10:00am - 11:30am PT
Dear Astrophysics Strategic Technology & Research Accelerator (ASTRA) community members this serves as a reminder for those attending AAS248. This session is in-person only.
AAS248 Block Schedule: https://submissions.mirasmart.com/AAS248/Itinerary/EventDetail.aspx?evt=70
Summary
NASA’s astrophysics fleet of observatories push the limits of human vision and understanding, exploring the most profound questions of our existence while driving innovations that transform the extraordinary into the everyday and reinforce U.S. leadership in space. This special session, organized by the NASA Astrophysics Division, will provide insight into the ASTRA Initiative, share initial findings from the May 2026 Innovation for Astrophysics Missions Workshop, and will discuss plans for the September 2026 Astrophysics community science (Ad ASTRA) workshop. Talks will be followed by a panel to address questions from the community.
| Time | Session | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00am ‑ 11:30am | Special Session: Planning for the Future of Astrophysics and the ASTRA Initiative | Pasadena Convention Center ‑ Ballroom G |
ASTRA Initiative Special Session
| Time | Topic | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00am ‑ 10:10am | Introduction from the NASA Astrophysics Division Director | Shawn Domagal‑Goldman, NASA HQ |
| 10:10am ‑ 10:25am | The ASTRA Initiative: Overview & Path Forward | Jessica Gaskin, NASA HQ |
| 10:25am ‑ 10:40am | Innovation for Astrophysics Workshop: Initial Findings | Kendra Short, JPL |
| 10:40am ‑ 10:55am | Ad ASTRA Community Science Workshop | Peter Kurczynski, NASA/GSFC |
| 10:55am ‑ 11:30am | Panel Discussion | Francesca Civano, NASA/GSFC |
Wishing you the best,
Dr Ron Gamble
Cosmic Origins Support Scientist, NASA GSFC
Dr Bernard Kelly
PhysCOS Support Scientist, NASA GSFC