This e-mail contains:
(1) Notification of plans for science briefings.
(2) Current schedule for downselect activities.
(3) Ground rules for SMEX science briefings.
(4) Ground rules for SMEX site visits.
The SMEX downselection decision will be made by the Associate Administrator for Space Science, Dr. Ed 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 (currently Dr. George Withbroe), 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 SMEX 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 June 2002 (exact date TBD) following the ground rules specified below. Pi-led science briefings have proved to be very valuable to the Board for the most recent MIDEX and Discovery downselects, and we anticipate that they will provide valuable input for the SMEX downselect decision.
The date for the science briefings will be set approximately two months prior to the briefings. According to the current schedule, in April we will set a date for the science briefings.
| Feb & Mar | Evaluations of individual reports |
| Apr 1-5 | Evaluation Plenary Meeting (Hampton, VA) |
| Apr 15 | May 15 - Site visits: |
| Tue Apr 16 - JMEX (Boulder, CO) | |
| Thu Apr 18 - AIM (Boulder, CO) | |
| Tue Apr 23 - SPEAR (Berkeley, CA) | |
| Thu Apr 25 - STEP (Stanford, CA) | |
| Tue May 7 - SPIDR (Cambridge, MA) | |
| Thu May 9 - PRIME (Baltimore, MD) | |
| Tue May 14 - HNX (Beltsville, MD) | |
| May 20-24 | Evaluation Plenary Meeting (Hampton, VA) |
| Jun TBD | Science Presentations (Washington, DC) |
| Jun/Jul TBD | Downselection Decision |
1. Each SMEX 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.
2. Each mission will be allowed 20 minutes for its presentation. The time limit will be strictly enforced. The presentation will be followed by 10 minutes for questions and discussion.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Within these guidelines, the presentation agenda is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator.
7. 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. 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.
8. The NASA point of contact is the Explorer Program Scientist (Dr. Paul Hertz, phertz@hq.nasa.gov, 202-358-0986).
1. Questions for the study team will be delivered in the afternoon 6 calendar days ahead of the site visit (i.e. Wednesday afternoon for a visit the following Tuesday or Friday afternoon for a visit the following Thursday). Each study team will have 3 working days plus a weekend. If the questions are to be delivered to the study team by any method other than (or in addition to) e-mail to the existing study team distribution list, then that information should be provided to NASA as soon as possible and no later than April 1. In particular, should the team wish to have the questions Faxed to them, they must provide NASA with a FAX number no later than April 1.
2. The evaluation team will have 15-18 members. Meeting facilities should be planned accordingly. More details will be provided later, including the names of the evaluation team members. The study team should let NASA know of any security requirements as soon as possible. The study team should provide NASA no later than February 1 with contact information for a specific individual who will be "site visit host" for purposes of logistical questions.
3. The study team is responsible for the agenda of the site visit. NASA assumes that the PI of the study team has responsibility for the content of the site visit, including the agenda. The agenda must meet the following guidelines:
- The study team will have up to 6 hours for presentations. The 6 hour time limit will be enforced.
- The presentations must cover the breadth of material presented in the concept study report. The study team may choose which aspects of the concept study to emphasize. Additional information may be introduced at this time. The answers to the questions sent to the study team 6 days prior to the site visit should be presented to the evaluation team at appropriate points during the presentations.
- The study team may provide an optional tour lasting up to 1 hour. A tour is encouraged but not required.
- The agenda must provide an appropriate period for lunch. The length of lunch time may vary depending on whether lunch is on or off site, etc. The evaluation team members will pay for any lunch provided by the study team.
- The agenda must provide for a 30 minute period immediately after lunch for the evaluation team to hold a private caucus.
- There will be a single agenda for the entire evaluation team, i.e., no splinter sessions.
All this suggests a strawman agenda that looks like
| 8:15 to 8:30 | Evaluation team assembles at site |
| 8:30 | Evaluation team seated and ready for presentations to begin |
| 12:00 (or so) | Lunch (45 minutes for evaluation team if lunch is "on site") |
| 12:45 (or so) | Evaluation team caucus in private (30 minutes) |
| 1:15 (or so) | Evaluation team seated and ready for presentations to resume |
| 3:45 | Presentations end and tour begins |
| 4:45 | Site visit ends |
4. Unless specifically requested by NASA otherwise, only data and material presented during the briefings will be considered. No late material will be accepted.
5. NASA contacts: Paul Hertz, Explorer Program Scientist, phertz@hq.nasa.gov, 202-358-0986 Carlos Liceaga, Explorer Acquisition Manager, c.a.liceaga@larc.nasa.gov, 757-864-6191
Paul Hertz
Explorer Program Scientist
NASA Headquarters Responsible Office: Code SZ
Last Updated: 4 March 2002
Author: Paul Hertz (Code SZ)