SOMA 2014 Astrophysics Explorer Missions of Opportunity (MO).

2018 Heliophysics Science Missions of Opportunity

 

2018 Heliophysics Medium-Class Explorer (MIDEX)

FBO ANNOUNCEMENTS

09.26.2018

AO FBO Announcement

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) ) announces the addition of Program Element Appendix (PEA) M to the NASA Announcement of Opportunity (AO) entitled Third Stand Alone Missions of Opportunity Notice (SALMON-3 NNH17ZDA004O). PEA M is the 2018 Heliophysics Science Mission of Opportunity NNH17ZDA004O-HPSMO. Notification proposals are due by October 1, 2018.

SALMON-3 is an omnibus AO that provides a solicitation and procurement base for modest investigations, also referred to as Missions of Opportunity (MO), requiring space flight that advance the high priority science and technology objectives of NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD).

The Heliophysics Division conducts Principal Investigator (PI)-led space science investigations in SMD's heliophysics programs under a not-to-exceed cost cap. Proposals submitted in response to this PEA will be selected for flight through a two-step competitive process. Proposals will undergo the first step evaluation. As the outcome of the first step evaluation, NASA intends to select two or more MO investigations to proceed to a nine-month Phase A concept study. In the second step, NASA will conduct an evaluation of the Phase A concept study reports. From this evaluation, NASA expects to down-select at least two MOs to proceed into Phase B and subsequent mission phases, at least one of which will be an SCM utilizing NASA-PEA-provided Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) Grande access to space. A Science investigation proposed PI-Managed Mission Cost (PIMMC), including all mission phases, is expected to range from $35M-$75M. Multiple missions may be selected if their total cost remains below the overall PEA cost cap. Science investigations are encouraged to use the launch capability on the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV).

Heliophysics Science investigations must address NASA's heliophysics science objectives as described in 2014 Science Plan for NASA's Science Mission Directorate and Our Dynamic Space Environment: Heliophysics Science and Technology Roadmap for 2014-2033. Consistent with these documents, investigations should focus on understanding the Sun and its interactions with Earth and the solar system, including space weather.

Investigations may target any heliophysics scientific investigation that advances the objectives of this PEA. Investigations that address NASA goals in other areas, such as astrophysics, Earth science, or planetary science, are not solicited.

Three Mission of Opportunity types may be proposed in response to this PEA: (1) Partner Missions of Opportunity (PMOs), which may include CubeSats and International Space Station (ISS) payloads, (2) New Missions using Existing Spacecraft (NMESs), and (3) Small Complete Missions (SCMs). SCMs include investigations on the International Space Station (ISS), commercial hosted payloads, CubeSats or suborbital-class missions (an investigation requiring flight on a high-altitude scientific balloon platform (e.g. Super Pressure Balloon (SPB), Long-Duration Balloon (LDB)), or on a suborbital Reusable Launch Vehicle (sRLV).

This opportunity solicits proposals for science investigations requiring the development and operation of space-based investigations. The projects are designated as Category 3 as defined in NPR 7120.5E, NASA Space Flight Program and Project Management Requirements. The payloads are designated as Class D as defined in NPR 8705.4 consistent with the new NASA Science Mission (SMD) Class-D Tailoring/Streamlining Decision Memorandum, except for PMOs, which depend on host mission's risk classification requirements that must be specified in the proposal. See https://soma.larc.nasa.gov/standardao/ClassD.html.

Investigations will be cost capped, including all mission phases, reserves, and the cost of accommodation on and/or delivery to the host mission. The intended cost cap is as follows:

  • $75M (FY19) for SCMs utilizing NASA-PEA-provided IMAP ESPA Grande access to space.
  • $55M (FY19) for SCMs and PMOs not utilizing NASA-PEA-provided IMAP ESPA Grande access to space.
  • $35M (FY19) for NMES and suborbital-class SCMs.

The time frame for the solicitation is intended to be:

Pre-proposal conference August 24, 2018, via Webex  
Notification proposals due......................October 1, 2018, 11:59 PM EST  
Proposals due November 30, 2018, 11:59 PM EST  
Selection for competitive Phase A studies July 10, 2019  
Concept study reports due May 11, 2020  
Down-selection November 9, 2020

Proposal selection and award will be implemented according to the guidelines set forth in Section 7.4 of the SALMON-3 AO and of this PEA. Proposers should read the Heliophysics Science SALMON-3 PEA M carefully.

SALMON-3 PEA M Amendment 10 (dated September 26, 2018) makes seven changes to the 2018 Heliophysics Science MO PEA M: in Sections 6.1.2 and 6.2.2, it is noted that changes to the notification proposal submission requirements have been modified, in Section 4.3, Requirements M-1 and M-2 are changed to remove technology products, and in Section 8.2 it is noted that SALMON-3 Requirement 75 on budget limits prior to KDP-C is not superseded by PEA M.

Further information will be posted on the Heliophysics Science MO Acquisition Page at https://soma.larc.nasa.gov/2018HelioMO/ as it becomes available. Questions may be addressed to Dr. J. Daniel Moses, Heliophysics Science MO Lead Scientist, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, Washington, DC 20546; Email: Dr. J. Daniel Moses.

05.03.2018

DRAFT AO FBO Announcement

On or about May 3, 2018, NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) will be releasing a draft version of the 2018 Heliophysics Science Mission of Opportunity Program Element Appendix (PEA) to the Third Stand Alone Missions of Opportunity Notice (SALMON-3) Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for community comment. Comments are due by June 4, 2018.

SALMON-3 is an omnibus AO which provides a solicitation and procurement base for modest investigations, also referred to as Missions of Opportunity (MO), requiring space flight that advance the high priority science and technology objectives of NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

he Heliophysics Division conducts Principal Investigator (PI)-led investigations in SMD's Heliophysics programs under a not-to-exceed cost cap. Evaluation and down-selection for flight will nominally be made through a two-step competitive process. As the outcome of the first step evaluation, NASA intends to fund two or more MO investigations to proceed to a nine-month Phase A concept study. In the second step, NASA will conduct an evaluation of the Phase A concept study reports. From this evaluation, NASA expects to select at least two MOs to proceed into Phase B and subsequent mission phases, at least one of which will be a SCM down selected for flight on the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA). A Science investigation proposed PI-Managed Mission Cost (PIMMC), including all mission phases, is expected to range from $35M - $80M. Multiple missions may be selected if their total cost remains below the overall PEA cost cap. Science investigations are encouraged to use the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV).

This Heliophysics Science MO PEA solicits science investigations in all areas of heliophysics science. Further information on the goals and objectives of NASA's heliophysics program may be found in the 2014 Science Plan for NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

Proposal merit in this PEA will be determined by the magnitude of heliophysics science advancements enabled by the proposed Heliophysics Science investigation.

It is anticipated that this opportunity will solicit proposals for investigations requiring the development and operation of space-based science investigations. The projects are designated as Category 3 as defined in NPR 7120.5E, NASA Space Flight Program and Project Management Requirements.

The proposed PIMMC, including all mission phases, reserves, and the cost of accommodation on and/or delivery to the host mission shall not exceed the applicable PEA Cost Cap specified as $80M (FY19) for SCMs and PMOs on the IMAP ESPA, $55M (FY19) for SCMs and PMOs not on the IMAP ESPA and $35M (FY19) for suborbital-class SCMs.

The time frame for the solicitation is intended to be:

Comments due on this Draft SALMON-3 PEA June 4, 2018  
Release of Final SALMON-3 PEA July, 2018 (target)  
Pre-proposal conference 2-3 weeks after Final PEA release  
Mandatory Notification Proposals 30 days after Final PEA release  
Proposals due 90 days after Final PEA release

The draft text of this PEA may be downloaded from the NSPIRES page for NNH18ZDA010J. Further information will be posted on the 2018 Heliophysics Science Mission of Opportunity Acquisition Homepage at https://soma.larc.nasa.gov/2018HelioMO/ as it becomes available. Questions may be addressed to Dr. James Spann, Heliophysics Science MO Lead Scientist, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, Washington, DC 20546; Email: Dr. James Spann.

 

03.18.2018

Community Announcement

NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) intends to release a Third Stand Alone Missions of Opportunity Notice (SALMON-3) Program Element Appendix (PEA) for Heliophysics Science Missions of Opportunity (MO) by May 2018. The Heliophysics Division conducts Principal Investigator (PI)-led space science investigations in SMD's heliophysics programs under a not-to-exceed cost cap. Evaluation and selection for flight will nominally be made through a two-step competitive process. It is anticipated that two or more Heliophysics Science MO investigations will be selected for 9-month, $400K (RY) Phase A concept studies through this SALMON PEA. At the conclusion of these concept studies, it is planned that at least two Heliophysics Science MO investigations will be selected to continue into Phase B and subsequent mission phases. Multiple missions may be selected. The intent is that at least one of the two Heliophysics MOs will be selected for flight on the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA).

Heliophysics Science investigations must address NASA's heliophysics science objectives as described in 2014 Science Plan for NASA's Science Mission Directorate and Our Dynamic Space Environment: Heliophysics Science and Technology Roadmap for 2014-2033. Consistent with these documents, investigations should focus on understanding the Sun and its interactions with Earth and the solar system, including space weather.

This opportunity will solicit Science Enhancement Options (SEOs) as part of the Concept Study Reports produced at the end of the Phase A concept studies; SEOs submitted as part of the Step-1 proposal will not be reviewed. SEOs are optional activities outside the scope of the baseline mission that have the potential to broaden the scientific impact of investigations.

Two types of Mission of Opportunity (MO) may be proposed in response to this solicitation: (1) Partner Missions of Opportunity (PMOs), which may include CubeSats, and (2) Small Complete Missions (SCMs). SCMs are ISS payloads, hosted payloads, shared rides, SmallSats (including CubeSats), or suborbital class (Super Pressure Balloon (SPB), Long Duration Balloon (LDB) or Suborbital Reusable Launch Vehicle (sRLV)) investigations. SCMs may also be proposed for flight on the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) that will go to the Sun-Earth L1 location. The ESPA is intended to be an unpowered, non-propulsive, 5-port ESPA Grande ring.

It is anticipated that the following classes of platforms will be provided by NASA for access to space, or near space.

  • International Space Station (ISS).
  • Balloon vehicles and balloon launch services for missions on high-altitude scientific balloons.
  • Platforms to host payloads on sRLVs.
  • Launch and deployment services for a single 1U, 1.5U, 2U, 3U, or 6U CubeSat for missions that utilize the CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI).
  • Constellations of CubeSats or other SmallSats that utilize the CSLI.
  • One port on the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) Grande.

It is anticipated that this opportunity will solicit proposals for science investigations requiring the development and operation of space-based investigations. The projects are designated as Category 3 as defined in NPR 7120.5E, NASA Space Flight Program and Project Management Requirements. The payloads are designated as Class D as defined in NPR 8705.4 consistent with the new NASA Science Mission (SMD) Class-D Tailoring/Streamlining Decision Memorandum, except for PMOs, which depend on host mission's risk classification requirements that must be specified in the proposal. See https://soma.larc.nasa.gov/standardao/ClassD.html

Investigations will be cost capped, including all mission phases, reserves, and the cost of accommodation on and/or delivery to the host mission. The intended cost cap is as follows:

  • $80M (FY19) for SCMs and PMOs on the IMAP ESPA.
  • $55M (FY19) for SCMs and PMOs not on the IMAP ESPA.
  • $35M (FY19) for suborbital class SCMs.
A 25% minimum reserve on Phases A-D and 15% minimum reserve on Phases E-F will be required within the cost cap.

The time frame for the solicitation is intended to be:

Release of Draft SALMON-3 PEA March 2018 (target)  
Release of final SALMON-3 PEA May 2018 (target)  
Pre-proposal conference 2-3 weeks after final SALMON-3 PEA release  
Proposals due 90 days after SALMON-3 PEA release  
Selection for competitive Phase A studies January 2019 (target)  
Concept study reports due December 2019 (target) Down-selection June 2020 (target)  
Launch readiness date NLT December 31, 2024

The Heliophysics Science SALMON-3 PEA will be based on the Standard PI-led Mission AO Template available at http://soma.larc.nasa.gov/standardao/sao_templates.html. Proposers should read the Heliophysics Science SALMON-3 PEA carefully when it is released.

NASA has not approved the issuance of the Heliophysics Science SALMON-3 PEA and this notification does not obligate NASA to issue the SALMON-3 PEA and solicit proposals. Any costs incurred by prospective investigators in preparing submissions in response to this notification or the planned Heliophysics Science SALMON-3 PEA are incurred completely at the submitter's own risk.

Further information will be posted on the Heliophysics Science MO Acquisition Page at https://soma.larc.nasa.gov/2018HelioMO/ as it becomes available. Questions may be addressed to Dr. James Spann, Heliophysics Science MO Lead Scientist, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, Washington, DC 20546; Email: Dr. James Spann.