Community Announcement NNH09ZDA009J:NASA intends to release a Discovery Program Draft AONASAs Science Mission Directorate (SMD) intends to release a Draft Announcement ofOpportunity (AO) in June 2009 for Discovery Program missions. The Discovery Programconducts Principal Investigator (PI)-led space science investigations in SMDs planetaryprograms under a not-to-exceed cost cap. It is anticipated that approximately two tothree Discovery investigations will be selected for 9-month Phase A concept studiesthrough this AO. At the conclusion of these concept studies, it is planned that oneDiscovery investigation will be selected to continue into Phase B and subsequent missionphases. There will be no Missions of Opportunity (MO) solicited as part of this AO. AllMO are now solicited through the Stand Alone Mission of Opportunity Notice (SALMON) AO.Discovery Program investigations must address NASAs planetary science goals as describedin Solar System Exploration, NASAs 2006 roadmap for planetary science. The roadmap maybe found at http://nasascience.nasa.gov/about-us/science-strategy/ .Investigations may focus on any body in the Solar System, excluding the Earth and theSun, and including Mars and the Moon. Investigations may not focus on extra-solarplanetary systems.Discovery Program investigations may propose the use of Advanced Stirling RadioisotopeGenerators (ASRGs) for missions enabled by radioisotope power systems. If selected forflight, NASA will provide up to two ASRGs, including the services associated with theirprovisioning on space missions, as GFE, and their costs will not be included in the costcap. The costs for mission-specific accommodations or qualifications, however, are theresponsibility of the PI and must be included within the cost cap. Launch Vehicle costs and procurement will be the responsibility of NASA. Launch vehiclestandard services will be provided as GFE and the cost will not be included in the costcap. The cost of mission specific and special launch services, including the use ofradioisotope heating units (RHUs), is the responsibility of the PI and must be includedwithin the cost cap. NASA is reviewing the possibility of offering options for differentlaunch vehicle capabilities and their impact on the cost cap. Investigations are capped at a life-cycle cost of $425M (FY10), excluding standard launchservices and, if required, ASRGs. Lower-cost investigations are encouraged.The schedule for the solicitation is intended to be: Release of draft AO (target) June 2009 Release of final AO (target) November 2009 Pre-proposal conference ~3 weeks after final AO release Proposals due 90 days after AO release Selection for competitive Phase A studies July 2010 (target) Concept study reports due May 2011 (target) Down-selection November 2011 (target) Launch date NLT December 31, 2016The Draft Discovery AO will be based on the Standard PI-led Mission AO Template availableat http://sso.larc.nasa.gov/aosimplification.html . Proposers should read the DraftDiscovery AO carefully when it is released.NASA has not approved the issuance of the Discovery AO and this notification does notobligate NASA to issue the AO and solicit proposals. Any costs incurred by prospectiveinvestigators in preparing submissions in response to this notification or the plannedDraft Discovery AO are incurred completely at the submitter's own risk.Further information will be posted on the Discovery Program Acquisition Page athttp://discovery.larc.nasa.gov/ as it becomes available. Questions may be addressedto Dr. Michael New, Discovery Program Lead Scientist, Science Mission Directorate, NASA,Washington, DC 20546; Tel.: (202) 358-1766; Email:
[email protected].