The Astrophysics Advisory Committee (APAC) is a new FACA committee of NASA, and replaces the Astrophysics Subcommittee of the NAC SC. 

• Materials from the predecessor Subcommittee
• APAC Charter
• APAC Designated Federal Officer and Appointments
• Meeting Documents

APAC Members

• Feryal Ozel; Chair - University of Arizona
• Marshall (Mark) Bautz - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Alan Boss - Carnegie Institution of Science
• Patricia Boyd - Goddard Space Flight Center
• Laura Brenneman - Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
• John Conklin - University of Florida
• Asantha Cooray - University of California, Irvine
• Brenda Dingus - Los Alamos National Laboratory
• Debra Fischer - Yale University
• Kelly Holley-Bockelmann - Vanderbilt University
• William Jones - Princeton University
• Victoria Meadows - University of Washington
• Leonidas Moustakas - Jet Propulsion Lab
• Paul Scowen - Arizona State University
• Beth Willman - AURA/University of Arizona
• Charles Woodward - University of Minnesota

The APAC supports the advisory needs of the Astrophysics Division (APD), the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and other mission directorates as required, and NASA Administrator.  The scope of the APAC includes projects and observational and theoretical study of the origins, evolution, and destiny of the universe and the search for and study of Earth-like planets and habitable, extrasolar environments.  In addition to scientific research, the scope encompasses considerations of the development of near-term enabling technologies, systems, and computing and information management capabilities, developments with the potential to provide long-term improvements in future operational systems, as well as training of the next generation of astronomers, and education and public outreach.

APAC Meeting Documents

October 22-23, 2018

• Letter from Chair, Feryal Ozel - October 22-23, 2018
• Meeting Minutes: October 22-23, 2018
• Agenda for October 22-23, 2018
• Federal Register Notice, October 22-23, 2018
• Presentations
  • NASA Astrophysics Update - P. Hertz
  • SOFIA Mission Review Update - K. Sheth
  • Cosmic Origins Program Analysis Group Report - P. Scowen
  • Physics of the Cosmos Program Analysis Group Report - J. Conklin
  • NAS Report on Exoplanet Science Strategy - D. Charbonneau, S. Gaudi
  • NAS Report on Astrobiology Science Strategy - B. Sherwood Lollar
  • Integrated Technology Prioritization Process - B. Crill, T. Pham
  • Committee on Exoplanet Science Strategy - D. Charbonneau, S. Gaudi
  • NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) - S. Immler, B. Latter
  • WFIRST Requirements Flowdown - J. Kruk
  • Exoplanet Program Analysis Group (ExoPAG) Report - V. Meadows
  • Explorer-class Cost Caps - M. H. New
  • TESS Science Mission Status - G. Ricker
  • TESS Science Mission Status - G. Ricker (KEY file)
  • JWST - E. P. Smith

July 23-24, 2018

• Letter from Chair, Feryal Ozel - July 23-24, 2018
• Meeting Minutes for July 23-24, 2018
• Agenda for July 23-24, 2018
• Federal Register Notice, July 23-24, 2018
• Presentations
  • FACA Opening Remarks - H. Hasan
  • Astrophysics Update - P. Hertz
  • James Webb Space Telescope - E. Smith
  • Cosmic Accelerators: Gamma Rays, Neutrinos and The Dawn of Multimessenger Astrophysics - R. Caputo
  • Government Performance and Results Act/Modernization Act (GPRAMA) Annual Performance Evaluation - J. Kearns
  • The Role of PRVs to Enable and Support NASA Discoveries - D. Fischer
  • WFIRST Update - J. Kruk
  • Astrophysics Research and Analysis Update - S. Immler
  • High-End Computing Program and its Support of Astrophysics - T. Lee
  • Exoplanet Program Analysis Group (ExoPAG) Report - V. Meadows
  • Physics of the Cosmos Program Analysis Group Report - J. Conklin
  • Cosmic Origins Program Analysis Group Report - P. Scowen
  • SOFIA Update - H. Yorke
  • The Nexus for Exoplanet System Science - N. Batalha
  • SMD Science Activation Program - K. Erickson

April 11-12, 2018

• Letter from Chair, Scott Gaudi - April 11-12, 2018
• Meeting Minutes for April 11-12, 2018
• Agenda for April 11-12, 2018
• Federal Register Notice: April 11-12, 2018
• Presentations
  • A NICER View - Z. Arzoumanian
  • Physics of the Cosmos Program Analysis Group Report - J. Conklin
  • PhysPAG MMA SAG Charter - J. Conklin
  • NASA’s Balloon Program Update - D. Fairbrother
  • Big Bang to Biosignatures: The LUVOIR Mission Concept - D. Fischer
  • The Habitable Exoplanet Observatory - S. Gaudi, S. Seager, B. Mennesson, A. Kiessling, K. Warfield
  • Response to the High Risk/High Reward Charge - S. Gaudi
  • 2019 Astrophysics Senior Review - J. Hayes
  • NASA Astrophysics Update - P. Hertz
  • Plan for 2019 Astrophysics Senior Review - P. Hertz
  • R&A Update from the NASA Town Hall Meeting - P. Hertz
  • Terms of Reference Draft - P. Hertz
  • WFIRST Update - J. Kruk
  • Astrobiology Science Strategy for the Search for Life in the Universe Committee / Exoplanet Science Strategy Committee - V. Meadows
  • Exoplanet Program Analysis Group (ExoPAG) Report - V. Meadows
  • Diversity and Inclusion - M. New
  • LYNX - F. Ozel
  • TESS Science Mission Status - G. Ricker
  • COPAG Report - P. Scowen
  • James Webb Space Telescope - E. Smith
  • A Cooray for the OST STDT
  • NASA COPAG High Risk High Reward Proposal Survey Results
  • Proposed charter for the Great Observatories SAG
  • SAG Charter Addendum
  • SPB Launch to Termination Sweden 2012

October 18-19, 2017

• Letter From Chair, Scott Gaudi - October 18-19, 2017
• Meeting Minutes for Oct 18-19, 2017
• Federal Register Notice: October 18-19, 2017
• Agenda for October 18-19, 2017
• Presentations
  • Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors (AAA) - Backman
  • Physics of the Cosmos Program Analysis Group Report - M. Bautz
  • Exoplanet Program Analysis Group (ExoPAG) Report - A. Boss
  • Exoplanet Program Analysis Group (ExoPAG) Report - B. Crill, N. Siegler
  • HEO Overview and Update from Advanced Exploration Systems - J. Crusan
  • Internal Scientist Funding Model Update - D. Evans
  • Astrophysics Research Updates - D. Evans
  • Astrophysics Update - P. Hertz
  • SMD CubeSat Program Update - L. Kepko
  • Chandra (CXO) Senior Review Summary - D. Kniffen
  • HST Senior Review - R. Milkey, G. Kniffen
  • PCOS COR Programs Update - T. Pham, O. Ganel, H. Thronson
  • Cosmic Origins Program Analysis Group Report - P. Scowen
  • James Webb Space Telescope - E. Smith
  • Spitzer Space Telescope Update - L. Storrie-Lombardi, M. Werner, S. Carey

July 19-20, 2017

• Letter From Chair, Scott Gaudi
• Meeting Minutes for July 19-20, 2017
• Federal Register Notice: June 28, 2017
• Agenda for July 19-20, 2017
• Presentations
  • K2 End of Mission Science Planning - C. Sobeck
  • Cosmic Origins Program Analysis Group Report - P. Scowen
  • TESS Current Status - G. Ricker, J. Volosin
  • Lynx Mission Concept Progress Report - A. Vikhlinin, F. Ozel
  • R&A Charge to SMD Advisory Committees - Dr. Michael New
  • Government Performance and Results Act/Modernization Act (GPRAMA) Annual Performance Report Process - Kearns
  • Internal Scientist Funding Model - P. Hertz
  • Astrophysics Update - P. Hertz
  • Reaching for the Stars: NASA Science for Girl Scouts - E. DeVore, P. Harman
  • Guidelines for GPRAMA Annual Science Progress Review
  • 2017 Astrophysics Division input for Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) "Modernization Act (GRRAMA)"
  • NICER Mission Status - K. Gendreau
    • NICER Robotic Installation Animation
  • The KELT Transit Survey - KELT North and South Collaborations - S. Gaudi
  • The Habitable Exoplanet Imaging Mission (HabEx) - S. Gaudi, S. Seager, B. Mennesson, K. Warfield
  • Sub-Orbital Science, Technology and the Next Generation - M. Garcia
  • LUVOIR Study - B. Peterson, D. Fischer, A. Roberge
  • Physics of the Cosmos Program Analysis Group Report - M. Bautz
  • James Webb Space Telescope - E. Smith
  • SOFIA Science Metrics Update - B. Reach, K. Ennico Smith
  • ORIGINS Space Telescope - A. Cooray
  • Exoplanet Program Analysis Group (ExoPAG) Report - A. Boss
  • SAG 13: Exoplanet Occurrence Rates & Distributions - R. Belikov, C. Stark, N. Batalha, C. Burke
  • SAG 15 Exploring Other Worlds: Science Questions for Future Direct Imaging Missions - D. Apai
  • SAG 18 Starshade Metrics Update - T. Glassman

April 2017

• Letter From Chair, Scott Gaudi, April 24-25, 2017
• APAC April 24-25, 2017 Meeting Minutes
• Federal Register Notice: April 24-25, 2017
• APAC April 24-25, 2017 Agenda
• Presentations
  • Astrophysics Update
  • Astrophysics with Suborbital Payloads Sounding Rockets and Balloons, Thomas Hams
  • Aerospace Support to the Decadal Study Large Mission Concept Team, Debra L. Emmons, PhD.
  • Cosmic Origins Program Analysis Group Report, Paul Scowen
  • Exoplanet Program Analysis Group Report, Alan Boss
  • Ground-based Facilities as Part of the NASA Portolio, Debra Fischer
  • James Webb Space Telescope, Eric P. Smith
  • Physics of the Cosmos Program Analysis Group Report, Mike Bautz
  • SOFIA Science Update, Kimberly Ennico Smith
  • The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), G. Ricker
  • TRAPPIST-1 & SPECULOOS Planets, Michael Gillon (Liege)
  • Universe of Learning, Dr. Denise Smith
  • WFIRST Status - Uncovering the Mysteries of the Universe, Jeff Kruk

Please direct questions regarding the Astrophysics Advisory Committee to Dr. Hashima Hasan, Executive Secretary.