Following a multi-month prioritization process involving managers, technologists, scientists, and subject-matter experts from NASA's Astrophysics Division (APD) and the Program Offices, as well as independent reviewers, the following is the Astrophysics Technology Gap Priority List. This list will inform APD technology development planning as well as decisions on what technologies to solicit and will be considered when making funding decisions. Tiers are in descending priority order. All gaps within any given tier are to be considered equally prioritized (which is why the gaps are arranged alphabetically within each tier). Tier 4 (Non-Strategic) is reserved for gaps deemed not to enable or enhance any strategic Astrophysics mission, and as such will not automatically be included in the next prioritization cycle.
Priority Tier 1: Technology gaps determined to be of the highest interest to APD. Advancing technologies to close these key gaps is judged to be most critical to making substantive near-term progress on the highest-priority strategic astrophysics missions. The program office technologists recommend solicitations and award decisions address as many of these technology gaps as possible.
Priority Tier 2: Closing these technology gaps is highly desirable or desirable for a variety of strategic missions. Should sufficient funding be available, solicitations and award decisions should address closing these technology gaps as well.
Priority Tier 3: Technology gaps deemed supportive of APD strategic objectives but with low enough priority that the program office technologists recommend deferring work on these for the time being.
Priority Tier 4 (Non-Strategic): Legitimate APD technology gaps that are not currently aligned with any strategic mission or activity and will thus not be reprioritized in following years. Submitters may contact the relevant Program Office to discuss what changes would be needed for potential resubmittal.