Planetary Science Advisory Committee

The Planetary Science Advisory Committee (PAC) supports, under FACA rules, the needs of the Planetary Science Division (PSD), the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and other mission directorates as required, and the NASA Administrator.

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This is an updated montage of planetary images taken by spacecraft managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA. Included are from top to bottom images of Mercury, Venus, Earth and Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Previous Decadal Survey Reports

Cover of Planetary science decadal survey 2012-2022

Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022 (NASEM, 2011)

cover of 2012-2022 planetary decadal survey midterm review 2018

Visions Into Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022, A Midterm Review (NASEM, 2018)

Nasa insignia

NASA Response to Decadal Survey Midterm Review (2019)

cover of planetary decadal survey 2003

New Frontiers in the Solar System: An Integrated Exploration Strategy (NASEM, 2003)

NASA PSD Reviews

NASA Planetary Mission Senior Reviews (PMSR)

NASA’s planetary science missions near the end of their prime mission (PM) or extended mission (EM) may propose an extension. These extended missions can leverage NASA’s large investment in order to perform continued science operations at a cost far lower than developing a new mission. In some cases, the extensions allow missions to continue to acquire valuable long-duration datasets, while in other cases, EMs allow missions to visit new targets, with entirely new science goals. The ‘Senior Review’ of these proposals typically happens every three years, by a panel made of experts from academia, NASA, and industry.

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This illustration depicts NASA's Juno spacecraft in orbit above Jupiter's Great Red Spot.

Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) Independent Review

Terms of Reference

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NASA’s Infrared Telescope Facility sits at the summit of Maunakea in Hawaii.
NASA’s Infrared Telescope Facility sits at the summit of Maunakea in Hawaii.
Ernie Mastroianni

Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) Independent Review

IRTF Report

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Domed telescope with the night sky above
IRTF and the night sky.
IRTF

Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) Independent Review

Panel Cover Letter

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Orange and purple sunset sky with clouds below and domed telescope in the lower right corner
IRTF at sunset
IRTF

Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) Independent Review

Evaluation Report

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This still from an animation of four images shows Jupiter in infrared light as seen by NASA's InfraRed Telescope Facility, or IRTF, on May 16, 2015. The observations were obtained in support of NASA's Juno mission.
NASA/JPL-CalTech

Assessment of NASA’s Nexus for Exoplanet System Science (NExSS) Research Coordination Network (RCN)

NExSS Report

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This artist’s concept Kepler-47, the first two-star systems with multiple planets orbiting the two suns, suggests just how difficult the road ahead will be.
This artist’s concept Kepler-47, the first two-star systems with multiple planets orbiting the two suns, suggests just how difficult the road ahead will be.
NASA / JPL-Caltech / T. Pyle

Assessment of NASA’s Nexus for Exoplanet System Science (NExSS) Research Coordination Network (RCN)

NASA Response

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This artist’s concept Kepler-47, the first two-star systems with multiple planets orbiting the two suns, suggests just how difficult the road ahead will be.
This artist’s concept Kepler-47, the first two-star systems with multiple planets orbiting the two suns, suggests just how difficult the road ahead will be.
NASA / JPL-Caltech / T. Pyle
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