Ken Sembach at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore is intrigued by gas and dust that fills the space between galaxies, which is assumed to be spread web-like throughout space. But no one knows for sure. "The astronomical community and the science community hold this as a truth ... but observationally we don't know that much," Sembach said. "I view it as something that's fundamental to understanding complex processes, like how galaxies form out of local material and also how superclusters and galaxies form over time." The proposed missions range from $600 million to about $2 billion. Special emphasis is being placed this year on deriving reliable cost estimates. One of missions developed from the last survey, the $4.5 billion James Webb Space Telescope, is hugely over-budget and not yet launched. The infrared version of Hubble is slated to fly in 2013. The study concepts are due to NASA early next year. "It'll be hard to pick, but at the end of the day, if you want to move an area of science forward, you have to get the advocates and the emotional energy to make it happen," Sembach said. Related Links: |
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