NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is releasing a Draft 2019 Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for Discovery Program mission investigations. The Discovery Program conducts Principal Investigator (PI)-led space science investigations in SMD's planetary programs under a not-to-exceed cost cap for the PI-Managed Mission Cost (PMMC). At the conclusion of Phase A concept studies, it is planned that no more than two Discovery investigations of sufficient merit will be down-selected to continue into subsequent mission phases. Discovery Program investigations must address NASA's planetary science objectives as described in 2018 NASA Strategic Plan and the 2014 NASA Science Plan . Both documents are now available at http://science.nasa.gov/about-us/science-strategy/ . NASA is releasing a draft of the Discovery 2019 AO on December 12, 2018. The text can be found on NSPIRES at https://nspires.nasaprs.com and searching Open Solicitations for "Draft Discovery" or "NNH19ZDA009J." Proposers are encouraged to read the Draft Discovery AO and provide feedback for NASA's consideration as the AO is finalized. The comment period for the Draft Discovery AO ends on January 16, 2019. NASA has not approved the issuance of the Discovery 2019 AO, and this notification does not obligate NASA to issue the AO and solicit proposals. Any costs incurred by prospective investigators in preparing submissions in response to this Draft Discovery 2019 AO are incurred completely at the submitter's own risk. The time frame for the solicitation is intended to be: Release of draft AO - December 12, 2018 Comment period closes - January 16, 2019 Release of final AO (target) - February 28, 2019 Notice of Intent to Propose Deadline At 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time - ~ 1 month after release of final AO Electronic Proposal Submittal Deadline at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time - ~ 3 months after release of final AO Further information will be posted on the Discovery Program Acquisition Website at http://discovery.larc.nasa.gov/ as it becomes available. Questions and comments on the draft AO may be addressed to Dr. Curt Niebur, Discovery Program Lead Scientist (acting), Planetary Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, Washington, DC 20546; Email:
[email protected] .