Still working on an
NASA has announced the selection of the Small Explorer Missions for the current round of competition.
And the winners are...
The Small Explorer class missions are small (under $105 million including MODA but excluding launcher) fast science missions, there was a competition for two slots, with six concepts selected for further study last year. Final selection was just announced
IRIS: Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph
Solar physics mission - spectroscopy of the chromosphere
PI Alan Title from LockMart ATC in Palo Altoo
and
GEM: Gravity and Extreme Magnetism
the x-ray polarimetry mission!
PI Jean Swank from NASA Goddard
I'll be darned, the polarimetry concept finally made the cut.
We'll see if it works.
Physical Science
Comments
Surprised us too. The story I heard is that the alternatives failed their technical reviews.
Posted by: Keith | June 20, 2009 3:24 PM
So much for TESS.
Posted by: andy | June 21, 2009 1:35 PM
I'm quite happy that GEMS got selected. I think X-ray polarimetry is exactly the kind of thing that NASA should be doing with SMEX missions; opening up completely new discovery spaces. Granted GEMS won't be able to study very many sources, but I bet it'll find some really interesting things.
Posted by: Craig Heinke | June 21, 2009 1:58 PM
Well, it did turn out to be one solar and one universe SMEX.
If the panel was convinced polarimetry tech is ready, then so be it.
I don't suppose Harvard feels like doing TESS privately, this year?
Shame about JANUS. Hopefully there will be an opportunity to recompete a NIR/GRB mission.
Posted by: Steinn Sigurdsson | June 22, 2009 2:18 AM
I am finding it interesting that there is essentially no news coverage of this selection and nothing in the blogosphere either beyond Steinn's post. There should be another SMEX/MIDEX call in the next few years, but it will depend on what direction the new NASA director decides to take. The losing teams have not yet received an official debrief which means no feedback into the decision making process.
Posted by: Caryl | June 22, 2009 2:41 PM
At AAS (not long before selections were announced) rumor was that there could be one selection or there could be three. It would be nice to know which was the possible number three and whether the final number was determined by scientific merit, technical readiness, or budget constraints.
Posted by: astro | June 22, 2009 4:37 PM
I guess no one else has my mad skillz and essential understanding of what really matters...
either that or it is just too sad for anyone else.
Posted by: Steinn Sigurdsson | June 26, 2009 1:22 AM
Although Steinn surely has the maddest skills and the deepest understanding, the TESS related aspect of this story was also first covered at these links:
http://www.centauri-dreams.org/?p=8340
and
http://twitter.com/tess_nasa
and
http://solar-flux.forumandco.com/
(A forum for extrasolar planet hunting discussions)
Posted by: Eric Goldstein | June 26, 2009 11:53 AM
10 Academy Award Best Picture nominees. 2 Small Explorer Missions finalists. Shows where America's priorities are. It's an honor just to be nominated.
Posted by: Jonathan Vos Post | June 26, 2009 1:30 PM
Six finalists, two winners. They're done.
Something like 50 proposals in the initial round.
Posted by: Steinn Sigurdsson | June 27, 2009 2:40 AM
50 -> 6 -> 2
Better ratios each step than film makers face. Or science fiction novel manuscript authors. I stand corrected.
Posted by: Jonathan Vos Post | June 29, 2009 10:05 PM