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6
Preparing for Tomorrow
In addition to the elements of the national astronomy enterprise described in the previous chapter
that are supported across federal agencies, there are activities in the national astronomy enterprise that are
agency-specific. These facilities, missions, and projects often involve partnerships, as discussed in
Chapter 3, which may be international, interagency, or public-private in nature. Public support of
astronomy in the United States is not limited to the federal government with several state governments
supporting ground-based astronomy and observatories, usually via state universities, and private support
playing an important role in both operational and proposed ground-based telescopes. In this chapter, the
major current and near-term agency-specific activities are described, followed by recommended agency
strategy for future facilities development.
OPERATING AND UPCOMING PROJECTS, MISSIONS, AND FACILITIES
Department of Energy
The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of High Energy Physics (OHEP) has become more
involved in particle astrophysics and cosmology in recent years, driven by the deepening scientific
connection between its fundamental physics program and astrophysics. A 2008 report from DOE’s High
Energy Physics Advisory Panel’s (HEPAP) described the Cosmic Frontier as one of three interconnected
core areas of particle physics (along with the Energy and Intensity Frontiers). 1 Several national
laboratories and the university community are involved in a program with a budget of roughly $80M in
FY09, out of a total HEP budget of about $800M, and in some scenarios this is projected to increase to
$160M by the end of the decade. In 2009, HEPAP’s Particle Astrophysics Scientific Assessment Panel
(PASAG) was charged to recommend a prioritized program in particle astrophysics for the DOE. The
ensuing report is discussed further in Chapter 7.
DOE is currently supporting a number of important astrophysics projects—including Auger-
South, the Ultra High Energy Cosmic Ray Observatory in Argentina, the Very High Energy Gamma Ray
Telescope (VERITAS) in Arizona, the Large Area Telescope (LAT) onboard the Fermi Gamma-ray
Space Telescope (see Figure 6-1), several dark energy projects including the Baryon Oscillations
Spectroscopic Survey on the Apache Point Observatory 2.5m telescope, and a new Dark Energy Camera
to be installed on the 4m Blanco Telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile,
small but pioneering efforts on CMB research, and R&D for upcoming projects. Many of these
investments are collaborative with either NASA or NSF (Astronomy and Physics). In addition, DOE
supports a vibrant program of underground dark matter direct-detection experiments and related research
and development as part of the Cosmic Frontier. DOE also continues to provide adaptive optics expertise
for instruments on ground-based telescopes. High-energy-density facilities of its National Nuclear
Security Administration and laboratory experiments growing out of the Fusion Energy Sciences program
play a growing role in laboratory astrophysics.
1 HEPAP reports including this one written by its Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel (P5) are available
at http://www.er.doe.gov/hep/panels/reports/hepap_reports.shtml.
PREPUBLICATION COPY—SUBJECT TO FURTHER EDITORIAL CORRECTION
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