NASA strategic astrophysics technology investments: a decade of benefits, outlook informed by the 2020 Decadal Survey

Abstract

NASA has launched a long and storied series of ambitious strategic astrophysics missions, such as the Hubble Space Telescope, Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, Chandra X-ray Observatory, and Spitzer Space Telescope, with the recently launched James Webb Space Telescope set to join their ranks in producing incomparable science results. Continuing such a record of success requires ever-more-advanced technologies, as the science requirements of each new mission are more challenging than those of its predecessors. Maturing technologies across the mid-range of Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), from 3 to 6, the so-called “Mid-TRL gap,” is crucial to developing indispensable components for such missions, a fact that was historically not appreciated. Recognizing this gap, in 2009, NASA’s Astrophysics Division established the Strategic Astrophysics Technology (SAT) Program. In the decade plus since, the SAT program, along with direct funding of certain technology-development efforts, has provided a wide array of benefits including significant milestones, such as TRL maturation, infusion of technologies into projects and missions, training the astrophysics workforce, and many more. The technology development and maturation projects funded by NASA Astrophysics are managed by the Cosmic Origins, Exoplanet Exploration, and Physics of the Cosmos Programs (COR, ExEP, and PCOS, respectively). Since 2009, over 140 projects have been funded on over 80 technology topics, with dozens advancing their TRL, and over 2/3 leading to technology infusions. We present the portfolio distribution in terms of specific technology areas addressed including optics, detectors, coatings, coronagraphs, starshade, lasers, electronics, cooling, etc. We show an analysis of the rate of TRL advances, infusion, and other benefits. Finally, we present Astrophysics Division’s strategic technology investment priorities following the recent release of the Decadal Survey, “Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s” (Astro2020).