From NBS to NIST to NASA: Past and Future of the Atomic Spectroscopy Group

For over 120 years, the Atomic Spectroscopy Group (ASG) at NIST has advanced scientific discovery through pioneering techniques in experimental and theoretical atomic and plasma spectroscopy. With the unique collection of precise spectroscopic instruments, its scientists performed precise measurements and interpretation of spectra from neutral to 70-times ionized atoms. By producing critically evaluated standard reference data and maintaining world-class atomic databases, the ASG provided the foundation for breakthroughs in astrophysics, magnetic fusion, atomic clock research, and nuclear physics. Following a shift in institutional priorities at NIST, the ASG team was integrated into NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the University of Maryland, College Park. This transition preserves a century of scientific legacy while opening new frontiers in space-based research. This presentation reviews the group's landmark achievements and outlines its strategic objectives within this new collaborative framework.