Update On NASA Planetary Analysis and Assessment Groups

Keith’s note: NASA’s Planetary Science Analysis/Assessment Groups have issued a document dated 6 May 2025, titled “AGness”. According to the authors (which has been annotated to enhance clarity, original document below), addressing members of the planetary science community: “The linked document below, The Keys of AGness, is a product of the collective Planetary Analysis and Assessment Groups (AGs), presented by their Chairs and vetted through their respective Steering/Executive Committees, and with community feedback. It captures what the community sees as the key pillars and important role of the AGs in the advancement of planetary science now and as we move into the future. The intended audience is multifold and includes NASA leadership, who are in the process of re-imagining the AG structure and support mechanism, and the broader planetary science community as a general reference and reminder of the forums, community building, support, repositories, and voice that the AGs provide.”

Keith’s note: These two earlier documents describe the current hiatus of NASA SMD’s Planetary Analysis and Assessment Groups pending clarification of the massive changes in how NASA operates.

• On 31 January 2025 NASA Science Mission Directorate issued a memo stating: “As NASA continues to review and ensure compliance with presidential actions, we are requesting that you please pause all meetings and activities of Planetary Science Analysis/Assessment Groups. This includes ExMAG, LEAG, MAPSIT, MEPAG, MExAG, OPAG, OWWG, SBAG, VEXAG, the cross-AG EDIA Working Group, and any other groups or activities that have been developed by the AGs. Please make your communities aware of this request. If you are no longer the chair of one of these AGs or AG-associated groups, please let me know so I can ensure the appropriate folks receive this information.”
• This was followed on 18 May 2025 with a Letter From Advisory Groups Regarding NASA Budget which opened by saying: “To members of the planetary science community: Given the considerable uncertainty about the future NASA Science budget, the Chairs of the Analysis/Assessment groups (AGs) linked to the Planetary Science Division (PSD) want to reiterate for our communities the incredibly positive impact of science at NASA and crucial role it plays in our society, including: …”

The Keys of AGness
6 May 2025

Working Groups

The following document is a product of the collective Planetary Analysis and Assessment Groups, represented by their Chairs and vetted through their steering/executive committees, and with community feedback. The Keys of AGness or What an Analysis/Assessment Group really is.

I. Universals

Analysis/Assessment Groups facilitate and mediate the relationship between planetary science and technology communities and exploration plans for the solar system, identify, collect, and represent the priorities of their communities, and provide a sounding board and support for NASA.

1. AGs serve as community voices. They provide interdisciplinary forums that use scientific evidence and community backing to form a consensus of opinion and identify needs with particular emphasis on spaceflight missions and scientific research. These forums are important to organize the community, emphasize the most important issues, and minimize fractionation and personal or institutional bias while advocating for the same general cause. A group is most impactful when it speaks with a unified voice, especially when encouraging action from NASA, responding to NASA requests for information, or steering the field as a whole.
2. AGs are the heart of the science and exploration communities that they represent. As custodians of these communities, the AGs serve important roles in building networks, sharing knowledge, and developing the next generation of scientists and engineers.
3. AGs serve as a necessary resource repository and institutional memory for our communities, publishing and archiving valuable and impactful documents, both static and living, that respond to emerging discoveries and guide topics like scientific goals and objectives, required measurements, etc. Many of these resources, including contributions and responses to the Decadal Survey, were developed directly at the request of NASA while others were identified within the community. These documents should be open and accessible at all times.
4. AGs serve as a respected conduit for two-way communication with NASA. AGs organize community feedback on a wide range of solicited and unsolicited topics. NASA uses the AGs to broaden and amplify important communications with the community, and identify knowledge gaps and potential solutions. Increasingly important as well has been international engagement, where the AGs directly contribute to global STEM leadership.

II. Specifics

Analysis/Assessment Groups contribute analyses and studies, both requested specifically by NASA and initiated by the community, to which NASA refers for community expertise and to understand priorities. Abbreviated examples include:

ExMAG (Extraterrestrial Materials Analysis Group)

• Joint LEAG/ExMAG specific action teams on preparing for Artemis Sample Return
• Joint ExMAG/MEPAG workshops on Mars Sample Return
• Response to draft Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) entitled “Support for
  Planetary Sample Science (SPSS)”
• OSIRIS-REx cold curation questions
• Response to RFI: Implementation and Changes to Science Policy Document
  (SPD)-41
• Terrestrial Recovery of Extraterrestrial Materials: Providing Continued, Long-Term
  Sample Analysis Opportunities for Research and Mission Support
• Strategic Investment in Laboratory Analysis of Planetary Materials as Ground Truth
  for Solar System Exploration
• Advanced Curation of Astromaterials for Planetary Science Over the Next Decade
• The Value of Participating Scientist Programs to NASA’s Planetary Science Division

LEAG (Lunar Exploration Analysis Group)

• Lunar Science Goals (LEAG Task, 2025, in review)
• LEAG-ExMAG Joint Sample SAT (NASA Task, 2025, in review)
• Analog Objectives for Artemis (AOA) SAT Addendum (NASA Task, 2023)
• Continued Use of the Mean Earth (ME) Coordinate System for the Moon Rapid Response (NASA Task, 2023)
• Continuous Lunar Orbital Capabilities SAT (LEAG Task, 2022)
• Analog Objectives for Artemis (AOA) SAT (NASA Task, 2022)
• LEAG-MAPSIT Joint Lunar Critical Data Products SAT (NASA Task, 2021)
• COSPAR Planetary Protection Rapid Response SAT (NASA Task, 2020)
• Volatile Viability Measurement SAT (NASA Task, 2019)
• Advances in Science of the Moon SAT (NASA Task, 2018)
• Next Steps on the Moon SAT (NASA Task, 2018)
• LEAG-ISECG Volatiles SAT 2 (NASA Task, 2017)
• The United States Lunar Exploration Roadmap (LEAG Task, 2016)
• Volatiles SAT (NASA Task, 2014)
• Resource Prospector Mission SAT (NASA Task, 2014)

MAPSIT (Mapping and Planetary Spatial Infrastructure Team)

• Where to Publish Planetary Geologic Maps and Best Practices to Archive Map Data (MAPSIT GEMS-led White Paper, 2024)
• LSSW 20 Geological Mapping to Support Artemis Strategic Decisions (joint NASA-MAPSIT GEMS workshop, 2023)
• Lunar Critical Data Products (NASA requested, joint LEAG-MAPSIT SAT, 2021)
• Maximizing the Value of Solar System Data through Planetary Spatial Data Infrastructures (MAPSIT-led White Paper, 2020)
• Roadmap (MAPSIT task, 2019)
• Report on Cartography and Image Processing Software at the Astrogeology Science Center (NASA-tasked SAT, 2018)
• The Importance of a Planetary Cartography Program: Status and Recommendations (MAPSIT Geologic Mapping Subcommittee and NASA Planetary Cartography and Geologic Mapping Working Group White Paper, 2010)

MEPAG (Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group)

• Mars Science Goals, Objectives, Investigations, and Priorities (“Goals document”, MEPAG Task, 2020, in revision)
• Moon-to-Mars Science Objectives Tiger Team (NASA ESSIO Task, 2023)
• Mars Concurrent Exploration Science Analysis Group (NASA MEP Task, 2023)
• Mars Sample Return Caching Strategy Steering Cmte. (NASA MEP Task, 2021)
• MSR Operational Scenarios Definition Team (NASA/ESA Task, 2021)
• Mars Architecture Strategy Working Group (NASA MEP Task, 2020)
• ICE and Climate Evolution Science Analysis Group (NASA MEP Task, 2019)
• Mars International Collaboration Science Analysis Group (NASA MEP Task, 2017)
• Next Orbiter Science Analysis Group (NASA MEP Task, 2015)
• Human Science Objectives Science Analysis Group (NASA MEP Task, 2015)
• Special Regions Science Analysis Group (NASA MEP Task, 2014)

MExAG (Mercury Exploration Assessment Group)

• Mercury Science Goals, Objectives, and Investigations document (MExAG task, 2025)
• Mercury Technology Goals document (MExAG task, started 2025)

OPAG (Outer Planets Assessment Group)

• Planetary Protection Working Group report responding to proposed COSPAR PP policy changes (OPAG task, 2025)
• OPAG DARES RFI white paper on Astrobiology Advancements from the Outer Planets Perspective (2025)
• OPAG Statement on the Importance of Stellar Occultation Measurements to Characterize the Upper Atmosphere of Uranus (OPAG task, 2024)
• Planetary Science ROSES proposal survey (2024)
• Ocean Worlds Working Group formation (joint OPAG-SBAG task, 2023)
• OPAG Feedback on the Draft New Frontiers AO (2023)
• OPAG Decadal Survey white paper on Exploration Strategy for the Outer Planets 2023-2032: Goals and Priorities (2020)
• NASA Roadmap to Ocean Worlds (2019)
• The Value of Participating Scientist Programs to NASA’s Planetary Science Division (2017)
• Joint SBAG-OPAG Statement on the Scientific Priority of Identifying a Kuiper Belt Object for the New Horizons Mission (Cross-AG task, 2014)
• OPAG Ice Giant Working Group Report (2013)

SBAG (Small Bodies Assessment Group)

• Goals and Technology strategic document updates (SBAG task, 2024)
• Apophis Specific Action Team Report (NASA task, 2022)
• Perspective on Contamination from the SBAG (NAS Committee on Planetary Protection request, 2021)
• Recovery of Near-Earth Object Science Lost Due to the Demise of Arecibo (SBAG task, 2021)
• Value of NASA Participating Scientist Programs to NASA PSD (Cross-AG task, 2017)
• SBAG Asteroid Redirect Mission Special Action Team Full Report (ARM Team request, 2014)
• Joint SBAG-OPAG Statement on the Scientific Priority of Identifying a Kuiper Belt Object for the New Horizons Mission (Cross-AG task, 2014)
• Maximizing Dawn’s Scientific Mission at Ceres: SBAG Report (SBAG task, 2014)

VEXAG (Venus Exploration Analysis Group)

• Venus Exploration Strategy (Decadal, NASA endorsed task, 2024)
• Goals, Tech Plan, Roadmap Strategic documents (VEXAG task, 2019, 2024 pending)
• Community insights on funding opportunities (VEXAG White Paper, 2022)
• Venera-D Workshop Final Report (NASA task, 2021)
• Venus surface Platform study and report (VEXAG task, 2021)
• Venus Bridge study and report (NASA task, 2018)
• Aerial Platforms for the Scientific Exploration of Venus study and report (VEXAG task, 2018)
• Venus Gravity Assists Science Opportunity (VEGASO) Report (NASA task, 2015)

III. Elaborations

Analysis/Assessment Groups have assisted and connected NASA, scientists, engineers in productive, collective and even profoundly personal ways.

• AG communities are open to all. There is no barrier to entry or participation; joining a mailing list or attending and participating in a meeting are free (meeting registration is free, and virtual options mean travel is not necessary). One can be part of multiple AGs.
• AGs are a forum in which a community consensus can form. There may occasionally be a singly loud voice that may catch an ear and try to run with it, and the community serves as a vetting medium, modulating and mediating the effect of strong personalities within the community as a whole. Our community voice attempts to stand up in solidarity and remove perceived bias. That voice, in addition to contributing information to efforts such as the Decadal Surveys, also provides independent checks on National Academies reports or other review boards.
• AGs enable missions. AGs provide opportunities for closer connection between the scientists/leaders at NASA and the community that is doing the work that enable the missions. The AGs facilitate mission-enabling activities (goals docs, tech needs, long-range thinking that is non-binding but important input; often the kind of information and hands-on experience not available, or only available second-hand, in the peer-reviewed literature).
• AGs foster a sense of belonging. It is easy to get lost within the planetary science community for those that are new, returning, or at institutions where they are the sole planetary person. The AG’s give a set of more accessible, less formidable faces to form connections with leaders in the community, which in turn help people to feel that they belong to something bigger, which in turn can inspire greater personal investment into helping NASA to achieve its goals. Two specific examples across AGs:
  • — “If people didn’t feel a sense of belonging, pride, and responsibility to the Moon, we would never be able to put together the LEAG SATs, and NASA would have a harder time getting answers to their questions.”
  • — “It was SBAG that really made me feel like I belonged to the asteroid community, even when I was already in a formal position at NASA doing research. It also gave me an avenue to share my research with others, and it gave me a platform to present at a public forum.”
• AGs help the American Taxpayer. AGs support and encourage development of new technology that, while developed for solar system exploration, helps us here on Earth, too. We inspire people to go into the STEM and tech fields. Our research in this new environment will help enable and prepare for the expansion of a lunar/space commercial industry. The AGs bring together voices from different space sectors to inform HQ about the needs of the broader community.
• AGs preserve communities. In particular for communities without active missions, it keeps them together and helps to minimize loss of knowledge. Cohesive communities lead to cohesive teams and successful missions.
• AGs strengthen interdisciplinary science. The approach of the current AGs emphasizes interdisciplinary science. For some targets, e.g. Mercury, Venus, Small Bodies there is no single annual meeting that the whole community goes to. Not all of us go to LPSC / AGU / DPS. The AGs also engage with other NASA directorates- including ESDMD, STMD, other agencies such as USGS. We also connect with groups like the IAU for standards.
• AG contributions come at incredibly low cost. AGs provide a venue for continued mission-enabling activities outside of the Decadal Survey (and can go further “into the weeds” than the Decadal Survey) with an army of volunteers – exclusive of the recent support of AG chairs, NASA does not pay for the thousands of person hours annually spent across the AGs pulling together the resources that are being produced. While the cost to NASA to maintain the AGs is not zero, it gets a LOT in return for that small investment.

Signed,

Philipp Heck, Chair, ExMAG
Ben Greenhagen, Chair, LEAG
Julie Stopar, Chair, MAPSIT
Vicky Hamilton, Chair, MEPAG
Carolyn Ernst, Chair, MExAG
Morgan Cable and Carol Paty, Co-Chairs, OPAG
Lori Feaga, Chair, SBAG
Noam Izenberg, Chair, VExAG