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SSO Small Explorer Acquistion.

SSO Small Explorer Acquistion.

Science Support Office: Explorer Acquisition

 

SMEX 2007 Announcement of Opportunity

Community Announcements

Dwayne Brown
Headquarters, Washington
June 20, 2008
202-358-1726
dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov
 

CONTRACT RELEASE: C08-040

NASA SELECTS EXPLORER MISSION OF OPPORTUNITY INVESTIGATIONS

WASHINGTON -- NASA has selected two science proposals to be the agency's next Explorer Program Mission of Opportunity investigations. One activity will study black holes and other extreme environments in the universe. The other will determine how the Earth's outer atmosphere responds to external forces.

The first investigation will provide a U.S. science instrument to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's New exploration X-Ray Telescope, or NeXT. The telescope, currently planned for launch in 2013, will open a new observing window on X-rays and the study of astrophysical phenomena. NASA's proposed funding for the instrument and operations is $44 million.

The other investigation will fly an atmospheric remote sensing instrument package aboard a yet-to-be-determined future commercial satellite. The investigation initially will be funded at approximately $250,000 for a concept study to aid in a NASA decision on further development.

"These selections offer unique and cost-effective science opportunities," said Charles Gay, deputy associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. "They expand NASA's science through partnerships with international and commercial organizations."

The two investigations were selected from among 17 proposals received by NASA earlier this year. They were evaluated by peer reviewers. The selected proposals are:

-- High-Resolution Soft X-Ray Spectrometer (SXS) for NEXT, Principal Investigator Richard L. Kelley, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt Md. The SXS will probe matter in extreme environments; investigate the nature of dark matter on large scales in the universe; and explore how galaxies and clusters of galaxies form and evolve.

-- Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD), Principal Investigator Richard Eastes, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Fla. GOLD will increase our understanding of the temperature and composition in the ionosphere; and provide understanding of the global scale response of the Earth's thermosphere and ionosphere.

NASA's Explorer Program is designed to provide frequent, low-cost access to space for heliophysics and astrophysics missions with small to mid-sized spacecraft. The program is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., for NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

For more information about the Explorer Program on the Internet, visit: http://explorers.gsfc.nasa.gov

NASA Selects Small Explorer Investigations for Concept Studies 

J.D. Harrington
Headquarters, Washington
May 28, 2008
202-358-5241
j.d.harrington@nasa.gov
 
RELEASE: C08-029
 
NASA SELECTS SMALL EXPLORER INVESTIGATIONS FOR CONCEPT STUDIES
 

Washington -- NASA has selected six candidate mission proposals for further evaluation as part of the agency's Small Explorer (SMEX) Program. The proposals will study the far reaches of the universe, including the Earth's thermosphere and ionosphere, the Sun, black holes, the first stars, and Earthlike planets around nearby stars.

Following detailed mission concept studies, NASA intends to select two of the mission proposals in the spring of 2009 for full development as SMEX missions. The first mission could launch by 2012. Both will launch by 2015. Mission costs will be capped at $105 million each, excluding the launch vehicle.

"We received many excellent proposals," said Mr. Charles Gay, deputy associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, "The six we selected for further study offer outstanding science in a small satellite mission."

The selected proposals were judged to have the best science value among 32 compliant SMEX proposals submitted to NASA in January 2008. Each will receive $750,000 to conduct a six-month implementation feasibility study.

The selected proposals are:

-- Coronal Physics Explorer (CPEX), Principal Investigator Dennis G. Socker, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. – CPEX will use a solar coronograph to study the processes responsible for accelerating the solar wind and generating the coronal mass ejections that can impact the Earth.

-- Gravity and Extreme Magnetism SMEX (GEMS), Principal Investigator Jean H. Swank, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. – GEMS will use an X-ray telescope to track the flow of highly magnetized matter into supermassive black holes.

-- Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), Principal Investigator Alan M. Title, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Palo Alto, Calif. – IRIS will use a solar telescope and spectrograph to reveal the dynamics of the solar chromosphere and transition region.

-- Joint Astrophysics Nascent Universe Satellite (JANUS), Principal Investigator Peter W.A. Roming, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Penn. – JANUS will use a gamma-ray burst monitor to point its infrared telescope at the most distant galaxies to measure the star-formation history of the universe.

-- Neutral Ion Coupling Explorer (NICE), Principal Investigator Stephen B. Mende, University of California, Berkeley, Calif. – NICE will use a suite of remote sensing and in situ instruments to discover how winds and the composition of the upper atmosphere drive the electrical fields and chemical reactions that control the Earth's ionosphere.

-- Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), Principal Investigator George R. Ricker, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass. – TESS will use a bank of six telescopes to observe the brightest 2.5 million stars and discover more than 1,000 Earth-to-Jupiter-sized planets around them.

NASA also received 17 Mission of Opportunity proposals for consideration and will schedule an evaluation board at a later date.

The proposals are vying to be the 12th and 13th Small Explorer missions selected for full development. The Explorer program is designed to provide frequent, low-cost access to space for heliophysics and astrophysics missions with small to mid-sized spacecraft. The program is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., for NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

For more information about the Explorer Program on the Internet, visit: http://explorers.gsfc.nasa.gov

For information about NASA and space science on the Internet, visit: http://www.nasa.gov

 
 

Information Notice: NASA’s Explorer Program Announcement of Opportunity 

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) plans to release an Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for new Small Explorer (SMEX) missions and Missions of Opportunity in October of this year. The Explorer Program conducts Principal Investigator(PI)-led space science investigations in SMD’s astrophysics and heliophysics programs. It is anticipated that approximately six to eight full-mission SMEX investigations will be selected for 4-month Phase A concept studies through this AO. At the conclusion of these concept studies, it is planned that three SMEX investigations will be selected to proceed into Phase B and subsequent mission phases. One additional SMEX mission may be designated as a backup until all selected missions pass or fail their Confirmation Review to enter Phase C/D. Missions will be phased approximately one year apart. In addition, one or more Missions of Opportunity (MO) may be selected within a $70M budget allocated for this purpose. No cost cap is being imposed on individual MOs within the $70M MO budget. Although NASA would prefer to select more than one MO within the allocated budget, a single MO investigation may be selected if it is scientifically and technically compelling enough to justify using the entire budget allocated to MOs. Both MOs and full missions must carry a cost reserve of at least 30% within the proposed cost. A proposal PI for this AO must have demonstrated sufficient experience to successfully lead a SMEX mission by having held a key position (PI, PS, Deputy PI, Deputy PS) for a space project (orbital or suborbital or deep space, mission or experiment or instrument) that has launched. Launch Vehicle costs and procurement will be the responsibility of NASA. Launch vehicle standard services will be provided as GFE, and their cost will not be included in the cost cap. The cost of mission specific and special launch services is the responsibility of the PI and must be included within the cost cap.
 
The time scale and broad parameters for the solicitation are as follows:
 
  • Release of draft AO (target) – June 2007.
  • Release of final AO (target) – October 2007.
  • Pre-proposal conference – 3 weeks after AO release.
  • Proposals due – 90 days after AO release.
  • Selection for competitive Phase A studies (target) – 4 months after proposals due.
  • Concept study reports due (target) – 5 months after selection for concept studies.
  • Downselection of flight mission(s) (target) – 3 months after concept studies due (Jan 2009 target).
  • Launch date(s) – Desire to launch first mission by April 2012; all missions to launch by April 30, 2014.
  • Cost cap – $105M ($FY08), excluding launch vehicle; lower cost investigations are encouraged.
  • Launch vehicle capabilities – For a Low Earth Orbit launch, 28.5 degree inclination, 600 km, the lift capability is up to 345 kg. For a Sun Synchronous Orbit launch, 90 degree inclination, 600 km, the lift capability is up to 250 kg.
  • Mission of opportunity (MO) – Total budget $70M ($FY08); more than one selection is preferred.
Proposers should read the AO carefully when it is released.
 
Further information will be posted on this web site as it becomes available. Questions may be addressed to
 
Dr. Hashima Hasan
Explorer Program Scientist
Science Mission Directorate
NASA, Washington, DC 20546
Tel.: (202) 358-0692
Email: hhasan@hq.nasa.gov.

 
Note: Released via the FBO website 04.27.2007.
 
 

NASA’s Explorer Program DRAFT Announcement of Opportunity (AO) 

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate is releasing a DRAFT Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for community review and comment for the next missions in the Small-class Explorer (SMEX) program. Selections of proposals through the final AO, once released, are intended to provide three mission launches by April 2014. Mission of Opportunity investigations, which may be partner missions, new science mission extensions, or small complete missions may also be selected. The science objectives covered by this AO address the goals of NASA’s heliophysics and astrophysics program. Participation in this AO will be open to all categories of organizations (U.S. and non-U.S.), including educational institutions, industry, not-for-profit organizations, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), NASA Centers, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and other Government agencies. NASA welcomes critical review and comment of this DRAFT AO, which will be available from June 8, 2007, through June 27, 2007, via the World Wide Web site: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/. Send comments to Dr. Hashima Hasan, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC 20546-0001. E-mail: smexao@nasa.gov. Comments are preferred in writing and may be sent by E-mail; the character string "SMEX DRAFT AO" (without quotes) should be included in the subject line of all transmissions. The identity of those submitting comments will be held in confidence. Answers to frequently asked questions about this Draft AO will be made available on the SMEX Acquisition Additional Information web page, available via the World Wide Web site: http://explorers.larc.nasa.gov/smexacq.html.
 
Released via the FBO website on 06.05.2007. + Click Here.
 
 

FBO SYNOPSIS 

Announcement of Opportunity for the Explorer Program:Small Explorers (SMEX) and Missions of Opportunity  

NNH07ZDA003O
Release Date: September 28, 2007
Notice of Intent: November 16, 2007
Proposals Due: January 15, 2008  

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is releasing a NASA Announcement of Opportunity (NNH07ZDA003O), for the Explorer Program: Small Explorers (SMEX) and Missions of Opportunity. NASA expects to select up to three SMEX missions to proceed into Phase B and subsequent mission phases. NASA desires to launch the first SMEX mission by late 2011 or 2012; the launch-by date for all SMEX missions is April 30, 2014. One or more Missions of Opportunity, including participation in non-SMD space missions, small complete missions and new science missions using existing spacecraft, may also be selected. The science objectives covered by the AO include those of the SMD heliophysics research program and the astrophysics research program. Refer to the SMD World Wide Web homepage at http://science.hq.nasa.gov/ for further information about these programs.
 
Participation is open to all categories of organizations (U.S. and non-U.S), including educational institutions, industry, not-for-profit organizations, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), NASA Centers, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and other Government agencies. This solicitation will be open from September 28, 2007, through January 15, 2008. Upon the release date, the full text of the AO and all appendices will be available electronically via the World Wide Web site http://nspires.nasaprs.com/. A preproposal conference will be held November 6, 2007, in Washington, DC; see http://explorers.larc.nasa.gov/smexacq.html for details. Submission dates for PI pre-screening requests are Oct. 12, 26, November 16, and December 7, 2007.
 
Direct questions specifically regarding this solicitation to: Dr. Hashima Hasan; Explorer Program Scientist; Astrophysics Division; Mail Suite 3W39; Science Mission Directorate; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Washington, DC 20546-0001; TEL: (202) 358-0692; E-mail: smexao@nasa.gov (subject line to read "SMEX AO").
 
This notice constitutes a NASA Research Announcement as contemplated in FAR 6.102(d)(2).
 
Released via the FBO website on 09.10.2007. + Click Here.
 
 

HELEX: Heliophysical Explorers: Solar Orbiter and Sentinels 

On September 19, 2007, the following document was made available through the Explorer Program Library.
HELEX: Heliophysical Explorers: Solar Orbiter and Sentinels
This is the pre-publication version of the Joint Science and Technology Definition Team Report.
 
 

Community Announcement on NuSTAR Restart 

Alan Stern, Associate Administrator for Science Mission Directorate, and Jon Morse, Director of Astrophysics, approved the restart of the NuSTAR SMEX mission on September 21, 2007.
 
NuSTAR is the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array. The Principal Investigator is Prof. Fiona Harrison of Caltech. NuSTAR is a focusing hard X-ray telescope whose science objectives include conducting a census for black holes on all scales, mapping radioactive material in young supernova remnants, and exposing relativistic jets of particles from the most extreme active galaxies.
 
NuSTAR was selected for a Phase A concept study through a proposal submitted in response to NASA’s 2003 SMEX AO (AO 03-OSS-02). NuSTAR was one of five missions selected to conduct a competitive Phase A concept study. The NuSTAR project completed Phase A and was downselected into an extended Phase A. In February 2006, the NuSTAR project was terminated without prejudice while still in extended Phase A. The decision to terminate was in response to changes in the NASA budget and was not based on consideration of NuSTAR’s scientific merit or technical feasibility.
 
NASA still plans to select three SMEX missions and one or more Missions of Opportunity through the 2007 SMEX AO (NHH07ZDA003O). In order to accommodate the Explorer Program’s share of NuSTAR’s funding requirements, it is likely that the launch dates for the three SMEX missions selected in response to the 2007 SMEX AO will be several months later than they would have been without the decision to restart NuSTAR. The exact impact will depend on the funding requirements of the missions selected through the 2007 SMEX AO.
 
 Launch dates anticipated in final SMEX AO (for SMEX missions at the cost cap with typical funding profiles)
NuSTARAugust 2011
SMEX-122012
SMEX-132013
SMEX-142015
Missions of OpportunityNo change
 
 

Informational Briefing in Support of ISS Payloads for the SMEX AO 

On Wednesday, December 19, 2007, NASA will provide an informational telecon briefing on the International Space Station (ISS) external payload accommodation and integration capabilities. The capabilities for installing and operating payloads on the Express Logistics Carriers (ELC) mounted on the ISS truss structure, the Japanese Experiment Module ("Kibo") Exposed Facility (EF), the European Space Agency (ESA) Columbus External Payload Facility (EPF), the U.S. Laboratory's Window Research Observation Facility (WORF), and the Japanese HII Transfer Vehicle (HTV) (launch vehicle) will be described.
 
These ISS capabilities are re;evant to the Small Explorer (SMEX) and Missions of Opportunity Announcement of Opportunity (AO), which solicits proposals for small Mission of Opportunity class experiments/payloads. The SMEX solicitation may be found on NSPIRES at http://nspires.nasaprs.com (select "Solicitations", then "Open Solicitations", and then "NNH07ZDA0030"-see Amendment 2 for ISS-based payloads). Proposals for ISS-based experiments are due on February 12, 2008. Technical interchange briefing charts and answers to questions provided at the telecon/meeting on December 19, 2007, will be posted later at the ISS Earth and Space Science site http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/nlab/platform.html, along with answers to other questions from potential proposers and previously posted material referred to in the SMEX AO Amendment 2.
 
Participation in the telecon briefing is not necessary in order to provide an ISS related proposal in response to the SMEX AO, but proposers may find the briefing beneficial. The telecon briefing will begin at 9 a.m. Central Time on December 19, 2007, and will end at 12:00 noon for the briefing portion. A question and answer period is scheduled from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM for those who are interested in further discussion. The meeting will be held at the Gilruth Center, near the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The telecon briefing will provide information on the capabilities and operations of various ISS elements which can be used to mount observational and other external payloads, and on the ISS launch capabilities in the post-Shuttle era.
 
There is no fee for participating in the technical interchange telecon, but all participants must pre-register by Tuesday, December 18, 1:00pm CST. To pre-register, please email your full name, affiliation, address, telephone number, fax number, email address, and U.S. citizenship information to: pdl.helpdesk@msfc.nasa.gov, and put "SMEX AO TIM Registration" in the Subject field of your email. The information being presented may be export controlled and ITAR sensitive; thus, all attendees must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents (hold green cards). Telecon access information and a meeting location map will be provided to pre-registered participants. Charts planned to be used at the telecon/meeting will be emailed to pre-registered participants by Tuesday, December 18, 5:00pm CST. Following the briefing, a version of the charts and notes from Q&As are planned to be posted at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/nlab/platform.html.

 

 

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