X-Ray Science Interest Group
(XR SIG)

Dear colleagues,

As you have probably seen from the PhysCOS mailing list, NASA is soliciting input on Precursor Science Gaps, and this is very important for X-ray astronomy. Please take a few minutes to read this message now and think about this topic in the coming weeks. The deadline to submit gaps (link below) is November 27, which is driven by needing to update the gap list associated with the ROSES call for precursor science proposals due next spring.

We know that this is a new concept for our community, but this is the framework in which NASA Astrophysics is operating now, and we need to make it work for us. Defining and maintaining their precursor science gap list was a very successful tactic for the Exoplanet Exploration Program Analysis Group (ExoPAG), and it can be for our community, too, if we put in some effort now.

There were two workshops last year on Precursor Science Gaps, which resulted in a list that was highlighted in the 2022 ROSES call for Precursor Science Studies, but our community was poorly represented; only 3 out of 18 gaps in that list were directly related to X-ray astronomy. We need that to change.

Briefly put, precursor science gaps are areas where work now can make a difference to defining the mission architecture or implementation for the next strategic missions, which includes Great Observatories, Probes, and any future TDAMM-related mission. You can read more about the definitions at Physics of the Cosmos Science Gaps List.

Much of our community has been working on science topics for the current Probe call. If there were any areas where you were hindered or stopped from making estimates of what capabilities would be needed to address a scientific topic because of gaps in current knowledge, please submit that on the form (link below and also linked from the above science gaps page).

Or maybe you were at a topical workshop or conference recently, and have been thinking about what kind of progress could be made by the next X-ray mission(s) if only certain capabilities were there. Please try to think about what would be needed to quantify those capabilities, and, if we don’t have that information yet, please submit a precursor gap on the form.

We know your time is valuable, so as an incentive (and thank you) for filling out a precursor science gap, I (Dave) will buy you a beer at the winter AAS. Or we could go for hurricanes at Pat O’s if that’s your preference! I might even let you in on a few of my hometown hidden gems.

Thanks for reading all of this. We really appreciate your attention and effort over the next several weeks to help us define a full list of precursor science gaps.

Your XR-SIG co-chairs,
Chien-Ting, Kristen, Dave, and Grant

Submit gaps here: Google Form