Draft NASA Astrophysics Explorers Program Solicitations Released for Community Comment
Release Date: November 6, 2018
Comments Due: December 7, 2018
Identification Number: NNH19ZDA003J (Draft 2019 Astrophysics Small Explorer (SMEX) Announcement of Opportunity (AO))
Identification Number: NNH19ZDA004J (Draft 2019 Astrophysics Explorers Missions of Opportunity NNH17ZDA004O–APEXMO)
On November 6, 2018, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD) released two Draft solicitations for community review and comment entitled the Draft 2019 Astrophysics Small Explorer (SMEX) Announcement of Opportunity (AO) and the Draft 2019 Astrophysics Explorers Missions of Opportunity NNH17ZDA004O–APEXMO Program Element Appendix (PEA) for the Third Stand Alone Missions of Opportunity Notice (SALMON-3) AO. The full text of both draft solicitations is available at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/.
The Astrophysics Explorers Program conducts Principal Investigator (PI)-led space science investigations relevant to SMD’s astrophysics programs. Explorer investigations must address NASA’s goals to discover the origin, structure, evolution, and destiny of the Universe and search for Earth-like planets.
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.
The comment period for the Draft 2019 SMEX AO and the Draft 2019 APEXMO PEA ends on December 7, 2018.
The issuance of the Draft 2019 SMEX AO does not obligate NASA to issue the 2019 Small Explorer AO and solicit proposals. The issuance of the Draft 2019 APEXMO PEA does not obligate NASA to issue a 2019 Astrophysics Explorers MO PEA and solicit proposals. Any costs incurred by prospective investigators in preparing submissions in response to either of these draft solicitations are incurred completely at the submitter’s own risk.
Comments on either or both drafts may be addressed via email to the Astrophysics Explorers Program Scientist: Dr. Linda S. Sparke (subject line to read “2019 SMEX AO”, “2019 MO” or both) at: linda.s.sparke@nasa.gov. Responses to comments will be given by email and posted in the SMEX/MO QAs section on the Astrophysics Explorers Program Acquisition websites at http://explorers.larc.nasa.gov/2019APSMEX/SMEX and http://explorers.larc.nasa.gov/2019APSMEX/MO; anonymity of persons/institutions who submit comments will be preserved. Comments will be accepted by email only.
