AAS Informational Email 2005-15

Kevin B. Marvel, Deputy Executive Officer

AAS Informational Email 2005-15

Kevin B. Marvel, Deputy Executive Officer

Summary

The AAS has released a statement on the central role of
science in any successful implementation of the Vision
for Space Exploration.

Details

The AAS has adopted the following statement. A PDF version
of the statement with supporting contextual details that
led to the statement can be found at http://www.aas.org/policy/VisionStatement.pdf

*AMERICAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY STATEMENT*

*ON THE VISION FOR SPACE EXPLORATION
Adopted 11 July 2005
*

The American Astronomical Society urges that a vigorous,
focused program of scientific research form the core of the
implementation of the Vision for Space Exploration. The
President's initiative for the civilian space program
places emphasis on exploration of the Moon, Mars, and
beyond by humans and robots. Science is exploration,
whether it involves directly sampling the surface of Mars,
or gathering in the faint and ancient light of distant
galaxies. Exploration without science is tourism.

The adventure of exploration will capture the hearts of
Americans: but the scientific discoveries that come from
that exploration will capture their minds. Scientific
discoveries from NASA's new space program will provide its
most meaningful legacy. We are learning where we are, where
we came from, and we have discovered surprising new
features of the way the world works. Based on NASA's
leadership in space science, we see the Earth as one planet
among many we can now study, we see the origin of chemical
and biological matter as woven into the history of cosmic
change, and we have learned the surprising fact that, on
the largest scales, our Universe is not organized by the
material we can see, but is made mostly of dark matter and
governed by the properties of a mysterious dark energy we
have only recently discovered. We have much to explore.
The Universe holds a great deal of "beyond."

Science is essential to implement the Vision for Space
Exploration. New technologies to implement the Vision for
Space Exploration will depend on scientific advances, and,
in turn, will afford new opportunities for scientific work.
These notions are laid out in the June 2004 report of the
President's Commission on Implementation of United States
Exploration Policy and National Research Council's
assessment: Science in NASA's Vision for Space Exploration.
As we learn how to explore, we will create opportunities
for better scientific research, for more stimulating
science education, and we will contribute toward our
nation's ability to compete in a world based on technology.

We are all explorers whenever we encounter something new.
By motivating Exploration for scientific purposes, the
Vision for Space Exploration will benefit science and
society. The great successes of space science in the past
decades arise from a strong partnership between NASA and
the scientific community. The astronomical community,
through its decadal surveys and other consultations has
set priorities, and worked with NASA to make these dreams
into reality. The astronomical community embraces the
opportunity to continue to work with NASA to implement
the Vision for Space Exploration on a sound scientific
basis with broad input from the scientific community.
__________________________________________________________

Mailed to US members from aas.org 12 July 2005

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