NNH08ZDA009O, entitled “Stand Alone Missions of Opportunity Notice (SALMON)” is being released by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) no earlier than September 3, 2008. This Announcement of Opportunity (AO) solicits investigations that address the science objectives of the Science Mission Directorate’s (SMD) astrobiology, lunar science, and planetary science programs and the Exploration Science Mission Directorate’s (ESMD) fundamental space biology program. SALMON is an omnibus AO that is comprised of several independent proposal opportunities. The first is a focused Mission of Opportunity (MO) to provide an in-situ dust detector investigation for the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE). The second is a solicitation for one or more partner MOs in lunar and planetary science. The third is a solicitation for one or more small complete MOs in astrobiology and fundamental space biology.
Each proposal opportunity has its own due date. The LADEE focused MO proposal opportunity has Notices of Intent (NOIs) due no earlier than September 24, 2008, and proposals due no earlier than November 4, 2008. The other proposal opportunities have NOIs due no earlier than October 15, 2008, and proposals due no earlier than December 2, 2008.
Participation is open to all categories of organizations (U.S. and non-U.S.), including educational institutions, industry, not-for-profit organizations, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), NASA Centers, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and other Government agencies. Upon the AO release, the full text of the AO and all appendices will be available electronically at http://salmon.larc.nasa.gov/ for details.
Simultaneous with the release of the SALMON AO on September 3, 2008, NASA will release two amendments to the Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences 2008 (ROSES-08) NASA Research Announcement (NRA) (NNH08ZDA001N). One will be for U.S. Participating Scientists in lunar and planetary science. The second will be for U.S. Participating Scientists in Earth science. NOIs will be due no earlier than October 15, 2008, and proposals will be due no earlier than December 2, 2008.
Direct questions specifically regarding this solicitation to: Dr. Carlos A. Liceaga; Program Executive for Missions of Opportunity; Mail Stop 7F25; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Washington, DC 20546-0001; TEL: (757) 846-5880; E-mail: salmonao@nasa.gov (subject line to read "SALMON AO").
This notice constitutes a NASA Research Announcement as contemplated in FAR 6.102(d)(2).