NASA is proposing a leaner competition process for several science mission programs, estimating it could cut some selection timelines by up to 45% and open early rounds to a wider range of investigators.
In an Oct. 21 letter, Nicola Fox, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, described Competition Model 2.0. For Astro-Probes, New Frontiers and Discovery missions, the initial submission would include a science case, a plan for carrying out the science and a preliminary mission design. NASA estimates that opening package would require about half the material in a full proposal. The agency says the interval from the competition announcement to selection for the second stage could shrink from 35 months to about 19.5 months.
MIDEX and Earth Explorer missions would also use two rounds, with universities and industry partners among the organizations that could implement missions. NASA estimates those programs could see timeline reductions of up to 45%, but the letter gives no month-based comparison.
For hosted payloads and ride shares, as well as SMEX, Missions of Opportunity and Earth Venture, NASA proposes one selection round, with smaller review teams and virtual site visits. It estimates final selection for these programs would take about 19 months, compared with about 32 months under the current process, a reduction of up to 40%.
NASA says the changes are meant to give principal investigators without major university or commercial backing fair consideration. NASA principal investigators at any NASA center would remain eligible to respond. In the Astro-Probes, New Frontiers and Discovery process, teams not chosen in a later down-selection—after a mission implementation study and partway through Phase A—would not have to complete the remaining Phase A work.
Fox said the existing process has taken years and has been difficult to manage, unpredictable and inadequately funded. The proposal would postpone engineering plans, cost work and implementation details until they are needed to make a selection.
Flagship missions would keep the approach developed through a Large Mission Study after the James Webb Space Telescope. NASA would assign a lead center to oversee each overall mission, then use targeted solicitations to select science teams and instruments. The agency says it will introduce the changes in stages.
NASA plans to discuss the proposal at a virtual NASA Science Town Hall on Monday, Oct. 26.
