NASA Explorer Solicitations to be Released on September 17
On September 17, 2014, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is releasing three solicitations for Explorer Science Investigations.
Release Date: September 17, 2014
Notice of Intent to Propose Due: October 15, 2014
Proposals Due: December 18, 2014
NASA will release simultaneously the Small Explorer 2014 Announcement of Opportunity (NNH14ZDA013O), the Astrophysics Explorer 2014 Mission of Opportunity (MO) Program Element Appendix (PEA) (NNH12ZDA006O-APEXMO2) as Amendment 9 to the NASA Second Stand Alone Missions of Opportunity Notice (SALMON-2) Announcement of Opportunity (NNH12ZDA006O), and a solicitation for Astrophysics Explorer U.S. Participating Investigators (APEX USPI) (NNH14ZDA001N-APEX USPI) as Amendment 33 to the Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences 2014 (ROSES-14) NASA Research Announcement (NNH14ZDA001N).
These solicitations will be open from September 17, 2014, through December 18, 2014. Upon the release date, the full text of the solicitations and all appendices will be available electronically athttp://nspires.nasaprs.com/.
Preproposal conferences will be held in early October 2014; see http://explorers.larc.nasa.gov/APSMEX for details.
The Astrophysics Explorers Program conducts Principal Investigator (PI)-led space science investigations relevant to SMD’s astrophysics programs. Astrophysics Explorer investigations must address NASA’s strategic objective to discover how the universe works, explore how it began and evolved, and search for life on planets around other stars.
The purpose of the USPI ROSES element is to solicit Astrophysics Explorer Mission of Opportunity (MO) investigations in which investigators participate as a Co-I for an instrument, experiment, or technology demonstration that is being built and flown by a sponsor agency other than NASA.
Participation is open to all categories of organizations or institutions, U.S. or non-U.S., including educational, industrial, and not-for-profit institutions, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs), NASA Centers, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and other Government agencies.
NASA expects to select up to three Astrophysics Small Explorer missions for Phase A studies, and downselect one to proceed into Phase B and subsequent mission phases. NASA expects to select up to three Astrophysics Explorer Missions of Opportunity for Phase A studies, and downselect one or two to proceed into Phase B and subsequent mission phases. If multiple selectable Missions of Opportunity are proposed with combined costs within the available funding, NASA may downselect more than one Mission of Opportunity investigation. NASA expects to select up to two USPI investigations.
This Small Explorer AO incorporates a number of changes relative to the previous Explorers Program AO and to the Draft 2014 Small Explorer AO. All proposers must read this AO carefully, and all proposals must comply with the requirements, constraints, and guidelines contained within the AO.
This Mission of Opportunity SALMON-2 PEA incorporates a number of changes relative to the previous Explorers Mission of Opportunity SALMON-2 PEA and to the Draft 2014 Astrophysics Explorer Mission of Opportunity PEA. All proposers must read the SALMON-2 AO and this PEA carefully, and all proposals must comply with the requirements, constraints, and guidelines contained within the SALMON-2 AO and this PEA.
The ROSES-2014 incorporates a small number of changes from the previous Astrophysics Explorer USPI ROSES element. Nonetheless, proposers must read this ROSES Amendment carefully and all proposals must comply with the requirements contained within the ROSES-14 NRA and this Amendment.
Comments and questions may be addressed in writing or by E-mail to: Dr. Wilton T. Sanders, Astrophysics Explorers Program Scientist, Astrophysics Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC 20546-0001; E-mail: wilton.t.sanders@nasa.gov (subject line to read “Explorer SMEX AO” or “Explorer MO PEA” or “APEX USPI” as appropriate); Phone: 202-358-1319; FAX: 202-358-3062. Responses to all inquiries will be answered by E-mail and also posted to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) location of the Explorer Program Acquisition website athttp://explorers.larc.nasa.gov/APSMEX/; anonymity of persons and institutions who submit questions will be preserved.
