Decadal Survey 2010

Steinn Sigurðsson's take on the Decadal Survey 2010

So much for SIM/SIMLite

The main selections (WFIRST, LSST) seem to be primarily focussed on dark energy, though WFIRST seems to have exoplanet microlensing as a secondary objective.

Quote :

Tech development for Exoplanet finder - for 2020 - $1-200M for the decade;
and tech development for Inflation Probe.

So no exoplanet imager till next decade.

Hopefully ESA will take the lead in exoplanet stuff...

Forgive my ignorance, but what does this actually mean for SIM-lite? How much influence does this decadal survey have in deciding whether or not SIM-lite flies?

In the past the Decadal Survey has driven funding and lack of same. I think all SIMs are dead. I really can't get excited that the next decade's effort on exoplanets is going to be microlensing. Admitedly it offers the prospect of detecting really small planets and dwarf planets but I had hoped for some form of space based imaging mission by 2010. Alas.

I think the survey underestimates the potential of exoplanets, as the main engine of modern astronomy. In the first place put cosmology. But who knows the exact number of known quasars or galaxies? The number of known planets is present in most astronomical news. Ordinary people are much more interesting planets than the distant extragalactic objects.

Right now every govt is seriously financially stressed. I think that some more consideration should have been given to science projects with strong public support and interest, and exoplanets is where it's at. Post Apollo interest in space science waned, finally stimulated by Hubble. When you have a high profile yet good science mission like HST or Kepler you create an environment where you can get pure science programs like grav wave LISA etc. supported as well. These less glamorous but good science programs will come under fiscal attack and there will not be a groundswell of public support as Kepler news fades later in the decade.

I had hoped for some form of space based imaging mission by 2020. Alas.

typo corrected