NASA SPACE SCIENCE ENTERPRISE MARS PROGRAM REQUEST FOR MARS SCOUTS CONCEPTS (RMSC)

Notice Date

March 12, 2001

Contracting Office

JPL, Attn: Thomas May, Mail Stop 190-205, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA 91109-8099

ZIP Code

91109-8099

E-Mail Address

Mars Scouts Program (jparrish@hq.nsa.gov)

Description

During the restructuring of the Mars Exploration Program this past summer, the science community strongly endorsed the addition of competitively selected science missions to complement the baseline core series of missions. As a result, the program has established the Mars Scouts missions to provide for innovative, rapid-response investigations. Selected Mars Scout investigations will be led by a Principal Investigator and will be comprised of scientists in partnerships involving (potentially) NASA Centers, academia, and industry. These teams will pursue missions of high scientific value utilizing observation platforms of their choice and design, including orbiters, aerobots, airplanes, landers and rovers. Mars Scouts will be cost-capped at approximately $300M, including launch vehicle and mission operations and data analysis. An Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for the first Mars Scout mission is expected to be released in early 2002. Depending on the budget process now underway between the new administration and Congress, the first mission could be launched as early as the 2007 opportunity. In preparation for this first mission, six (6) to ten (10) promising mission concepts will be selected for initial intensive study. These concepts will be selected for funding, at the level of approximately $100K to $150K, through a review process involving brief written and verbal presentations at a workshop to be held on May 22-24, 2001 in Pasadena, California. The funded investigators will report on the results of the studies following a period of study lasting six (6) months. These reports will be made in confidence to the Mars Program Office. Participation or non-participation in Mars Scouts studies will not prejudice the selection of missions for flight. Participation in the Mars Scouts Workshop will be limited to those interested in proposing for study funds. A Notice of Intent to propose is required with a maximum seven (7) page abstract describing the Mars Scout concept and a plan for the mission study. The Notice of Intent to propose a concept is due April 9, 2001. The concept abstracts are due on or before May 1, 2001. It is the intent of the workshop, and the following funded mission studies, to emphasize those innovative concepts that may not yet be ready for competitive evaluation. Potential participants will be informed of their status regarding participation in the workshop no later than May 4, 2001. It is anticipated that potential participants will be notified of their status after the workshop regarding study funds by June 8, 2001. Investigators interested in participating in this first phase of the Mars Scout program are directed to http://spacescience.nasa.gov/an/marsscoutsworkshop/ for instructions on preparing letters of intent and abstracts, as well as for information on Mars Scouts, the core Mars Exploration Program, and the 2007 Mars launch opportunity. The web site will not be available until March 14 at Noon (PST).

Web Link

Request for Mars Scouts Concepts (http://spacescience.nasa.gov/an/marsscoutsworkshop/)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010314/SPMSC043.HTM (W-071 SN50F997)