2026 Astrophysics Small Explorers (APSMEX26) AO

2026 Astrophysics Small Explorers (APSMEX26)

 

Pre-Proposal Conference

Astrophysics Explorers Program
2022 Small Explorer
Pre-Proposal Conference
June 30, 2026

Potential proposers to the Astrophysics Explorers Program 2026 Small Explorer (SMEX) Announcement of Opportunity (AO) are encouraged to participate in this Pre-Proposal Conference. Information will be presented by NASA officials. Participants will have the opportunity to pose questions regarding the opportunities.

The Pre-Proposal Conference has been scheduled from 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT/UTC-04:00) on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Participation will be via Webex (presentation materials, audio, and text and verbal questions) and teleconference (audio and verbal questions). No travel is required to attend the conference as it will be completely virtual. The agenda and participation information are as follows:

Draft Agenda (subject to change)
All times are in Eastern Daylight Time (ET/UTC-04:00)
Time (TBC) Presentation Speaker
10:00 AM Welcome Peg Luce, Deputy Division Director, Astrophysics Division, NASA Science Mission Directorate
10:10 AM PPC Goals & Introduction to AO Dan Moses, Astrophysics Explorers Program Scientist, Astrophysics Division, NASA Science Mission Directorate (NASA/HQ)
10:30 AM Explorers Office Sridhar Manthripragada, Program Manager, Explorers and Heliophysics Projects Division (NASA/GSFC)
10:45 AM Science Evaluation Dan Moses, Astrophysics Explorers Program Scientist, Astrophysics Division, NASA Science Mission Directorate (NASA/HQ)
11:25 AM TMC Evaluation Omar Torres, Astrophysics Small Explorer Lead Acquisition Manager, NASA Science Office for Mission Assessments (NASA/LaRC)
11:55 AM Expectations for Phase A&B Lucien Cox, Astrophysics Explorers Program Executive, Astrophysics Division, NASA Science Mission Directorate (NASA/HQ)
12:15 PM Question Time All
12:30 PM AO-Provided Launch Services Genevieve Futch, Mission Manager, NASA Launch Services Program (NASA/KSC)
12:45 PM International Participation Peyton Blackstock, Office of International and Interagency Relations (NASA/HQ)
1:00 PM Space Communications & Navigation (SCaN) Anum Ashraf, SCaN Program Office (NASA/HQ)
1:15 PM Export Control Michael Tu, Office of International and Interagency Relations (NASA/HQ)
1:30 PM Writing L1 and L2 Requirements Shaun Deacon, Aerospace Engineer, Space Missions Analysis Branch (NASA/LaRC)
1:55 PM Conjunction Analysis & Collision Avoidance Lauri Newman, Conjunction Assessment Program Officer (NASA/HQ)
2:10 PM Question Time All
2:25 PM Closing Remarks Dan Moses, Astrophysics Explorers Program Scientist, Astrophysics Division, NASA Science Mission Directorate (NASA/HQ)
2:30 PM Adjourn

Webex Information:

To Be Provided