THE FUTURE OF SPACE ASTRONOMY: an update of the COSPAR Road map

Paper number

IAC-15,A7,1,1,x30195

Author

Prof. Pietro Ubertini, INAF, Italy

Year

2015

Abstract

The talk will review and give an update of the Future of Space Astronomy Working Group Road-Map produced by an international independent scientific committee under the aegis of COSPAR Commission E.
The aim is to analyze the actual scenario of space astronomy with a timespan covering the next two decades and to eventually find ways to improve the prospects. 
Two years after the publication of the COSPAR WG results and road map the outlook for the next 20 years is substantially improving while a number of
important astrophysical programs are now secured. Among them the L1 and L2 ESA Large satellites and the NASA JWST, complemented by several medium and small size world-class missions. Very recently, a new endeavor is started between ESA and the Chinese Academy of Science to realize in partnership a joint scientific space mission to be selected soon.

An update of the COSPAR WG conclusions will be given, in particular considering the scenario opened by the forthcoming ESA decision for the M4 selection and the NASA plans for the new scientific missions.

Abstract document

IAC-15,A7,1,1,x30195.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-15,A7,1,1,x30195.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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