“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 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
- New Worlds, New Horizons in Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey Report (Astro2010)
- 2020 Decadal Survey Planning
Planetary
- The National Academies Press site for Planetary Decadal Survey
- Decadal Strategy Planetary Science and Astrobiology 2023–2032 (2022)
- Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022
Heliophysics
- The National Academies Press site for Heliophysics Decadal Survey
- A Decadal Strategy for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics)
Earth
- The National Academies Press site for Earth Decadal Survey
- Earth Science and Applications from Space: National Imperatives for the Next Decade and Beyond