2025 Astrophysics Small Explorers (APSMEX25) AO

2025 Astrophysics Small Explorers (APSMEX25)

 

2025 Astrophysics SMEX

2025 Astrophysics SMEX PROGRAM LIBRARY

Last Updated: 04/16/2025 (View Change Log)

Strategic Documents

  1. NASA Strategic Plan (pending update)
  2. Science 2020-2024: A Vision of Scientific Excellence (pending update)
  3. Astrophysics Decadal 2020: Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s (2021), may be accessed at https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/26141/pathways-to-discovery-in-astronomy-and-astrophysics-for-the-2020s.
  4. Astrophysics roadmap, Enduring Quests Daring Visions, NASA Astrophysics in the Next Three Decades (pending update)

Program Specific Documents

  1. Explorers Program Plan, EXP-PLAN-001, Revision C
  2. Science Mission Directorate Policy: SMD Standard Mission Assurance Requirements for Payload Classification D, SPD-39
  3. Criteria and Requirements for the Phase A Concept Study, DRAFT
  4. NASA Launch Services Information Summary – (LSIS)
    1. NASA Launch Services Risk Mitigation Policy, NPD-8610.7D (Revalidated w/Change 3)
    2. Launch Vehicle Technical Oversight Policy, NPD-8610.23C (Revalidated 6/9/2023)
    3. Launch Services Program Pre-Launch Readiness Reviews, NPD-8610.24C (Revalidated 12/17/2020)
  5. Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Mission Operations and Communications Services (MOCS), Rev 5, effective 12/01/2023
    1. S-Band Overview 2-8GHz
    2. Available Spectrum and Channel Limits By Allocated Service
    3. Near Space Network User’s Guide
    4. Lunar Exploration Ground Sites (LEGS) Brochure
    5. Near Space Network (NSN) Brochure
    6. Communications Services Project (CSP) Brochures
      1. Telesat Brochure
      2. Project Kuiper Brochure
      3. Kepler Brochure
      4. SpaceX Brochure
      5. SES Brochure
      6. Viasat Brochure
      7. Inmarsat Brochure
  6. SMD Policy Document on Student Collaboration, SPD-31 (pending update)
  7. TRL 6 Documents
    1. System Level TRL 6 Examples
    2. Assessment of TRL in AO-Based Evaluations and Common Causes of Major TRL Weaknesses
  8. Scientific Information Policy for the Science Mission Directorate, SPD-41a
  9. Astrophysics Scientific Information Management Policy, APD-13v1.8
  10. Microsoft Excel version of the template tables in the AO:
      Table B1: Example Science Traceability Matrix
      Table B2: Example Mission Traceability Matrix
      Table B3a: Total Mission Cost RY$ Profile Template [Step 2 only]
      Table B3b: Total Mission Cost FY$ Profile Template
      Table B5: Master Equipment List.
  11. Meeting the 70% JCL Requirement in PI-led Missions, SPD-19
  12. Draft Model Contract for Phases B/C/D/E
    1. Model Contract Draft Phases B-F, For Profit
    2. Model Contract Draft Phases B-F, Non Profit respectively
  13. Astrophysics Explorers Budget Summary, Exhibit A
  14. NASA New Start Inflation Index
  15. CUI Portion Marking Sample
  16. Project Protection Plan (PPP) Template, 12-16-2020
  17. Policy and Requirements for SMD External Web sites, SPD-29
  18. Policy and Requirements for SMD Communications for Flight Missions, SPD-26B
  19. NASA Risk Management Procedural Requirements, NPR 8000.4C
  20. Class D Documents
    1. Science Mission Directorate (SMD) Category 3/Class D Projects Implementation Policy, SPD-48
    2. Guidance and Expectations for Small Category 3, Risk Classification D (Cat 3/Class D) Space Flight Projects with Life-Cycle Cost Under $150M
    3. Guidance for Distributed Satellite System (DSS) Architectures for Class D Missions
    4. Approved Deviation from FAR and NFS EVMS Policy for SMD Class D
    5. TROPICS Project Plan
  21. Principles for Collaboration on Missions with International Partners, SPD-37
  22. Initiating Contributions to International Partner-led Missions, SPD-47

NASA and Federal Documents

  1. NASA Space Flight Program and Project Management Requirements, NPR 7120.5F
  2. NASA Systems Engineering Processes and Requirements, NPR 7123.1D
  3. NASA WBS Handbook, NASA/SP-20210023927
  4. NASA Systems Engineering Handbook, NASA/SP-2016-6105 Rev 2
  5. Orbital Debris Mitigation, NPR 8715.6E
  6. Process for Limiting Orbital Debris, NASA STD 8719.14C
  7. Requesting Relief from Agency Mission Assurance Requirements, NPR 8715.3E
  8. Risk Classification for NASA Payloads, NPR 8705.4A
  9. Communications and Material Review, NPD 2521.1B
  10. Requirements for Documentation, Approval and Dissemination of Scientific and Technical Information, NPR 2200.2E
  11. NASA Plan for Increasing Access to the Results of Scientific Research.
  12. NASA Research and Technology Program and Project Management Requirements, NPR 7120.8A (Revalidated w/change 5)
  13. Space System Protection Standard, NASA-STD-1006A
  14. Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations, NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 5
  15. NASA Spacecraft Conjunction Assessment and Collision Avoidance Best Practices Handbook, OCE-51 Rev 1
  16. Candidate Protection Strategies, MRPP.CPS.20201216 Version 4.5
  17. Planetary Protection Documents
    1. NASA Policy for Safety and Mission Success, NASA-HDBK-6022
    2. Planetary Protection Provisions for Robotic Extraterrestrial Missions, NPR 8715.24
    3. Implementing Planetary Protection Requirements for Space Flight, NASA-STD-8719.27
    4. NASA Handbook for the Microbiological Examination of Space Hardware, NASA-HDBK-6022
  18. Management and Utilization of NASA's Space Communication and Navigation Infrastructure, NPD 8074.1 w/Change 2
  19. Security Requirements for Cryptographic Modules, FIPS 140-2
  20. Standard for Software Assurance and Software Safety, NASA-STD-8739.8B
  21. NASA Software Engineering Requirements, NPR 7150.2D
  22. Nuclear Flight Safety, NPR 8715.26

Additional NASA and Federal Documents

All NASA Policy Directives (NPD) and NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) documents referenced in this AO may be found in the NASA Online Directives Information System (NODIS) Library (http://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/)

NPR 1600.1A, NASA Security Program Procedural Requirements
NPD 1360.2B, Initiation and Development of International Cooperation in Space and Aeronautics Programs
NPD 5101.32E, Procurement, Financial Assistance
NPR 8580.1A, Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act and Executive Order 12114
NPD8610.12H, Orbital Transportation Services

NASA technical standards documents may be found in the public access portion of the NASA Standards and Technical Assistance Resource Tool (START) (http://standards.nasa.gov/)

NASA technical reports may be found on the NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) (http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp)

The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) may be accessed at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far. The following parts of the FAR are referenced in this AO.

FAR 15.403-5, "Instructions for submission of certified cost or pricing data and data other than certified cost or pricing data."
FAR 22.808, "Complaints."
FAR 33.101, "Definitions."
FAR 52.219-8, "Utilization of Small Business Concerns."
FAR 52.219-9, "Small Business Subcontracting Plan."
FAR 52.222-26, "Equal Opportunity."
FAR 52.226-2, "Historically Black College or University and Minority Institution Representation."
FAR 52.227-11, "Patent Rights-Ownership by the Contractor."
FAR 52.227-14, "Rights in Data-General."
ß FAR 52.233-2, "Service of Protest."

The NASA FAR Supplement (NFS) may be accessed at http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/NFS.pdf. The following parts of the NASA FAR Supplement are referenced in this AO.

NFS 1815.208, "Submission, modification, revision, and withdrawal of proposals."
NFS 1835.016-70, "Foreign participation under broad agency announcements (BAAs)."
NFS 1852.227-11, "Patent Rights--Retention by the Contractor (Short Form)."
NFS 1852.227-70, "New Technology." NFS 1852.227-71, "Requests for Waiver of Rights to Inventions."
NFS 1852.233-70, "Protests to NASA."
NFS 1852.234-2, "Earned Value Management System."
NFS 1872.404, "Categorization."
NFS 1872.306, "Proposals submitted by NASA investigators."

NASA Procurement Information Circulars (PICs) may be accessed at http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/pic.pdf.

The Code of Federal regulations (CFR) may be accessed at https://www.govinfo.gov. The following parts of the CFR are referenced in this AO.

2 CFR 200.466, "Scholarships and student aid costs"
15 CFR Parts 730-774, "Export Administration Regulations"
22 CFR Parts 120-130, "International Traffic in Arms Regulations"
48 CFR 15.408, "Solicitation provisions and contract clauses"

The United States Code (USC) may be accessed at https://www.govinfo.gov. The following parts of the United States Code are referenced in this AO.

42 USC 4321 et seq., "National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended"

Executive Orders may be accessed at https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/executive-orders. The following Executive Orders are referenced in this AO.

Executive Order 11246, Equal employment opportunity (see https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/11246.html).
Executive Order 12114, Environmental effects abroad of major Federal actions (see https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12114.html)

Homeland Security Presidential Directive HSPD-12 (see https://www.dhs.gov/homeland-security-presidential-directive-12)