The NVO Science Definition Team Charter

The National Virtual Observatory (NVO) Science Definition Team (SDT) was formed in June 2001, as a bi-agency (NASA and NSF) advisory body, in response to the recommendation by the NAS Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey Report, "Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Millenium". The Survey recommends the creation of the NVO as the highest priority in their "small projects" category.

The Charter of the SDT is to:

• Define and formulate a joint NASA/NSF initiative to pursue the NVO goals
• Solicit input from the U.S. astronomy community, and incorporate it in the NVO definition documents and recommendations for further actions
• Serve as liaison to broader space science, computer science, and statistics communities for the NVO initiative, and as liaison with the similar efforts in Europe, looking forward towards a truly Global Virtual Observatory

The SDT shall produce the following deliverables:

• A summary of the typical and major scientific drivers for the NVO, with implications for the technical requirements
• An overall architecture, framework, or frame of reference for the NVO
• A recommended roadmap for proceeding further

The SDT will complete this activity and produce its report by March 2002.