Researchers
Dr. Pendleton in front of Spaceship One at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum
Meet Dr. Yvonne Pendleton, Senior Adviser for Research and Analysis (SARA).
Visit SARA webpages here to learn about grant stats and program developments.
Broadly defined, R & A covers the concept studies that provide the science basis for a mission, the necessary technology and techniques for implementing the mission, the calibration, validation, and analysis of data as a mission is underway, and the analysis of archived data after a mission ends. The ultimate goal is to create new knowledge as we explore the Universe, and to use that knowledge for the benefit of all humankind. A more detailed description of the many R & A program elements can be found in the ROSES section of the NSPIRES website (select "Solicitations" then "Open Solicitations" then "NNH08ZDA001N").
Within the Science Mission Directorate, the Senior Advisor for Research and Analysis (SARA) position has been created to focus specifically on the operation and balance of NASA's science research and data analysis programs. The SARA position provides the Associate Administrator with an independent overview across all science divisions concerning the balance of programs and the areas in need of support. Dr. Yvonne Pendleton, formerly of the NASA Ames Research Center, is the new Senior Advisor for Research and Analysis (SARA). As a research scientist herself, Dr. Pendleton brings to the position a clear understanding of the needs of the community plus a strong desire to augment the science return from NASA's mission enabling research and data analysis. Frequently heard in townhall meetings these days is the SMD philosophy that science does not result from the launch of a mission or the collection of data. Science only occurs through the analysis and understanding of that data. Therefore, healthy mission science teams and data analysis programs must accompany every successful mission. The SARA position will support healthy mission science and data programs across the Science Mission Directorate. In general, restoring the health of NASA's R & (D)A programs is a very high SMD priority.
Supporting Dr. Pendleton at NASA headquarters is Dr. Max Bernstein, an astrochemist from NASA's Ames Research Center. While at Ames, Yvonne and Max worked together for many years as collaborators on questions of interstellar astrochemistry, and later teamed as the Division Chief and Deputy Science Chief for the Space Science and Astrobiology Division (2005-2007).
SARA works with the Division Directors and Paul Hertz, the Senior Advisor for Science Process and Ethics, to balance the research programs across the Science Mission Directorate.
For more information on the activities within the Divisions, including the Flight Programs, please visit the SMD home page. For information pertaining to the Science Mission Directorate's organization and leadership, please view our organizational chart.
For more information related to NASA's Science Research Programs, including Astrophysics, Planetary Science, Heliophysics and Earth Science, visit the Senior Advisor for Research & Analysis (SARA) pages.