Draft AO for Astrophysics Explorers Program 2019 Small Explorer (SMEX) Missions Released for Community Comment

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD) has released a draft solicitation for community review and comment entitled the Draft 2019 Astrophysics Small Explorer (SMEX) Announcement of Opportunity (AO). The full text is available at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/.The Astrophysics Explorers Program conducts Principal Investigator (PI)-led space science investigations relevant to SMD's astrophysics programs. Explorer investigations must address NASA's goals to discover the origin, structure, evolution, and destiny of the Universe and search for Earth-like planets.  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), University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs), NASA Centers, the Jet Propulsion

Laboratory (JPL), and other Government agencies.The comment period for the Draft 2019 SMEX AO ends on December 7, 2018.The issuance of the Draft 2019 Astrophysics Small Explorer AO does not obligate NASA to issue the 2019 Astrophysics Small Explorer AO and solicit proposals. Any costs incurred by prospective investigators in preparing submissions in response to this draft solicitation are incurred completely at the submitter's own risk.Comments on the draft may be addressed by email to the Astrophysics Explorers Program Scientist: Dr. Linda S. Sparke at linda.s.sparke@nasa.gov (subject line to read "2019 SMEX AO"). Responses to all comments will be will be given by email and posted in the SMEX/MO QAs section of the Astrophysics Explorers Program Acquisition website at http://explorers.larc.nasa.gov/2019APSMEX/SMEX/; anonymity of persons/institutions who submit comments will be preserved. Comments will be accepted by email only.