In November 2006, STScI hosted a workshop entitled "Astrophysics Enabled by the Return to the Moon" in support of NASA's Vision for Space Exploration. In conjunction with this initiative, STScI is interested in exploring opportunities for lunar science programs that utilize the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). To that end, STScI is soliciting white papers that outline potential science programs. Those papers will contribute to the preparations for a Lunar Science Initiative, involving of order 30 orbits of Director's Discretionary Time allocated in Cycle 18.
Two new instruments will be installed in HST during Servicing Mission 4 (SM4), Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) and the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS). WFC3 is the first wide-field imager at near-infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths, and COS has unparalleled sensitivity for spectroscopy in the near- and far-UV. Replacement gyros and batteries will also be installed and key facets of the telescope infrastructure upgraded. In addition, plans are currently being developed for repairs to the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) and the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS). These repairs will be made on a best effort basis, and are not guaranteed. However, even if the repairs are not successful, the post-SM4 HST will be poised to build on past successes and enable new breakthroughs.
Lunar observations with HST are rendered difficult by the highly variable rate of angular motion and the fact that guide stars are not available for the Fine Guidance Sensors. Nonetheless, HST has successfully observed the Moon for four science programs, most recently in 2005 for GO 10719 (PI J. Garvin). HST observations are also being planned in support of the LCROSS mission. Lunar observations are made under gyro control, and require three operating gyros. Consequently, such observations cannot be undertaken until after SM4 when HST will return to three-gyro observing mode.
A basic guide to Lunar observing with HST is given in HST User Information Report UIR-2007-01: Observing the Moon (linked from the HST Documents page, http://www.stsci.edu/hst/HST_overview/documents. STScI will accept proposals for lunar observations as part of the standard Call for Proposals for Cycle 17 (and subsequent cycles). Those proposals will be assessed by the appropriate panels of the standard Time Allocation Committee (TAC). The proposal deadline for Cycle 17 is March 8, 2008.
Each lunar program, however, offers its own challenges. STScI and the HST Project do not have the resources to develop additional observing lunar observing techniques before SM4. It is therefore likely that technical considerations will limit any Cycle 17 lunar programs to those that duplicate past lunar programs. However, STScI is interested in exploring other observing scenarios that could support NASA?s Vision for Space Exploration. Consequently, we are soliciting white papers both to assess the scientific potential of HST lunar observations, and to identify areas that are likely to demand allocation of resources for technical development.
We solicit brief white papers from the community of maximum length 3 pages describing lunar science projects. The white papers should summarize the anticipated science objectives and discuss their import, urgency and timeliness. The white papers should explain why HST is uniquely suited to accomplishing these objectives. Finally the white paper should provide a preliminary assessment of feasibility - via calculations or simulations showing that the required sensitivity, spatial or spectral resolution, signal to noise, or other appropriate parameters can be achieved.
These white papers are neither proposals nor the equivalent of letters of intent. You are not required to submit a white paper in order to be eligible to propose an HST Lunar Program, either through the standard Call for Proposals or through a separate process. However, we strongly encourage you to submit a white paper with your best ideas if you are interested in the establishment of an exploratory Lunar Science Initiative. The decision on whether or not to establish this initiative will be based primarily on the assessment of the merit of the science described in the white papers.
In order to ensure confidentiality, the white papers will be reviewed by a small advisory committee (the Lunar Advisory Group: LAG), which will include representatives from the both Lunar Science community and the STScI Science Policies Division. In addition, STScI staff associated with the HST Mission Office will assess the technical feasibility of the proposed observations. Members of the LAG and STScI personnel involved in the technical assessment will undertake not to apply for HST time as part of any subsequent Lunar Initiative. Based on the results from those assessments, the LAG will make a recommendation to the Director on the advisability of proceeding with the Lunar Science Initiative.
If the recommendation from the LAG is positive, the STScI Director is prepared to allocate of order 30 orbits in Cycle 18 for lunar observations. In this case, observing proposals will be solicited in a separate call, issued asynchronously from the standard Cycle Call for Proposals. The proposal deadline will likely be in early 2009 (after SM4). The proposals will be assessed and ranked by an independent review panel, including members from the both the LAG and the Cycle 17 TAC. Successful proposals will be allocated observing time in Cycle 18.
White papers should be submitted as pdf files via e-mail to:
moon@stsci.edu and copied to Neill Reid (inr@stsci.edu)
Each submission will be acknowledged within 3 days. If no acknowledgement is received within that time period, please inform us via e-mail.
Questions about this notification should be addressed to mmountain@stsci.edu, copying inr@stsci.edu.