15 March 2024
Dear Physics of the Cosmos (PhysCOS) community members,
NASA is soliciting applications and nominations for an individual employed by a U.S. organization to participate in the European Space Agency (ESA)-led NewAthena Science Study Team (NASST).
Background: Athena is ESA’s next large X-ray astrophysics mission (see https://sci.esa.int/athena, https://www.the-athena-x-ray-observatory.eu/). ESA, with NASA as a partner, has been formulating the Athena mission since 2014. In 2022, ESA assembled an international team of scientists to review the Athena mission concept to refine the technical goals of the mission to improve design efficiency while maintaining capacity to do truly ambitious, groundbreaking science on a similar timeline to the originally envisioned Athena. This Science Redefinition Team completed its work in 2023 resulting in a revised mission concept that is referred to as NewAthena.
The ESA Director for Science is now convening a Science Study Team (the NASST) to define the science requirements of the mission and to support ESA on all aspects of the study phase related to the science return of the mission.
ESA has invited NASA and JAXA to each appoint one member for the NASST. With this Dear Colleague Letter [PDF], NASA seeks to select the U.S. member to the NASST.
Applications are due by April 19, 2024, at 11:59 pm EDT / 8:59 pm PDT. For details see the Dear Colleague Letter [PDF]. Applications and questions should be submitted by email to the NewAthena Program Scientist, David Morris (david.c.morris@nasa.gov).
Wishing you the best,
Dr Francesca Civano & Dr Brian Humensky
PhysCOS Chief Scientists, NASA GSFC
Dr Bernard Kelly
PhysCOS Support Scientist, NASA GSFC