NASA ROSES-16 Amendment 41: D.10 NuSTAR Final Text
ROSES-16 Amendment 41: This amendment releases final text for Program Element D.10 Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) Cycle 3
The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) Small Explorer (SMEX) mission is the first orbiting telescope to focus light in the high energy X-ray region of the electromagnetic spectrum (E >10 keV), with an effective bandpass of 3 – 79 keV. The observatory provides a combined improvement in sensitivity and spatial/spectral resolution by factors of 10 to 100 over previous missions that have operated at these energies. The NuSTAR Guest Observer (GO) Program solicits proposals for basic research relevant to the NuSTAR mission.
The third round of Guest Observations (Cycle 3) will commence on or about June 1, 2017, and last for a nominal period of 12 months. Based upon the outcome of the 2016 NASA Astrophysics Senior Review process, NuSTAR operations are currently funded through September 30, 2018. Further details on the Cycle 3 program may be found on the NuSTAR Guest Observer Program website ( http://nustar.gsfc.nasa.gov ). Observing time will be made available to scientists at both U.S. and non-U.S. institutions.
Individuals may submit proposals for two general types of observations: “standard-mode” and “Target-of-Opportunity” (ToO) (see Section 1.3.3). In addition to proposals for ToO observations submitted in response to this Call for Proposals, unsolicited requests for ToO observations may be made through the NuSTAR Science Operations Center. Note that unsolicited ToO requests are ineligible for funding under the NuSTAR Guest Observer Program. The data from NuSTAR observations selected under the Cycle 3 Call for Proposals will have a limited exclusive-use period dependent upon the observation type. Data from approved standard-mode GO observations will have a nominal one-year exclusive-use period commencing at the time of receipt of the processed data by the observer. Data from approved ToO observations will have a corresponding six-month exclusive-use period. Note that Principal Investigators (PIs) may waive the exclusive-use period and opt for the observation(s) to be placed directly into the NuSTAR public archive. Data resulting from unsolicited ToO requests will have no exclusive-use period.
Proposers must submit their Phase-1 proposals (including the accompanying target forms) electronically via the ARK/RPS website at http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/ark/rps/ by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on January 27, 2017. Instructions for submitting proposals via ARK/RPS are provided at the HEASARC NuSTAR web site: http://nustar.gsfc.nasa.gov/ .
Technical questions concerning this program element may be directed to Craig Markwardt at Craig.Markwardt@nasa.gov .
Programmatic information may be obtained from Louis Kaluzienski at louis.j.kaluzienski@nasa.gov
