Nasa Announces New Mission Selection Model
NASA is making significant changes to how it selects and competes for scientific missions, aiming to streamline processes and accelerate the delivery of scientific results. A virtual Town Hall meeting will take place on October 26, hosted from NASA Headquarters, to introduce the new Competition Model 2.0 (CM 2.0) and address questions from the scientific community.
The agency acknowledges the challenges faced by innovators in bringing forward mission ideas, citing lengthy processes and contract management issues. NASA is determined to improve this situation, with Administrator Jared Isaacman endorsing actions to enhance efficiency in mission selection. The new approach focuses on prioritizing high-impact missions and aims to make the process quicker and more predictable.
Streamlined Selection Process
CM 2.0 emphasizes a shift towards prioritizing scientific merit in mission proposals. The new format will allow scientists to present their ideas without needing detailed engineering plans or cost estimates until absolutely necessary. This adjustment is designed to enable researchers to concentrate more on scientific exploration rather than the intricacies of proposal creation.
NASA will implement a two-step competitive process for various mission classes, including Astro-Probes, New Frontiers, and Discovery missions. The first step will require a compelling scientific rationale, a science implementation plan, and a preliminary mission design. This change is expected to halve the documentation needed for initial submissions and ensure that proposals are judged primarily based on their scientific value.
In the second step, a Mission Implementation Study will be conducted to evaluate the scientific and implementation aspects of the proposal. This study is intended to identify risks early in the process, with a streamlined timeline reducing the overall duration from the original 35 months to approximately 19.5 months.
Updates Across Mission Classes
The new model will also affect MIDEX and Earth Explorer missions, which will follow the same two-step approach while expanding the pool of possible implementing organizations, including universities and private companies. This broader evaluation will consider past performance on similar projects, further accelerating the mission selection timeline.
For smaller missions, such as SMEX and Earth Venture projects, NASA will adopt a single-step competition process that will cut down the selection time significantly from about 32 months to around 19 months. This modification aims to enhance the pace of mission development, encouraging more frequent launches and scientific discoveries.
Guiding Principles for Future Missions
NASA’s approach will leverage the capabilities of the commercial space industry to improve mission outcomes across all categories. The agency will incorporate industry best practices and emerging technologies to enhance both technical performance and cost efficiency.
By prioritizing scientific merit, NASA aims to create a level playing field for all teams, ensuring that the best ideas rise to the top regardless of the resources behind them. Strict cost and schedule controls will be maintained to ensure accountability and effective use of funding.
The collaboration among NASA Centers, such as the Goddard Space Flight Center and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is designed to foster teamwork, eliminate unnecessary competition, and harness critical skills across the agency.
Nicola Fox, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, expressed confidence in the new model, stating that it represents an opportunity to transform great ideas into actionable missions, ultimately benefiting the scientific community and the public.
Source: NASA
