES
Where mutually agreed by the participating agencies, the IACG serves as a vehicle for coordination efforts among approved space science missions on a
multilateral basis.
Exchanges of information on future plans and potential science missions are desirable, and take place during periodic IACG meetings. However, the
IACG does not have a formal planning role for future missions.
The IACG does not supplant bilateral cooperative space science activities and arrangements, nor does it serve as a substitute for existing mechanisms
for managing specific multilateral space science projects.
The IACG leadership (agency delegation heads) is comprised of senior space agency representatives in order to maintain the overall efficiency and
productivity of the group.
In addition, where appropriate, the IACG may consider the participation of organized ground-based scientific communities in order to enhance the
overall benefit from such multilateral coordination (as was done, for example, with the International Halley Watch).
The IACG will continue its role as a forum for inter-agency discussions in space science for as long as deemed useful by the participating agencies. The
IACG will review its overall effectiveness and continued need for existence at regular intervals.
3. MEMBERSHIP
The IACG has the following members (listed in alphabetical order):
the European Space Agency (ESA)
the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), Japan
the Intercosmos Council, USSR Academy of Sciences (Intercosmos)
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
4. DISCIPLINE(S)
The IACG concentrates on a single discipline area of approved space science projects as a focal point for a number of years, much as it did successfully with Comet Halley