The Science Mission Directorate (SMD) of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) engages the United States’ science community, sponsors scientific research, and develops and deploys satellites and probes in collaboration with NASA's partners around the world to answer fundamental questions requiring the view from and into space.
The Science Mission Directorate also sponsors research that both enables, and is enabled by, NASA's exploration activities. The SMD portfolio is contributing to NASA's achievement of the Vision for Space Exploration by striving to:
* Understand the
history of Mars and the
formation of the solar system. By understanding the formation of diverse
terrestrial planets
A terrestrial planet, telluric planet, or rocky planet, is a planet that is composed primarily of silicate rocks or metals. Within the Solar System, the terrestrial planets accepted by the IAU are the inner planets closest to the Sun: Mercury, ...
(with atmospheres) in the solar system, researchers learn more about Earth's future and the most promising opportunities for habitation beyond our planet. For example, differences in the impacts of collisional processes on Earth, the Moon, and Mars can provide clues about differences in origin and evolution of each of these bodies.
* Search for
Earth-like planets and
habitable environments around other stars. SMD pursues multiple research strategies with the goal of developing effective astronomically-detectable signatures of biological processes. The study of the Earth-Sun system may help researchers identify atmospheric
biosignatures
A biosignature (sometimes called chemical fossil or molecular fossil) is any substance – such as an element, isotope, or molecule – or phenomenon that provides scientific evidence of past or present life. Measurable attribute ...
that distinguish Earth-like (and potentially habitable) planets around nearby stars. An understanding of the
origin of life
In biology, abiogenesis (from a- 'not' + Greek bios 'life' + genesis 'origin') or the origin of life is the natural process by which life has arisen from non-living matter, such as simple organic compounds. The prevailing scientific hypothes ...
and the time evolution of the atmosphere on Earth may reveal likely signatures of life on
extrasolar planets.
* Explore the solar system for scientific purposes while supporting safe robotic and human exploration of space. For example, large-scale
coronal mass ejections from the Sun can cause potentially lethal consequences for improperly shielded human flight systems, as well as some types of robotic systems. SMD's pursuit of interdisciplinary scientific research focus areas will help predict potentially harmful conditions in space and protect NASA's robotic and human explorers.
Leadership
Thomas Zurbuchen is the Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate beginning October 3, 2016. Recent Associate Administrators for the SMD include
Edward J. Weiler (1998–2004, 2008–2011),
Mary L. Cleave
Mary Louise Cleave (born February 5, 1947) is an American engineer and a former NASA astronaut. She also served from 2004 to 2007 as NASA Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate.
Early life
Cleave was born in Southampton, Ne ...
(2004–2005),
Alan Stern
Sol Alan Stern (born November 22, 1957) is an American engineer and planetary scientist. He is the principal investigator of the ''New Horizons'' mission to Pluto and the Chief Scientist at Moon Express.
Stern has been involved in 24 suborbita ...
(2007–2008) and
John M. Grunsfeld (2012–2016). Stern resigned 25 March 2008, to be effective 11 April, over disagreements with Administrator
Michael D. Griffin.
[Andrew Lawler,]
NASA's Stern Quits Over Mars Exploration Plans
(subscription required), ''Science
Science is a systematic endeavor that Scientific method, builds and organizes knowledge in the form of Testability, testable explanations and predictions about the universe.
Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earli ...
'' 320, 31 (4 April 2008). Retrieved on 3 April 2008.
*Associate Administrator: Thomas Zurbuchen (outgoing)
Associate Administrator: Sandra Connelly
*Heliophysics Division Director: Nicola Fox
*Earth Science Division Director: Karen St. Germain
*Planetary Science Division Director: Lori Glaze
*Astrophysics Division Director: Mark Clampin
*Biological and Physical Sciences Division Director: Craig Kundrot
*Resource Management Division Director: Holly Degn
*Joint Agency Satellite Division Director: John Gagosian
*Science Engagement and Partnerships Division Director: Kristen J Erickson
References
External links
About the Science Mission Directorate
{{Authority control
NASA groups, organizations, and centers