Cornell astronomers and have been named chairs for two of the six panels for the 2023-2032.
Hayes, associate professor of astronomy in the 麻豆视频 and 麻豆视频 and director of the Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science, will chair the . Lunine, the David C. Duncan Professor in the Physical 麻豆视频 and chair of the Department of Astronomy (A&S), will chair the . Both are fellows of the .
The four other panels in the Planetary survey are: Small Solar System Bodies; Mars; Venus; and Mercury and the Moon.
Prepared by the National Academies every 10 years and sponsored by NASA and the National Science Foundation, decadal surveys in various areas of space science are the mechanisms by which NASA and other federal agencies develop comprehensive science and mission strategies to guide future research and flight projects.
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In addition to the survey on Planetary Science, other surveys focus on Astronomy and Astrophysics, Earth Science and Applications from Space, Solar and Space Physics, and Biological and Physical 麻豆视频. Cornell Astronomy is represented on the Astronomy and Astrophysics decadal survey with professors and , Ph.D. 鈥85, and assistant professor serving as panel members.
鈥淲hile the survey results are not binding on NASA, they carry considerable influence on how the space agency sets priorities for new missions and on Congress in considering whether to fund such missions,鈥 Lunine said.
, professor emeritus and former principal investigator for the Mars Exploration Rover Project, was the overall chair of the last Planetary Decadal Survey, which set a research strategy for 2013-2022.
鈥淐ornell Astronomy providing two panel chairs to the current planetary decadal, as well as having hosted the chair of the previous planetary decadal is, in my opinion, a reflection of the department鈥檚 history and strength in the field of planetary exploration,鈥 said Hayes, who鈥檚 also director of Cornell鈥檚 Spacecraft Planetary Image Facility.
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As panel chair, Hayes will lead a group of experts in determining what mission concepts related to ocean worlds and dwarf planet systems need to be studied for potential inclusion in the survey鈥檚 overall recommendations to NASA. Lunine will lead a panel focused on research into the solar system鈥檚 giant planets and their rings, moons and magnetic space environments.
Both also will help to organize and write the science-themed chapters of the survey鈥檚 final report.
鈥淭he panels examine the most pressing questions about their particular part of the solar system,鈥 Lunine said, 鈥渁nd what kinds of future missions are most important for answering these questions raised by the results of previous space missions.鈥
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