FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

NASA - 2596 - Astrophysics Advisory Committee - Agency Authority

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Astrophysics Advisory Committee	Agency Name	National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	2596
Original Establishment Date	1/17/2017	Committee Status	Terminated
Actual Termination Date	8/30/2025	Committee URL	https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/nac/scienc...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	20
Terminated This FY	Yes	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	DFO/Executive Secretary
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Dr.
Current Charter Date	8/30/2023	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	David
Date Of Renewal Charter	8/30/2025	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	Christopher
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Morris
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(202) 718-9061
Establishment Authority*	Agency Authority	Designated Federal Officer Fax*
Specific Establishment Authority*	Agency Authority	Designated Federal Officer Email*	david.c.morris@nasa.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	1/17/2017
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Scientific Technical Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The committee draws on the expertise of its members to provide advice to the Director, Astrophysics Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, on astrophysics programs, policies, plans and priorities.
How is membership balanced?*	The Director, Astrophysics Division, ensures a balanced representation in terms of the points of view represented and the functions to be performed
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The committee met three times virtually / hybrid in FY24. Hybrid for members /virtually for the general public.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	Consensus scientific advice from outside experts is essential to support NASA astrophysics program planning. NASA is the Federal agency charged with conducting space-based astrophysics research.
Why close or partially close meetings?	Not Applicable.
Recommendation Remarks

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	No	Action Reorganize Priorities*	No
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	No
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	Yes	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	No	Action Comment	Not Applicable
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	Not Applicable	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	Not Applicable	Grants Review Comment	Not Applicable
Number Of Recommendations*	39	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	No
Number Of Recommendations Comment	Not Applicable	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	0.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	Not Applicable	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	0.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	Not Applicable	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	Not Applicable
Agency Feedback Comment*	Contact the committee DFO for information on Agency feedback process.	Narrative Description*	The committee's advice and analyses are used to inform decisions on the programmatic scope and priorities, as well as the implementation of astrophysics programs. In addition, the committee provides a regular forum for the broad discussion of astrophysics and the role of astrophysics within and outside of NASA. The committee charter was most recently renewed on August 30, 2023 and the committee met three times in FY24.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	2/24/2025 9:37 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Basic Science Physics Research Basic Research Science and Technology Science and Technology Space Space and Aeronautics

Custom Links

Committee Level Reports