Cosmic Origins News

29 August 2022

2023 Astrophysics Probe Explorer (APEX) DRAFT Announcement of Opportunity Released for Community Comment

Comments due September 29, 2022

Release Date: August 16, 2022
Comments Due: September 29, 2022
Identification Number: NNH22ZDA015J

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is announcing via this email the release of a draft text for community review and comment entitled “Draft Announcement of Opportunity (AO): 2023 Astrophysics Probe Explorer (APEX).” To find the full draft text visit http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ and select “Solicitations” at the top of the page and search on “NNH22ZDA015J” or use this direct link https://go.nasa.gov/Hertz15.

The National Academies’ 2020 Decadal Survey in Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s at https://www.nap.edu/catalog/26141/pathways-to-discovery-in-astronomy-and-astrophysics-for-the-2020s, recommends probe missions to be competed in broad areas identified as important to accomplish the survey’s scientific goals. For the coming decade, the Decadal Survey recommends a far-infrared mission or an X-ray mission. Responses to the Astrophysics Probe Explorer Draft AO will be limited to one of the two mission themes recommended by the Decadal Survey. These areas are:

• A far infrared imaging or spectroscopy mission, and
• An X-ray probe.

Proposals must be responsive to the preponderance of the mission theme's objectives as provided in Sections 7.5.3.2 through 7.5.3.4 of the Decadal Survey.

Participation is open to all categories of organizations or institutions, U.S. or non-U.S., including educational, industrial, and not-for-profit institutions, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs), NASA Centers, and other Government agencies.

The issuance of the 2023 APEX Draft AO does not obligate NASA to issue a final 2023 APEX AO that solicits proposals. Any costs incurred by prospective investigators in preparing submissions in response to any draft solicitation are incurred at the submitter's own risk.

Please address comments or questions on the draft AO only via email to the APEX Lead Program Scientist: Dr. Patricia M. Knezek (subject line to read "APEX DRAFT AO”) at: patricia.m.knezek@nasa.gov. Responses to individual comments may be given by email or posted in the Q&As (Questions and Answers) section of the Astrophysics Explorers Program Acquisition website: https://explorers.larc.nasa.gov/2023APPROBE/. Anonymity of persons or institutions submitting questions will be preserved. The comment period for the draft AO ends on September 29, 2022.