Science Strategy

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate conducts scientific exploration that is enabled by access to space. We project humankind’s vantage point into space with observatories in Earth orbit and deep space, spacecraft visiting the Moon and other planetary bodies, and robotic landers, rovers, and sample return missions. From space, in space, and about space, NASA’s science vision encompasses questions as practical as hurricane formation, as enticing as the prospect of lunar resources, and as profound as the origin of the Universe.  To ensure the success of the space program through generations to come, we must have simple, but compelling, long-term goals and a coherent, thoughtful plans to achieve them.

(5.1 MB) SMD Science Plan for 2007-2016

The Science Plan for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate emphasizes the identification and prioritization of space missions and articulates the research program in detail, as well as describing the research solicitation, advanced technology, data management, and related activities required to achieve NASA’s space and Earth science goals.

(1.3 MB) Summary of the SMD Science Plan for 2007-2016

A 30 page summary of the Science Plan for NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

(670.9 kB) 2006 NASA Strategic Plan

The NASA Strategic Plan embraces the goals articulated in the Vision for Space Exploration and addresses our strategy for reaching them. To ensure the success of the space program through generations to come, this document outlines simple but compelling goals and a coherent plan to achieve these goals.

(10.6 MB) 2006 Astrophysics Roadmap

The Astronomy and Physics Division of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate articulates a long-term plan for scientific exploration of the universe and the search for life beyond the solar system.

(11.2 MB) 2006 Solar System Exploration Roadmap

The 2006 Solar System Exploration Roadmap was based upon the scientific objectives laid out in the National Research Council of the National Academes (NRC) report, New Frontiers in the Solar System, (referred to as the 2003 Decadal Survey for planetary science) and updated to reflect the planetary exploration goals in the President’s Vision for Space Exploration in 2004.

(8.9 MB) 2009 Heliophysics Roadmap

This document represents an input of the U.S. heliophysics science community into the strategic planning process for the NASA Science Directorate for the period 2009–2030. NASA Headquarters charged the roadmap team with crafting a sustainable science program achievable within NASA’s resources. With flexibility as a guiding principal and input from the community, including a Town Hall meeting in May 2008, we charted a roadmap to enable first-rate science and encourage new discoveries and partnership opportunities. Our plan is designed to withstand changes in available funding, implementation costs, and limits in launcher availability. It incorporates the healthy launch cadence needed to address the end-to-end system science.

(2.2 MB) Heliophysics Science and the Moon 2007

This report addresses two distinct complementary roles that Heliophysics science plays within the framework of the Vision for Space Exploration. First, the meaningful advances in our scientific understanding of basic plasma science will be realized by the era of lunar exploration. And second, a greater understanding of heliophysics science will be a critical enabling component for the exploration initiative. This new science is enabled by NASA’s exploration initiative and enabling science that is critical to ensuring a safe return to the Moon and onward to Mars.