NASA Explorer Solicitations to be Released on September 15
On September 15, 2016, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is releasing three solicitations for Astrophysics Explorers Science Investigations.
Release Date: September 15, 2016
Notice of Intent to Propose Due: October 13, 2016
Proposals Due: December 15, 2016
1. Identification Number: NNH16ZDA010O (Medium Explorer AO)
2. Identification Number: NNH12ZDA006O-APEXMO3 (Amendment 15 to the SALMON-2 AO: Astrophysics Explorers Mission of Opportunity Solicitation)
3. Identification Number: NNH16ZDA001N-APEX USPI (Amendment 30 to the ROSES-16 NRA: Astrophysics Explorers U.S. Participating Investigators)
NASA will release simultaneously the 2016 Astrophysics Explorers Medium Explorer Announcement of Opportunity (NNH16ZDA010O), the 2016 Astrophysics Explorers Mission of Opportunity (MO) Program Element Appendix (PEA) (NNH12ZDA006O-APEXMO3) as Amendment 15 to the NASA Second Stand Alone Missions of Opportunity Notice (SALMON-2) Announcement of Opportunity (NNH12ZDA006O), and a solicitation for Astrophysics Explorers U.S. Participating Investigators (APEX USPI) (NNH16ZDA001N-APEX USPI) as Amendment 30 to the Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences 2016 (ROSES-16) NASA Research Announcement (NNH16ZDA001N).
These solicitations will be open from September 15, 2016, through December 15, 2016. Upon the release date, the full text of the solicitations and all appendices will be available electronically at http://nspires.nasaprs.com /.
A Preproposal Conference will be held via teleconference/WebEx on October 6, 2016; see http://explorers.larc.nasa.gov/APMIDEX2016 for details.
The Astrophysics Explorers Program conducts Principal Investigator (PI)-led space science investigations relevant to SMD’s astrophysics programs. Astrophysics Explorers 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 Explorers Mission of Opportunity investigations in which investigators participate as a Co-Investigator 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 Explorers Medium 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 Explorers 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 Medium Explorer AO incorporates a number of changes relative to the previous Explorers Program AO and to the Draft 2016 Medium Explorer AO. All proposers must read this AO carefully, and all proposals must comply with the requirements, constraints, and guidelines contained within the AO. Notices of Intent are required by October 13, 2016 and proposals are due by December 15, 2016.
This Mission of Opportunity SALMON-2 PEA incorporates a number of changes relative to the previous Astrophysics Explorers Mission of Opportunity SALMON-2 PEA and to the Draft 2016 Astrophysics Explorers 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. Notices of Intent are required by October 13, 2016 and proposals are due by December 15, 2016.
The ROSES-2016 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-16 NRA and this Amendment. Notices of Intent are required by October 13, 2016 and proposals are due by December 15, 2016.
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 “Astrophysics Explorers MIDEX AO” or “Astrophysics Explorers 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 Questions and Answers (Q&A) location of the 2016 Astrophysics Explorers Program Acquisition website at http://explorers.larc.nasa.gov/APMIDEX2016 ; anonymity of persons and institutions who submit questions will be preserved.
