Basic understanding of noise- and 

 pollution-generating processes result- 

 ing from aircraft operations 

 Application of solid state chemistry 

 and physics to improve the opera- 

 tional characteristics of electronic 

 and optical materials 

 Investigation of energy exchange 

 processes among atoms, molecules, 

 electrons, ions, and fields for use in 

 energy conversion, lasers and their 

 uses in science, and solar energy 

 conversion 



Advance information and electronic 

 sciences to provide improved data 

 management at lowest possible cost 

 Increase capability of engineering 

 materials to withstand high tempera- 

 tures to make possible development 

 of efficient aircraft engines and 

 space power systems 

 Gain a basic understanding of fiber- 

 matrix composite materials. 



List of Priorities (long-term) 



Physical Sciences 



• Further surveys of the sky in the 

 new wave lengths, which will identi- 

 fy objects and phenomena in the dis- 

 tant regions of the universe 



• Study of these objects and pheno- 

 mena at greater spectral and spatial 

 resolutions 



• Detailed understanding of the physi- 

 cal processes in the Sun-Earth sys- 

 tem and within the Earth's complex 

 magnetosphere-atmosphere system 



Environmental Sciences (Planetary) 



• Detailed studies of the terrestrial 

 planets and bodies, relating their his- 

 tory and condition to those of the 

 Earth 



• Extending first-order knowledge to 

 more of the outer planets and their 

 satellites 



• Reconnaissance of the smaller bod- 

 ies in the solar system (comets and 

 asteroids) 



Environmental Sciences (Earth) 



• Understanding and assessment of the 

 contribution of individual climate 

 elements to the climate picture 



• Monitoring of major tectonic plate 

 movement to an accuracy of a few 

 centimeters per year 



Life Sciences 



• Use of the unique, gravity-free envi- 

 ronment of space flight to further 

 knowledge in medicine and biology 

 by exploring basic physiological 

 mechanisms in all living systems 



• Search for extraterrestrial life and 

 understanding the formation and ex- 

 istence of life in the universe 



Engineering Sciences 



• Technology base for new aeronauti- 

 cal concepts 



• Efficient means to transmit energy in 

 space 



• Autonomous systems for space 

 exploration 



• Technology base for major break- 

 throughs in propulsion and space 

 power systems 



• Technology base for large-area sys- 

 tems for space missions 



• Advance information science to in- 

 clude computer-human interactions, 

 artificial intelligence, and establish- 

 ment and implementation of the best 

 use of computers. 



List of Gap Areas 



Fundamental physical and chemical 

 processes involved in the remote 

 sensing of atmospheric and water 

 constituents and pollutants 

 Detection of strain buildup along 

 extended faulted areas 

 Increased activity in propagation 

 research in new. higher frequency 

 bands to provide opportunities for 

 wider band future satellite communi- 

 cation links with reduced interfer- 

 ence 



Research on artificial or machine in- 

 telligence 



Search for other planetary systems 

 Search for extraterrestrial intelli- 

 gence. 



National Science Foundation (NSF) 



The legislation that created NSF in 1950 de- 

 clared that the first purpose of the act was "to 

 promote the progress of science." By establishing 

 the Natit>nal Science Foundation, the U.S. Gov- 

 ernment set in motion a means to develop and 

 encourage the pursuit of a national policy for the 

 promotion of basic research and education in the 



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PRIORITIES AND GAP AREAS 



