NASA Discovery Program Overview

The NASA Discovery Program encompasses a series of low-cost, solar system exploration missions intended to accomplish high-quality, focused planetary science utilizing innovative, streamlined, and efficient management approaches. The goals of the Discovery Program are to increase flight rates, to substantially reduce total mission cost, to improve performance through the use of new technology, to broaden university and industry participation in solar system exploration missions, and to increase public awareness of solar system exploration. The call is for "faster, better, and cheaper."

Discovery Program Guidelines

Science Content

• The missions must have focused, well-defined science objectives that address important questions in planetary science. All solar system targets are appropriate.
• Usually a small number of instruments will make up the payload.
• Any samples returned will be delivered to the office of the Curator at NASA's Johnson Space Center for storage and distribution.
• The data belongs to the public; there will be no proprietary data rights period for Discovery missions.

Technical

• Missions must use launch vehicles with a capability no greater that the Delta II, but use of smaller launch vehicles, such as the MED-Lite, is preferred. Piggyback options on a larger vehicle may be considered. The contribution of a foreign launch vehicle is allowed.
• The development time must be no longer than 36 months.

Programmatic

• The total development cost for a mission must be less than $150 million and operation cost must be less than $35 million (both in FY92 dollars). Average mission costs much lower than this value are expected in order to approach the program goal of one launch per year.
• Proposals will be submitted by mission teams. Teams consisting of representatives from universities, industrial firms with flight hardware experience, and a NASA or other Government Center are encouraged. The Principal Investigator will be in charge of the team and will be the single point of responsibility.
• Full missions or collaborations are permitted, depending on the scope of each Announcement of Opportunity.
• International collaborations are allowed, but no funds will be transferred to non-U.S. entities.
• Missions should include plans to further the national goals in technology, education, and public outreach.

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