The ASTRONET Roadmap

TOWARDS A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR EUROPEAN ASTRONOMY
The ASTRONET Roadmap:
Strategic Planning for European Astronomy
Pre-release version – confidential
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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CONFÉRENCE DE PRESSE
L’Europe dévoile son plan à 20 ans pour l’astronomie
25 novembre 2008, 10 heures
Académie des sciences, Palais de l’Institut,
23, quai de Conti, 75006 Paris - France
Orateurs :
- Jean Dercourt, Secrétaire perpétuel de l’Académie des sciences, Introduction.
- Jean-Marie Hameury, coordinateur ASTRONET, directeur adjoint de l’Institut national des sciences de
l'Univers du CNRS, Qu’est ce qu’ASTRONET ?
- Johannes Andersen, Président du conseil ASTRONET, directeur du Nordic Optical Telescope à La
Palma (Iles Canaries), Le rôle de la feuille de route d’ASTRONET.
- Michael Bode, responsable du groupe de travail de la feuille de route d’ASTRONET, directeur de
l’Institut de recherche en astrophysique de l’Université John Moores à Liverpool, La feuille de route
d’ASTRONET.
Contacts
Presse CNRS l Claire Le Poulennec l T 01 44 96 49 88 l [email protected]
Communication INSU l Philippe Chauvin l T 01 44 96 43 36 l [email protected]
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COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE I PARIS I 25 NOVEMBRE 2008
L’Europe dévoile son plan à 20 ans pour l’astronomie
Dans le paysage de l’astronomie mondiale, l’Europe joue un rôle de leader grâce à une
coopération toujours plus efficace de sa communauté scientifique depuis 50 ans. Pour se
maintenir au même niveau dans les prochaines décennies, elle doit se fixer des priorités et
coordonner encore plus étroitement ses investissements financiers et humains. Cette
tâche est revenue au réseau ASTRONET, soutenu par la Commission Européenne,
coordonné par l’Institut national des sciences de l’univers du CNRS, et qui rassemble toute
la communauté astronomique européenne. Aujourd’hui, ASTRONET présente sa Feuille de
route des infrastrucutres pour assurer un avenir brillant à l’astronomie européenne de
demain.
L’Europe joue aujourd’hui un rôle de leader en astronomie, avec l’observatoire optique le plus puissant au
monde et des infrastructures de pointe dans de nombreux domaines, de la radioastronomie au sol aux
sondes spatiales. Dans ce contexte, les astronomes européens se sont réunis pour identifier les défis
scientifiques de demain et les moyens en équipement pour y répondre, en optimisant les coûts. Ils
démontrent ainsi la réalité de la coopération européenne.
En 2007, ces astronomes avaient examiné les questions scientifiques les plus brûlantes du prochain quart
de siècle, allant de l’énergie noire à la vie sur les autres planètes, et avaient ainsi élaboré une Vision
scientifique à long terme. Ils présentent aujourd’hui leur Feuille de route des infrastructures européennes,
un plan global à 20 ans pour coordonner les investissements nationaux et communautaires. La feuille de
route hiérarchise les nouveaux grands équipements nécessaires à la recherche en astrophysique, au sol
comme dans l’espace. Elle prend également en considération les infrastructures existantes, les ressources
humaines, l’infrastructure TIC (technologies de l’information et de la communication), la vulgarisation et la
diffusion des connaissances auprès du grand public. Elle contient les coûts estimés de construction et de
fonctionnement.
Cette feuille de route a été élaborée sous l’égide du programme ASTRONET, créé par les grandes
agences de financement européennes, bénéficiant du soutien de la commission européenne et coordonné
par l’Institut national des sciences de l’Univers (INSU) du CNRS. Pour établir un consensus sur les
priorités à donner au sein d’une communauté très diverse, la vision scientifique et la feuille de route ont été
conçues grâce à une interaction de toute la communauté, à travers de grands colloques et débats sur
Internet. Résultat : la feuille de route est soutenue par les astronomes des 28 États membres et associés
de l’Union européenne, dont la population dépasse les 500 millions d’habitants.
Plus de 60 experts, sélectionnés partout en Europe, ont contribué à la construction de la feuille de route
d’ASTRONET, garantissant ainsi que l’astronomie européenne aura les outils nécessaires pour relever
avec succès les défis de la vision scientifique. Ils ont identifié et hiérarchisé les nouvelles infrastructures
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nécessaires pour observer l’Univers, dans le domaine des longueurs d’onde allant de la radio aux rayons
gamma, en utilisant de nouveaux moyens d’étude du cosmos comme les ondes gravitationnelles, ou en
allant plus loin dans l’exploration de notre système solaire. Au cours de cette procédure, ils ont pris en
compte tous les éléments susceptibles de rendre leur entreprise scientifique fructueuse, tels que la
coopération à l’échelle mondiale concernant les mégaprojets les plus importants ou encore les besoin de
formation et de recrutement de jeunes scientifiques et ingénieurs qualifiés.
Les projets les plus importants 1 pour ASTRONET sont :
Parmi les projets à grande échelle au sol :
- le European Extremly Large Telescope, de loin le plus grand télescope optique, doté d’un miroir
segmenté pour étudier le ciel en lumière visible et infrarouge ;
- le Square Kilometre Array, un grand radiotélescope qui sera déployé à l’échelle d’un continent.
Le SKA serait porté par un consortium mondial.
Parmi les instruments de premier plan, mais nécessitant un investissement moindre :
- un télescope solaire européen de 4 mètres, qui sera basé dans les Iles Canaries ;
- un réseau de télescopes optiques dédié aux rayons gamma émis par les trous noirs ou par
d’autres sources très énergétiques ;
- un télescope sous mer pour détecter les neutrinos – des particules sub-atomiques qui
peuvent traverser la Terre de part en part et qui fournissent des informations sur certains des
phénomènes les plus violents de l’Univers.
Parmi les missions spatiales les plus importantes pour la prochaine décennie, les priorités d’ASTRONET
sont :
- une mission pour étudier les ondes gravitationnelles issues du Big bang et des trous noirs ;
- une mission pour étudier, en rayons X, les galaxies, les amas de galaxies et les étoiles, plus
finement que cela n’a jamais été fait auparavant ;
- deux missions pour étudier les planètes Jupiter, Saturne et leurs satellites.
Des projets spatiaux tout aussi importants, mais moins coûteux:
- une mission pour percer les secrets de la matière sombre et de l’énergie noire ;
- une mission pour comprendre notre étoile, le Soleil, plus en détail que cela n’a jamais été réalisé
auparavant.
Parmi les autres recommandations, les astronomes d’ASTRONET ont réfléchi à la façon d’utiliser au mieux
les infrastructures existantes, tant du point de vue scientifique que des coûts. Ils ont également souligné la
nécessité d’améliorer l’accès aux équipements informatiques et aux équipements de pointe de certains
laboratoires. L’industrie de haute technologie européenne devrait être davantage impliquée dans la
conception des futures infrastructures. En outre, la réussite dépend de l’existence et de la disponibilité des
scientifiques et ingénieurs qualifiés, dans les nombreux domaines concernés allant de l’informatique à
Il s’agit des projets figurant en tête de liste. L’intégralité de la feuille de route, ainsi qu’ un document de synthèse, sont disponibles sur
le site Internet www.astronet-eu.org
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l’optique. Enfin, la feuille de route propose une série de mesures de vulgarisation, visant à susciter des
vocations scientifiques et technologiques.
L’Europe dépense aujourd’hui deux milliards d’euros environ, par an, pour l’astronomie au sens large. La
mise en œuvre de la feuille de route d’ASTRONET nécessitera une augmentation des financements
d’environ 20 pour cent du budget consacré aux très grandes infrastructures de recherche— largement
moins d’un euro par an et par citoyen européen. Une coopération mondiale, en cours de planification, sera
nécessaire pour les projets les plus importants.
Informations complémentaires
ASTRONET a tout d’abord élaboré une Vision Scientifique de l’astronomie européenne (publiée en octobre
2007), en passant en revue et en hiérarchisant, par ordre de priorité, les principales questions scientifiques
que l’astronomie européenne devrait traiter au cours des 10 ou 20 prochaines années. La Feuille de route
d’ASTRONET, qui s’appuie sur ce travail, a été élaborée par un groupe de travail nommé par le conseil
d’ASTRONET. Les projets concernant des infrastructures existantes ou en projet – plus d’une centaine au
total – ont été examinés par trois groupes de travail spécialisés composés de scientifiques européens.
Deux autres groupes ont réfléchi sur les besoins concernant la théorie, l’informatique et la mise à
disposition des données, ainsi que les ressources humaines, y compris l’éducation, le recrutement, la
diffusion des connaissances auprès du grand public et l’engagement industriel.
La feuille de route concerne des projets qui nécessitent un investissement européen de 10 millions d’euros
ou plus, à décider à partir de 2009. Les critères d’évaluation utilisés sont le retour scientifique potentiel,
l’originalité du projet, son importance pour l’Europe, le nombre d’astronomes qui en bénéficieraient et leur
impact sur l’industrie de haute technologie européenne. La communauté scientifique a été sollicitée pour
finaliser ce rapport, à travers un forum de discussions sur Internet et le symposium de Liverpool, en juin
2008.
A propos d’ASTRONET: www.astronet-eu.org
Le document de synthèse et l’intégralité de la feuille de route sont disponibles sur ce site, ainsi que des
images à télécharger
The European Extremely Large Telescope : http://www.eso.org/sci/facilities/eelt/E-ELT
Vidéos du E-ELT : http://www.eso.org/gallery/v/Videos/E-ELT/
Images du E-ELT : www.eso.org/gallery/v/ESOPIA/EELT/
Animations du radiotélescope Square Kilometre Array :
www.skatelescope.org/video/SKA_Animation_High.mpg
Animation ExoMars :
www.esa.int/esa-mmg/mmg.pl?b=b&type=IVA&mission=ExoMars&single=y&start=1&size=b
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Contacts
Michael Bode l Responsable du groupe de travail de la feuille de route d’ASTRONET, directeur de
l’Institut de recherche en astrophysique de l’Université John Moores à Liverpool, l Bureau +44 151 231
2920/2919 Portable +44 7968 422312 l [email protected]
Johannes Andersen l Président du conseil ASTRONET, directeur du Nordic Optical Telescope à La
Palma l +45 353 25934 l [email protected]
Jean-Marie Hameury l Coordinateur ASTRONET, Directeur adjoint de l’Institut national des sciences de
l’Univers du CNRS l T +33 1 44 96 43 77 l [email protected]
Presse CNRS l Claire Le Poulennec l T +33 1 44 96 49 88 l [email protected]
Communication INSU l Philippe Chauvin l T +33 1 44 96 43 36 l [email protected]
ASTRONET: Towards a Strategic
Plan for European Astronomy
Jean-Marie Hameury
Directeur adjoint de l’Institut National des Sciences de
l’Univers du CNRS
Coordinator of Astronet
What is Astronet ?
ERA-NET, funded by EU FP6
– Consortium of funding agencies
– Comprehensive view of European astronomy
– Development of a common global strategy for
European astronomy
Contractors/associates/forum members:
– About 30 participants from ~ 20 countries
– Almost all European countries in which astronomy is
present, but a few exceptions (Belgium, Ireland,
Portugal
Activities
2005-2009
1. Agree on a common Science Vision for the next 20
years (published September 2007)
2. Establish a Roadmap of Infrastructures to match the
Science Vision (official release: today)
3. Implemention Phase: the tough part…
4. Launch a common call for proposals
5. Networking: new participants; Report on the
Management of European Astronomy
Science Vision Key Questions
A: Do we understand the extremes of the
Universe?
B: How do galaxies form and evolve?
C: What is the origin and evolution of stars
and planetary systems?
D: How do we fit in?
Developed in sufficient detail to allow identification of
generic capabilities needed to deliver the Vision
WP leader: T. de Zeeuw (Leiden)
“A Grand Vision for Astronomy”
Symposium in Poitiers
(January 2007)
Published 28 September 2007
Available as a PDF file at:
http://www.astronet-eu.org/
The Role of the
ASTRONET Roadmap
J. Andersen
Director, Nordic Optical Telescope, La Palma
&
ASTRONET Board Chair
ASTRONET Roadmap Presentation
J. Andersen
Paris, November 25, 2008
Needs in 2010-2025 for
European Astronomy:
New:
SKA
E-ELT
But
also:
VLT, Paranal
ASTRONET Roadmap Presentation
- and
people!
J. Andersen
ORM, La Palma
Paris, November 25, 2008
Who Pays for
European Astronomy?
National & local governments (~99%):
z
Membership of European organisations (ESO, ESA…)
z
National & bi/multilateral projects (CFHT, IRAM, LBT…)
z
National & European supercomputers and networks
z
National & local research institutes and universities
z
Training the people we all need
EU+ (~1%): ASTRONET, OPTICON, design studies…
ASTRONET Roadmap Presentation
J. Andersen
Paris, November 25, 2008
Who Else Plans the Future
of European Astronomy?
z
National strategic plans (not all countries have them)
- Astronomy is international; coordination needed
z
ESA/ESO long-range plans
- Limited to own investments; only part of the picture
z
ESFRI Roadmap (by national representatives)
- Only few, very largest projects (omits space, particles)
- No priorities, schedule; no overall view of each field
z
OECD Global Science Forum
- Global aspects only; needs common European position
ASTRONET Roadmap Presentation
J. Andersen
Paris, November 25, 2008
The Role
ASTRONET
of the
Roadmap:
To give funding agencies a comprehensive,
science-based plan for all of astronomy:
z
Coordinated investments in new, large/global facilities
z
Cover all wavelengths, ground & space, astroparticles…
z
Consider balance between new & existing facilities
z
Include archiving, theory, computing, networks…
z
Include education, recruitment, outreach, spinoffs
z
Estimate costs honestly(!); include operations, staff..
z
Propose realistic project and investment schedules
► Prepare rational, coordinated funding decisions
ASTRONET Roadmap Presentation
J. Andersen
Paris, November 25, 2008
A Tough Task?
A euphemism!
z
Scientific priorities must be set (Science Vision!)
z
Financial limitations become painfully clear
z
Compromises must be made by the community
z
Many dreams suffer early, brutal death, but…
- we all understand that it makes sense, and
- we do not have the option of not doing our best
z
Roadmap in hand, we will work with ESFRI, GSF…
z
Then it is up to governments and agencies to act!
ASTRONET Roadmap Presentation
J. Andersen
Paris, November 25, 2008
The ASTRONET Roadmap
Professor Michael Bode
Liverpool John Moores University, UK
Roadmap Task Leader
What it Aims to do
Provide a realistic plan for
the facilities and general
infrastructure needed to
address the big questions
posed in the Science
Vision, e.g.:
! Is there life elsewhere?
! How did galaxies, stars
and planets come to be?
! How do the most violent
explosions in the
Universe actually work?
! What is the nature of Dark
Energy and Dark Matter?
And enhance European
education and industry
How We Worked
!
!
!
!
Over 60 experts in a Working Group and 5
Panels
3 Panels reviewed over 100 facilities
Another concentrated on theory, computing,
and data archiving
The fifth covered human resources, including
education, recruitment, public outreach and
industrial involvement
40 meetings plus Liverpool Symposium
Conclusions: Future Large
Ground-Based Projects
!
European Extremely
Large Telescope (E-ELT)
!
Square Kilometre Array
(SKA - radio telescope)
Phased Plan to deliver both projects
Ground-Based Medium Scale
!
!
European Solar
Telescope
KM3Net (underwater
neutrino telescope)
!
Cherenkov Telescope
Array (CTA - Cosmic
gamma rays)
Plus Small Scale:
Wide-Field Spectrograph
(Dark Energy)
!
Large Scale Space Missions
!
XEUS/IXO (Advanced
X-ray observatory)
and LISA
(Gravitational Waves)
!
TandEM or LAPLACE
(giant planets)
!
ExoMars
Medium Scale Space Missions
!
Gaia (Milky Way mapping
- Science Exploitation)
!
EUCLID (Dark Energy)
!
Cross-Scale, PLATO,
Simbol-X, SPICA (range of
science objectives)
!
Solar Orbiter
Marco Polo
(Asteroid
Rendezvous)
!
Existing Observational Facilities
!
Recommended prolongation of the most successful
space missions
!
Ground-based telescope reviews
Lab Astrophysics; Theory,
Computing, Virtual Observatory
!
Pan-European (Virtual)
Astrophysical Software
Lab
!
!
Further Development
of the European Virtual
Observatory
Enhanced Laboratory
Astrophysics
Wider Impact
!
!
!
Improvements in
communication to the public
!
Measures to enhance science
and technology education
!
Enhanced scientific exploitation
of results
Greater interaction with
European industry
Provision of adequate numbers
of highly skilled people
Conclusions
!
To implement the full recommendations for this fundamental
science will require a budget increase of around 20%
!
The Roadmap will then enable Europe to take the lead in
addressing some of the major scientific questions of our time
!
It will also enhance the scientific and technical capability of
Europe at all levels
!
And enable us to work effectively with our wider international
partners on some of the largest-scale, global projects over
the next two decades
TOWARDS A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR EUROPEAN ASTRONOMY
The ASTRONET Roadmap:
Strategic Planning for European Astronomy
Pre-release version – confidential
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Background: The Global Scientific Context
This is a golden era for astronomy. The past few years have brought a number of epochal discoveries, from the detection of the first planets orbiting other stars, to the accelerating Universe dominated by enigmatic dark energy. Europe is
at the forefront in all areas of contemporary astronomy and the challenge now is to consolidate and strengthen this position for the future.
In a world of ever-fiercer global competition, European astronomy has reached its current position by learning to cooperate
on both a bi- and a multilateral basis, and especially through the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and the European
Space Agency (ESA). However, the scientists and research programmes in universities and research organisations at the
national level remain the backbone of European astronomy. The scientific challenges of the future will require a comprehensive long-term strategy and the coordination of financial and human resources, underpinned by vibrant, national scientific and technological communities across the whole of Europe. This approach is also needed if Europe is to be a strong
and effective partner in the largest, global projects.
ASTRONET, supported as an ERA-Net by the European Commission, was created by the major European funding agencies and research organisations to prepare long-term scientific and investment plans for European astronomy for the
next 10–20 years. The present Infrastructure Roadmap represents the core of this effort and is unique in the history of
European astronomy. Firstly, it considers the whole of astronomy: from gamma-ray to radio wavelengths as well as particles, from the ground and in space, and from the distant borders of the Universe to in situ exploration of Solar System
bodies, and includes theory, computing and laboratory studies. Secondly, it involves all of Europe, including the new EU
member states, and explicitly includes the human resources that are crucial to the delivery of the scientific outcome.
We know that astronomy interests people of all ages; as well as expanding their
horizons, it can encourage younger people
to consider careers in science or technology. Astronomy also drives high technology
in areas such as optics and informatics.
These are all powerful reasons to support
European astronomy. As this report shows,
astronomy is also a fully international science whose communities welcome the
establishment of the European Research
Area.
Hubble and Chandra composite of the galaxy cluster MACS J0025.4-1222, showing the hot, diffuse gas
trapped in the cluster’s powerful gravitational field.
Credit: NASA, ESA, CXC, M. Bradac (University of California, Santa Barbara, USA), and S. Allen (Stanford University, USA)
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TOWARDS A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR EUROPEAN ASTRONOMY
Science-Driven Prioritisation
Scientific planning must be based on scientific goals.
Accordingly, this process began with the development of
a Science Vision for European Astronomy, published in
October 2007. It reviewed and prioritised the main scientific
questions that European astronomy should address over
the next 10–20 years under four broad headings:
•
Do we understand the extremes of the Universe?
How do galaxies form and evolve?
•What is the origin and evolution of stars and planets?
• How do we fit in?
The Working Group and Panels were mindful of existing
national and international strategic plans, including those of
ESFRI, ESO and ESA. They also considered the global context, including the plans of our major international partners.
Close contact was maintained with the infrastructure networks OPTICON, RadioNet, EuroPlaNet and ILIAS and the
ERA-Net ASPERA. The Working Group has sole responsibility for the final report.
•
In doing so, the Science Vision identified the types of
research infrastructure that would be needed to answer
the key questions under each heading, but did not address
specific projects. The present Infrastructure Roadmap
builds on the Science Vision. It aims to develop a matching set of priorities for the material and human resources
needed to reach these goals, and a plan for phasing the
corresponding investments so that the bulk of the Science
Vision goals can be reached within realistic budgets. It
extends the ESFRI Roadmap by analysing and comparing
the flagship projects in all areas of astronomy in technical and financial detail, and by addressing directly the hard
facts of the implementation phase.
Three aspects of the Roadmap are notable. Firstly, it
emphasises the need to include the entire electromagnetic spectrum — and beyond — in the study of most cosmic phenomena, from young stars and planets to supermassive black holes in the distant Universe. Secondly, the
priorities of proposed new space missions were reviewed
independently by the ASTRONET and ESA Cosmic Vision
panels. Although they were prepared by different groups
of scientists, the conclusions were very similar. Thirdly, the
Roadmap identifies a number of gaps, for which technological solutions are needed, as well as inconsistencies in current policies. It points to the lack of consistency between
the resources devoted to major projects and their scientific
exploitation, and to the need to coordinate space projects
with the matching ground-based efforts that are needed to
secure the full scientific returns from the investment.
The ASTRONET Roadmap was developed primarily on
scientific grounds by a Working Group appointed by the
ASTRONET Board. Existing and proposed infrastructure projects across astronomy — well over 100 in all —
were reviewed by three specialist panels of top-ranking
European scientists. Two other panels considered the concomitant needs for theory, computing and data archiving,
and human resources including education, recruitment,
public outreach and industrial involvement. Overall, over
60 European scientists were directly involved in this effort.
Feedback from the community was invited through both
a web-based forum and a large symposium held in June
2008.
The panels worked by assessing projects requiring new
funds of €10 million or more from European sources and
on which spending decisions are required after 2008. They
examined each project for its potential scientific impact, its
uniqueness, its level of European input, the size of the astronomical community that would benefit from it, and its relevance to advancing European high-technology industry.
Artist’s impression of the the extrasolar planet HD 189733b.
Credit: ESA/Hubble/M. Kornmesser
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Financial and Human Resources
A useful roadmap must include realistic estimates of costs, technological readiness and available resources. Independent
advice as well as information provided by the projects have been used to assess their cost and maturity, but the reliability of these data varies from project to project. For future space missions in particular, projects have been changing and
merging either internally or with other projects internationally while this report was being prepared. Resource estimates,
and also scientific capabilities given here should be regarded as a snapshot of the current situation, based on the best
information available to date. Known or estimated costs for operations are included throughout.
More surprisingly, the available information on present financial and human resources for European astronomy is itself
fragmentary and inconsistent, especially when national universities, projects, and bi- or multilateral collaborations are to
be included in addition to ESO, ESA and national funding agencies. The demarcation between astronomy and other natural sciences such as physics, chemistry or biology is another source of uncertainty. A breakdown of resources into astronomical disciplines such as cosmology or exoplanet research is not possible, and substantial effort will be required to
achieve it. This report can give only approximate totals, but they do represent the best pan-European information available today.
In the following, ground-based and space-based projects are considered separately, as the funding sources and project
selection procedures for them are often separate. The recommendations are, however, based on the overall scientific perspectives described in the Science Vision.
Artist’s impression of the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT)
during observations. In the background the centre of the Milky Way is just
rising above the enclosure of the telescope.
Credit: ESO/H. Zodet
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TOWARDS A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR EUROPEAN ASTRONOMY
Ground-Based Projects
Among the ground-based infrastructure projects, two
emerged as clear top priorities due to their potential for
fundamental breakthroughs in a very wide range of scientific fields, from the Solar and other planetary systems to
cosmology:
European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), a
40-m-class optical-infrared telescope being developed
by ESO as a European or European-led project. A decision on construction, based on a detailed design and
cost estimate, is planned for 2010.
• T he
European Solar Telescope (EST), an advanced 4-m
solar telescope to be built in the Canary Islands. The EST
will enable breakthroughs in our understanding of the
solar magnetic field and its relations with the heliosphere
and the Earth; when ready, it will replace the existing
national solar telescopes in the Canary Islands.
•The
•The
Square Kilometre Array (SKA), a huge radio telescope being developed by a global consortium with an
intended European share of 33-40 per cent. The SKA
will be developed in three phases of increasing size, scientific power, and cost. Construction of Phase 1 could
be decided in 2012, followed by first science and a decision on Phase 2 around 2016, and with Phase 3 envisaged after 2020.
It was concluded that although the E-ELT and SKA are
very ambitious projects requiring large human and financial resources, they can both be delivered via an appropriately phased plan.
Three other projects were considered scientifically outstanding in areas with European leadership, but in narrower fields and with lower budgets than the E-ELT and
SKA. These have been grouped together in a separate list
which comprises, in descending order of priority:
•The
Cerenkov Telescope Array (CTA), an array of optical
telescopes to detect high energy gamma rays from black
holes and other extreme phenomena in the Universe.
Building on existing successful European experiments,
the CTA — the first true observatory at such energies —
is expected to bring about a breakthrough in our understanding of the origin and production of high energy
gamma rays.
•The
proposed underwater neutrino detector, KM3NeT,
was also considered of great scientific potential, but
ranked lower than the CTA because of the more proven
astrophysical discovery capability of the latter.
A smaller project, but again of high priority, is a wide-field
spectrograph for massive surveys with 8–10-m telescopes.
A Working Group is to be appointed by ASTRONET to
study this in detail. Finally, the report identifies a need to
incorporate and support laboratory astrophysics — including the curation of Solar System material returned by space
missions — more systematically than now.
Artist’s view of the central element of the Square Kilometre Array. The
phased elements will be able to observe the whole sky and study multiple
objects simultaneously with independent beams. Surrounding the central
elements is a widely distributed array of antenna dishes providing added
sensitivity and resolution.
Credit: SKA
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Space Missions
Although important national and multinational space projects are being developed outside the ESA structure and the
Roadmap also encourages the continued development of fast-track smaller missions, ESA’s strategic planning, most
recently the Cosmic Vision exercise, dominates the development of major scientific space missions in Europe. Regardless
of scientific merit, only a couple of new L-class (Large scale) and a very few M-class (Medium scale) missions are likely to
be selected or implemented in the next decade within the Cosmic Vision plan; mission proposals are currently undergoing major changes and transformations before the final selection is made. Their overall impact depends on maintaining a
strong science programme at ESA.
The Roadmap Working Group and Panels independently agreed with ESA’s initial selection of Cosmic Vision missions. All
the proposed missions were judged to be of high scientific value. The final choice of missions by the standard ESA review
and down-selection procedures, which track changes in mission scope and cost and possible mergers with, or replacement by, other European or international projects, is therefore broadly supported. Within this framework, our priorities,
including some non-ESA missions, are as follows:
•Among
the large-scale missions, the gravitational-wave observatory LISA and the X-ray observatory XEUS/IXO were
ranked together at the top. Next were the TANDEM and LAPLACE missions to the planets Saturn and Jupiter and their
satellites. One is likely to be selected late in 2008 and will then compete with IXO or LISA for the next L-slot. ExoMars
was ranked highly as well, but below TANDEM/LAPLACE and does not compete with the others as it belongs to a different programme (Aurora). The longer-term missions Darwin (search for life on “other Earths”), FIRI (formation and evolution of planets, stars and galaxies), and PHOIBOS (very close-up study of the solar atmosphere) were also deemed
very important but still require lengthy technological development. It was regarded as premature to assign a detailed
priority ranking to these three missions at this stage.
•A mong
the medium-scale missions, science analysis and exploitation for the
astrometric mission Gaia was ranked
highest, followed by the dark energy mission EUCLID and then Solar Orbiter. Next,
with equal rank but different maturity, are
Cross-Scale (magnetosphere), Simbol-X
(a non-ESA X-ray project), PLATO (exoplanet transits) and SPICA (far-infrared
observatory). Below these in priority is
Marco Polo (near-Earth asteroid sample
return).
Left: ESA’s Gaia spacecraft: artist’s impression.
Right: The young, star-forming Tarantula Nebula in
the Large Magellanic Cloud. The colours show the
locations of the many massive, hot young stars and
the heated and ionised regions they have carved out
of their natal gas cloud.
Credit: ESO/ J. Alves, B. Vandame, Y. Bialetski, R. Fosbury
Credit: ESA
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TOWARDS A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR EUROPEAN ASTRONOMY
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The Role of Existing Facilities
The role of existing and approved facilities is also considered in the Roadmap. In space, several current missions are so
successful that an extension of their operational lifetimes beyond those already approved is richly justified on scientific
grounds. In a constrained environment, the selection of the missions that can be extended within available funds should
be based on the scientific productivity of the mission and, for ESA-supported missions, the overall balance in the ESA
programme.
On the ground, the existing set of small to medium-size optical telescopes is a heterogeneous mix of national and common instruments, equipped and operated without overall coordination. This is inefficient and is an impediment to effective ground-based support for space missions. ASTRONET has appointed a committee to review the future role, organisation and funding of the European 2–4-m optical telescopes within the context of the Roadmap, to report by September
2009. Reviews of Europe’s existing mm-submm and radio telescopes will be undertaken shortly after, followed later by a
review focusing on the optimum exploitation of our access to 8–10-m optical telescopes as we enter the era of the E-ELT.
Together, these reviews will enable Europe to establish a coherent, cost-effective complement of mid-size facilities.
The four 8-m telescopes of the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT), on Cerro
Paranal in Chile.
Credit: ESO/H. H. Heyer
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TOWARDS A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR EUROPEAN ASTRONOMY
Theory, Computing and Data Archiving
The development of theory and computing capacity
must go hand-in-hand with that of observational facilities.
Systematic archiving of properly calibrated observational
data in standardised, internationally recognised formats
will preserve precious information obtained with public
funds for future use by other researchers. It will also create a Virtual Observatory that enables new kinds of multi-
wavelength science and presents new challenges to the
way that results of theoretical models are presented and
compared with real data. The Roadmap proposes that a
European Astrophysical Software Laboratory, a centre
without walls, be created to promote and coordinate this
development, along with a number of other initiatives.
Education, Recruitment and Outreach
In the end, the deployment of skilled humans determines
what scientific facilities can be built and operated, as
well as the scientific returns that are derived from them.
Conversely, astronomy is a proven and effective vehicle
for attracting young people into scientific and technical
careers, for the benefit of society as a whole. The Roadmap
identifies several initiatives to stimulate European scientific
literacy and provide our science with the human resources
it needs for a healthy future.
Schoolchildren observing the Sun
Credit: Kevin Govender
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Technology Development
Technological readiness, along with funding, is a significant limiting factor for many of the proposed projects, in space
or on the ground. Key areas for development are identified in each case. Maintaining a vigorous technological R&D programme to prepare for the future, in concert with industry to ensure technology transfer, is an important priority across all
areas of the Roadmap.
1/6 scale model of the main optical subsystem of the James Webb Space
Telescope undergoing functional tests. Europe is making substantial
contributions to this project, including important parts of the advanced
instrumentation.
Credit: Ball Aerospace, NASA, ESA and CSA
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TOWARDS A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR EUROPEAN ASTRONOMY
Conclusion and Perspectives for the Future
The Roadmap can be fairly represented as a community-based comprehensive plan that addresses the great
majority of the Science Vision goals while maintaining
and strengthening the role of Europe in global astronomy
within realistic budget limitations. In order to implement it
in a timely manner, given the stiff international competition, a modest budget increase over the next decade will
be required. However, the coherent plan proposed here
will make for a very cost-effective investment for Europe.
Moreover, such a plan, with its overview and awareness of
the global context, will also be a strong asset in negotiating
international partnerships for the largest projects.
“Plans become useless, but planning is essential!” The
context for the Roadmap kept evolving while it was being
developed, and will continue to do so. ASTRONET, in concert with ESFRI, will monitor progress on implementing the
proposals of the Roadmap over the next 2–3 years, whether
small or large in financial terms. The entire European astronomical community awaits the outcome with keen anticipation. We foresee that a fully updated Roadmap will be
needed on a timescale of 5–10 years. Whether the Science
Vision then needs to be updated as well, will depend on
scientific and financial developments on the international
scene in the meantime.
The final version of the present Roadmap will become available at http://www.astronet-eu.org.
Artist’s view of the brightest gamma-ray burst ever observed. The detailed
observations obtained for this event have provided a wealth of information
on how massive stars explode and interact with their environment.
Credit: ESO and Guido Chincarini, Stefano Covino, Cristiano Guidorzi, University of Miliano Bicocca and INAF-Brera, Italy. Illustration by Luis Calçada
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Designed and produced by ESO September 2008
www.astronet-eu.org