---
title: "Decadal Surveys – A Quick Overview"
id: 26657
type: "post"
slug: "decadal-surveys-a-quick-overview"
author: "NSE"
published: "2022-12-20T12:30:00+00:00"
modified: "2025-05-23T14:59:16+00:00"
canonical: "https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2022/12/20/decadal-surveys-a-quick-overview/"
markdown_url: "https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2022/12/20/decadal-surveys-a-quick-overview.md"
description: "Space related Decadal Surveys are used by NASA and Congress as part of the strategy, planning and budgeting process."
language: "en-US"
category:
  - "Astronomy"
  - "Earth"
  - "Market Data And Analysis"
  - "Space Economy"
  - "Space Exploration"
post_tag:
  - "Astrobiology"
  - "Astrophysics"
  - "Entrepreneurs"
  - "NASA"
  - "Planetary Science"
  - "Research"
  - "Science"
  - "Strategy"
---

# Decadal Surveys – A Quick Overview

“Decadal Surveys” are studies that are produced by the National Academies of Science organization. The term Decadal Survey is derived from the fact that these studies look forward to the next 10 years (a decade) of research in a particular discipline and are performed about every 10 years. The surveys represent a consensus of the researchers in a particular discipline regarding what are the most important areas of research and the order in which specific missions should be executed.

Space related Decadal Surveys are used by [NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/) and Congress as part of the strategy, planning and budgeting process.

## Decadal Surveys used by NASA

#### Astrophysics

- [The National Academies Press site for Astrophysics Decadal Survey](http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12951)
- [New Worlds, New Horizons in Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey Report (Astro2010)](https://science.nasa.gov/files/atoms/files/Astro_2010_DS.pdf)
- [2020 Decadal Survey Planning](https://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/2020-decadal-survey-planning)

#### Planetary

- [The National Academies Press site for Planetary Decadal Survey](http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13117)
- [Decadal Strategy Planetary Science and Astrobiology 2023–2032 (2022)](https://science.nasa.gov/files/atoms/files/Decadal-Strategy-Planetary-Science-and-Astrobiology-2023%E2%80%932032.pdf)
- [Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022](https://science.nasa.gov/files/atoms/files/Planetary_DS.pdf)

#### Heliophysics

- [The National Academies Press site for Heliophysics Decadal Survey](http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13060)
- [A Decadal Strategy for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics)](https://science.nasa.gov/files/atoms/files/Helio_DS.pdf)

#### Earth

- [The National Academies Press site for Earth Decadal Survey](http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11820)
- [Earth Science and Applications from Space: National Imperatives for the Next Decade and Beyond](https://science.nasa.gov/files/atoms/files/Earth_DS.pdf)

#### Biological and Physical Sciences

- [2011 Decadal Survey in Life and Physical Sciences Research](https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/13048/recapturing-a-future-for-space-exploration-life-and-physical-sciences)
- [2011 Decadal Survey in Life and Physical Sciences Research Midterm Assessment](https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/24966/chapter/1)
- [2023-2032 Decadal Survey Planning](https://science.nasa.gov/biological-physical/decadal-survey)