Science and Technology Interest Group
The AMMB STIG will guide NASA Astrophysics in developing its strategy for utilizing the Moon as an astrophysics platform and in fostering the growing community of astrophysicists interested in this area.
About AMMB STIG
Observations from the Moon and Mars Offer Unique Advantages Over Earth-Based or Orbital Instruments
The potential of the Moon as a platform for astrophysics is of wide and growing interest to the astrophysics community.
The Astrophysics from the Moon, Mars, and Beyond (AMMB) STIG is established with an organizational home in Physics of the Cosmos (PhysPAG) and welcomes members from all PAGs, including Cosmic Origins (COPAG) and Exoplanet Exploration (EXOPAG), and from the general astrophysics community.
In order to guide NASA Astrophysics in developing its strategy for utilizing the moon as an astrophysics platform, and to foster the growing community of astrophysicists interested in this area, an Astrophysics from the Moon, Mars, and Beyond (AMMB) STIG is established with an organizational home in Physics of the Cosmos (PhysPAG) and welcomes members from all PAGs, including Cosmic Origins (COPAG) and Exoplanet Exploration (EXOPAG), and from the general astrophysics community.
Tasks for the AMMB STIG can include the following:
- Leverage the activities of the IAU Working Group on Astronomy from the Moon and the COSPAR Panel on Planetary Protection to raise awareness of policies governing the use and preservation of the Moon and Mars environments for astrophysics and scientific research.
- Provide analysis and feedback to NASA on the impact of the Astronomy & Astrophysics Decadal Survey and other relevant National Academies reports on the subfield.
- Provide an incubator to develop science cases and mission concepts that leverage the moon and its environment as a platform for astrophysics.
- Advertise the technologies developed in support of conducting science from the moon and seek out opportunities to transfer those technologies to other domains, particularly across the Artemis and Moon-to-Mars programs.
- Identify current Astrophysics technologies that could be readily transferred and applied to Moon-to-Mars programs, focusing on opportunities that maximize cross-directorate collaboration.
- Identify and articulate technology gaps that are particular to the science cases and mission concepts utilizing the Moon as a platform.
- Serve as ambassadors to facilitate communications between NASA and the astrophysics community. In particular, explore previous studies and report, in particular those carried by the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG) to better understand their findings and how to optimize the opportunities for astrophysics missions and platforms on the moon. Act as an interface between the CLPS program, the astrophysics community, and other allied communities such as planetary sciences.
- Engage in scientific discussions and exchange of ideas through meetings and seminars to make best use of NASA assets for current research and to assist NASA in strategic planning in AMMB activities.
- Propose and organize AMMB sessions at conferences and arrange other public meetings as appropriate.
- Establish and disseminate best practices for conducting or in preparation for AMMB science, for missions both in development and in operations, and for observers and investigators.
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