OIR Long Range Planning Committee

In the decadal survey Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Millennium the Astronomy and Astrophysics Survey Committee outlined the next generation of astronomical facilities and stressed that “effective national organizations are essential to coordinate, and to ensure the success and efficiency of, these systems. These national organizations should work with the universities and independent observatories in developing the next generation of telescopes.” This is elaborated in a later chapter. “Community participation in major national telescope initiatives must be led by an effective national astronomy organization working in concert with universities and similar institutions. Such an organization should in turn be subject to close community oversight with appropriate advisory bodies. It should lead the development of a strategic plan for the evolution of the capabilities of the system by organizing discussions involving the NSF, the independent observatories, the academic community, and industry.” To plot out a deliberate path, as opposed to a random walk, NOAO will convoke a committee composed of representatives of the top ranked specialist committees in the OIR community.

The delivered long range planning document will lay out the context for near- and intermediate-term decisions and actions in respect of the system of major OIR ground-based facilities, looking forward from 2005 as far as 2030. Two decadal surveys will occur before 2025, and these will outrank this roadmap. The plan will show how present investments realize the new initiatives, illustrate convergence paths, lay the basis for facility closures and transfers, and address community structural change. In order to coordinate with space-based facilities, the NASA OSS strategic plan will be studied. Logical decision points for public investment and disinvestment will be highlighted. Decision points that follow the design and development phase of LSST and GSMT will be articulated by the committee in detail, together with a budget profile for NSF funds. The report will be submitted to NSF and CAA.