Downselect Schedule & Science Briefing Guidelines
The MIDEX downselection decision will be made by the Associate Administrator for Space Science, Dr. Edward Weiler. He will make the decision in consultation with his Science Selection Board. The Board consists of the Associate Administrator, the Executive Director for Science (Dr. Guenter Riegler), the Director of the Astronomy and Physics Division (Dr. Anne Kinney), the Director of the Sun-Earth Connection Division (Dr. Richard Fisher), and the Director of the Solar System Exploration Division (Dr. Colleen Hartman).
The selection will be based on all of the evaluation criteria given in the MIDEX Guidelines and Criteria for the Phase A Concept Study Report; these include science, technical feasibility, and E/PO plans. Dr. Weiler has requested that the Board be briefed on the science of each mission concept by the PI-led study team. These briefings will take place on a single day in March 2003 (exact date TBD) following the ground rules specified below. PI-led science briefings have proved to be very valuable to the Board for previous MIDEX, Discovery, and SMEX downselects, and we anticipate that they will provide valuable input for the current MIDEX downselect decision.
The date for the science briefings will be set approximately two months prior to the briefings. According to the current schedule, in late December/early January we will set a date for the science briefings.
Current schedule for downselect activities
| Oct - Dec | Evaluations of individual reports |
| Dec 10-13 | Evaluation Plenary Meeting (Hampton, VA) |
| Jan | Site visits: |
| | Tue Jan 14 - NGSS (Logan, UT) |
| | Thu Jan 16 - EUSO (Huntsville, AL) |
| | Thu Jan 23 - ASCE (Cambridge, MA) |
| | Tue Jan 28 - THEMIS (Berkeley, CA) |
| | Thu Jan 30 - ABE (Boulder, CO) |
| Feb 11-14 | Evaluation Plenary Meeting (Hampton, VA) |
| Mar TBD | Science Presentations (Washington, DC) |
| Mar/Apr TBD | Downselection Decision |
Ground rules for SMEX science briefings
- Each MIDEX or MO study team will present the science argument for its mission to the Selecting Official (the Associate Administrator for Space Science) and his Science Selection Board. The presentation will take place at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC. The date, room, and times of presentations will be announced later.
- Each mission will be allowed 30 minutes for its presentation. The time limit will be strictly enforced. The presentation will be followed by 10 minutes for questions and discussion.
- The presentation should focus on the specific science benefits of this mission and not on the generic benefits of the space science discipline to which the mission belongs. The presentation should include a very brief overview of the mission and its instrumentation. The presentation should provide answers to the following questions:
- What is the most important science result expected from your mission?
- What is the most compelling science driver for this specific mission?
- Why is this mission timely, and what are its unique aspects?
- To what degree will this mission fully answer the fundamental question which it addresses?
- What single aspect of your mission will most engage the general public?
The presentation should briefly describe the intrinsic scientific merit, the goals, and the objectives of the investigation, including:
- the impact of the investigation on space science,
- the progress the investigation provides in space science,
- the benefits the investigation provides to the U.S. space science program, and
- the sufficiency of the data gathered to complete the investigation.
- From one to three members of the study team may participate in the presentation. Up to five members of the study team may attend the presentation, including the one to three presenting team members.
- The results of the Technical, Management, Cost, and Other (TMCO) evaluation of the Concept Study Report, as well as the Science evaluation of the Concept Study Report (if required), will have been briefed to the Associate Administrator and the Board prior to the science presentation.
- Within these guidelines, the presentation agenda is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator.
- The Principal Investigator, or his designee, should let NASA know at least one week prior to the presentation of any audio/video/computer/special needs beyond an overhead projector and a laptop projector. Presenters planning on using electronic presentations should mitigate the risk by (i) bringing back-up transparencies and (ii) sending the Explorer program Scientist a copy of the presentation at least two days prior to the meeting so that it can be pre-loaded on a back-up system. The PI, or his designee, should provide NASA with a copy of the presentation agenda, including speakers and anticipated attendees, at least one week prior to the presentation. The PI, or his designee, should inform NASA of any foreign nationals on the visit team at least three weeks prior to the presentation. Any handouts or other materials are the responsibility of the mission presentation team.
- The NASA point of contact is the Explorer Program Scientist (Dr. Paul Hertz, phertz@hq.nasa.gov, 202-358-0986).
Paul Hertz
Explorer Program Scientist
MIDEX Downselect Page
NASA Headquarters Responsible Office: Code SZ
Last Updated: 1 October 2002
Author: Paul Hertz (Code SZ)