Astrophysics Programs
The Astrophysics Division has three focused programs (Physics of the Cosmos, Cosmic Origins and Exoplanet Exploration) which provide an intellectual framework for advancing science and strategic planning, with each program primarily addressing one of the three broad scientific questions. Two cross-cutting programs complement the focused programs. The Astrophysics Explorers Program develops and operates smaller, PI-led missions and the Astrophysics Research Program supports basic and applied research activities including suborbital flight investigations, as well as the development and maturation of technologies for future strategic and competed missions.
The Physics of the Cosmos (PhysCOS) Program is one of three focused programs contained within NASA's Astrophysics Division (APD), together with Cosmic Origins (COR) and the Exoplanet Exploration Program (ExEP). PhysCOS lies at the intersection of physics and astronomy. Its purpose is to explore some of the most fundamental questions regarding the physical forces and laws of the universe: the validity of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity and the nature of spacetime, the behavior of matter and energy in extreme environments, the cosmological parameters governing inflation and the evolution of the universe, and the nature of dark matter and dark energy.
The Cosmic Origins Program includes telescopes that together operate across much of the electromagnetic spectrum. From the iconic Hubble Space Telescope’s groundbreaking science to the future discoveries awaiting us with the James Webb Space Telescope and more to come, Cosmic Origin's facilities help us in our search for answers to the biggest questions about our universe and its origins.
The Exoplanet Exploration Program (ExEP) is responsible for implementing NASA’s plans for the discovery and understanding of planetary systems around nearby stars. ExEP serves the science community and NASA by acting a as focal point for exoplanet science and technology, and by the integration of cohesive strategies for future discoveries. The Program in depth explains the motivations and activities of the Program in more detail.
Small- and medium-class, PI-led Astrophysics missions, as well as Astrophysics missions of opportunity, are selected under the Astrophysics Explorers Program, and are managed by the Astrophysics Division. Explorers are opportunities for focused scientific investigations, and fill the scientific gaps between the larger missions. For example, the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) is conducting a census of black holes for the Physics of the Cosmos program and studying the birth of elements for the Cosmic Origins program. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is now in operations identifying terrestrial planets in the habitable zones of nearby stars. The Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) mission of opportunity has been mounted on the space station and is measuring the variability of cosmic X-ray sources to explore the exotic states of matter within neutron stars and reveal their interior and surface compositions.
Astrophysics Research
NASA Balloon Program: Large unmanned helium balloons provide NASA with an inexpensive means to place payloads into a space environment. The unique capabilities of this program are crucial for the development of new technologies and payloads for NASA's space flight missions. Many important scientific observations in fields such as hard x-ray/gamma- ray and infra-red astronomy, cosmic rays and atmospheric studies have been made from balloons. The newly developed capability is focused on thin-film high altitude balloons for higher altitude flights and super pressure balloons for long duration ballooning has greatly expanded the opportunities for scientific studies from balloons.
NASA Sounding Rockets (managed by Heliophysics Division): Sounding rockets carry scientific instruments into space along parabolic trajectories, providing nearly vertical traversals along their upleg and downleg, while appearing to "hover" near their apogee location. Whereas the overall time in space is brief (typically 5-20 minutes), for a well-placed scientific experiment launched into a geophysical phenomena of interest, the short time and low vehicle speeds are more than adequate (in some cases they are ideal) to carry out a successful scientific experiment. Furthermore, there are some important regions of space that are too low to be sampled by satellites (i.e., the lower ionosphere/thermosphere and mesosphere below 120 km altitude) and thus sounding rockets provide the only platforms that can carry out direct in-situ measurements in these regions.
Pioneers Program: The Pioneers Program is a new program started in 2020 which is intended to do compelling astrophysics science at a lower cost using smaller hardware than missions in the Explorers Program. Missions will include SmallSats, major Balloon payloads, and modest payloads attached to the International Space Station with a $20M cost cap.
Astrophysics Division Technology: The Pioneers Program is a new program started in 2020 which is intended to do compelling astrophysics science at a lower cost using smaller hardware than missions in the Explorers Program. Missions will include SmallSats, major Balloon payloads, and modest payloads attached to the International Space Station with a $20M cost cap.
The Habitable Worlds Observatory is a large infrared/optical/ultraviolet space telescope recommended by the National Academies’ Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s. It would be the first telescope designed specifically to search for signs of life on planets orbiting other stars. NASA is further prioritizing its long-running search for life in the universe and laying the groundwork for its next flagship astrophysics mission after the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (slated to launch by May 2027). This observatory would simultaneously provide powerful capabilities for transformational astrophysics discoveries, from our cosmic backyard of the solar system to the distant universe and everything in between.
The Astrophysics Strategic Missions Program (ASMP) consists of large, strategic missions that seek to advance high-priority science objectives set forth by the astrophysics science community to understand how the universe works, explore how it began and evolved, and search for life on planets around other stars. ASMP is implementing the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a mandate from the 2010 Decadal Survey in Astronomy and Astrophysics. After Roman, the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), the top priority of the 2020 Decadal Survey in Astronomy and Astrophysics, will be NASA’s next flagship space telescope optimized to search for Earth-like planets. At the start of pre-formulation, the HWO would transfer from the Great Observatories Maturation Program (GOMAP) to ASMP.
