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FYI
The American Institute of Physics Bulletin of Science Policy News
Number 21: February 11, 2003

FY 2004 NSF Request: Astronomical Sciences

The Bush Administration is requesting a FY 2004 increase of 13.5%, or 
$21.8 million, for the Astronomical Sciences Subactivity budget over 
the FY 2003 request.  This request of $183.1 million is10.3% higher 
than the foundation's FY 2002 budget.  As previously explained, the FY 
2003 appropriations bill for the National Science Foundation has not 
been enacted.

Selections from the budget justification document sent to Congress 
follow:

"The FY 2004 Request includes $77.24 million for research and
instrumentation support in the Astronomical Sciences that will advance
research in cosmology and the origin and evolution of the universe, 
the formation of stars and planets, and particle astrophysics. A 
number of these activities involve interagency partnerships. A new 
focus on providing support for mid-scale instrumentation needs will 
address community priorities such as the development of adaptive 
optics systems for telescopes and the availability of modern, 
instrumented small aperture telescopes for programs of student 
training, research, and educational/public outreach.  Support will 
also be provided for research and development that may lead to highly 
recommended new facilities such as the Giant Segmented Mirror 
Telescope (GSMT) and Large-Aperture Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST).  
Through the Information Technology Research priority area, support 
will be provided for research and applications in databases, data 
mining, and high-speed computation. The Science and Technology Center 
(STC) for Adaptive Optics will be funded within AST in FY 2004."

Regarding national facilities, the budget document states: "FY 2004 
support for national facilities totals $105.83 million, an increase of 
$8.90 million, and includes:

"Support for Gemini Observatory at a level of $14.20 million, an 
increase of $1.60 million. Both the northern and southern Gemini 
telescopes are now in regular science operations. The Gemini 
Observatory, an international partnership with six other countries, 
and the premier optical/infrared facility available to the entire U.S. 
astronomical community, remains the highest priority among our optical 
and infrared facilities. Included in this amount is $1.0 million for 
partial return of the Chilean construction capital, with which the 
U.S. assumes a portion of the Chilean share of the Observatory, 
gaining increased observing access for U.S. astronomers.

"NAIC will be supported at the level of $10.30 million, an increase of
$1.30 million. This level of  support will enable continued operation 
and maintenance of the renovated Arecibo telescope and the development 
of instrumentation to take advantage of its greater sensitivity. 
Additional support of $1.80 million is provided through the 
Geosciences Activity.

"Support for NOAO/NSO at the level of $38.60 million, an increase of 
$2.90 million. NOAO provides optical/infrared observational facilities 
to the U.S.  astronomical community in both the northern and southern 
hemispheres, and operates the U.S. Gemini Science Center, which 
provides support for U.S.  astronomers to use the Gemini Observatory. 
NOAO is leading the community effort to establish a detailed 
scientific justification and conceptual design for the Giant Segmented 
Mirror Telescope (GSMT) and the Large-Aperture Synoptic Survey 
Telescope (LSST), both of which were highly recommended future 
facilities in recent community reports. NSO facilities provide solar 
telescopes for use by the U.S. astronomical community.  Activities in 
FY 2004 include continued design and planning for the Advanced 
Technology Solar Telescope (ATST), an instrument that will use new 
techniques such as adaptive optics to provide a unique capability for 
investigating a wide range of important questions in solar physics. 
ATST will be of significant value to studies in atmospheric sciences 
and space weather in addition to astronomical research. Included also 
within this amount is $4.0 million for the Telescope System 
Instrumentation Program (TSIP), which is administered for the 
community through NOAO. TSIP, which began in FY 2002, is a program to 
unify the privately held and the national optical and IR observatory 
facilities through a program of support for instrument development and 
facility improvement in exchange for public access to private 
facilities.

"NRAO is supported at the level of $42.73 million, an increase of 
$3.10 million. This level of support will provide for operations, 
maintenance, and instrumentation for the unique telescopes of NRAO, 
such as the Robert C.  Byrd Green Bank Telescope, the Very Large Array 
(VLA), and the Very Long Baseline Array. Activities in FY 2004 include 
making continued improvements and enhancements to the expanded VLA and 
optimization of science operations of the Byrd Telescope."

For additional information on NSF's Astronomical Sciences FY 2004 
budget request, see http//:www.nsf.gov/bfa/bud/fy2004/toc.htm .

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Richard M. Jones
Media and Government Relations Division
The American Institute of Physics
fyi{at}aip.org
(301) 209-3094
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