SMEX Phase A Study Teams -
This week, the President released his FY05 budget proposal, including the NASA proposed budget. As a result of the reprioritized NASA activities, the Explorer Program budget has been reduced. The first priority for the Explorer Program is to complete missions that have already been selected.
After those commitments are taken care of, the Explorer Program budget cannot support the budget profiles that SMEX 10 and 11 would require to launch in November 2007 and November 2008. It will be necessary for us to issue you revised guidelines that will result in a launch slip of about 9-12 months (we are working the budget numbers now). I will provide those revised guidelines to you next week.
The revised guidelines will be in the form of either (a) a new launch date or (b) a maximum budget profile for FY05-FY07 (then you pick the launch date, as long as you stay within the cost cap).
I welcome feedback on the two options. I also welcome comments on whether the Concept Study Report due date should be delayed to allow additional time to respond to the new direction, thereby extending Phase A (with no extra funding) and changing the evaluation and site visit schedule (Langley is looking to see whether this is possible, so don't count on a delay at all).
NASA Headquarters Responsible Office: Code SZ
Last Updated: 4 February 2004
Author: Paul Hertz (Code SZ)