It is time to consider the site visit schedule. Several teams have expressed a desire to set the dates as soon as possible.
We have identified six dates that we would like to use for the five site visits. If all the site visits can be accomplished on one of these dates, we will accelerate the downselect by 1-2 weeks over our previous schedule. We also desire to minimize superfluous travel. If there are multiple site visits in the same part of the country (e.g. California or Colorado), then we intend to conduct them during the same week.
The draft ground rules for the site visit are given here. Final MIDEX site visit ground rules will be provided when the schedule is announced.
Your assignment: (1) For each of the six candidate dates, let me know if they are green (acceptable), yellow (possible, but less than ideal), or red (unacceptable). As a rule of thumb, you should give me at least ~4 green dates. I will try very hard to schedule only green dates, but that might not be possible. Please let me know the seriousness of your yellow date(s), if you have any. I will try not to schedule red dates (but don't abuse my kindness). (2) Tell me the location of the site visit (institution, city, state).
Your deadline: Please provide your input by September 15, and I will try to provide a final schedule by September 30.
Your options:
I am aware that site visit 1 is during the AAS meeting, and site visits 2 and 3 mean that your questions arrive during the AAS meeting. The downselect must take precedence over this meeting. If the AAS meeting dates are avoided, then the downselect will slip about a month.
I will accept an answer only from the PI.
NASA Headquarters Responsible Office: Code SZ
Last Updated: 6 August 2002
Author: Paul Hertz (Code SZ)