NASA 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.

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.

Further information will be posted at http://explorers.larc.nasa.gov/smexacq.html 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: [email protected]. [Source: NAI Newsletter]