The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate is releasing a Draft Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for community review and comment for the next mission in the Discovery program (NNH10ZDA003J). Discovery Program investigations must address NASAs planetary science goals. Investigations may focus on any body in the Solar System, excluding the Earth and the Sun, and including Mars and the Moon. Investigations may not focus on extra-solar planetary systems. Participation is open to all categories of organizations (U.S.), including educational institutions, industry, not-for-profit organizations, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), NASA Centers, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), and other Government agencies. Upon the release date, the full text of the Draft Discovery 2010 AO and all appendices will be available at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ . A Potential Bidders Conference will be held in early January 2010 in the Washington, DC, area to provide an overview of the Draft Discovery 2010 AO and to address any questions. Information about the Conference will be made available on the Discovery Acquisition Additional Information Page at http://discovery.larc.nasa.gov/ . The issuance of this Draft Discovery 2010 AO does not obligate NASA to issue the Discovery 2010 AO and solicit proposals. Any costs incurred by prospective investigators in preparing submissions in response to this Draft Discovery 2010 AO are incurred completely at the submitter's own risk. Send comments to Dr. Michael New; Lead Discovery Program Scientist; Planetary Science Division; Mail Suite 3X63; Science Mission Directorate; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Washington, DC 20546-0001; TEL: (202) 358-1766; E-mail:
[email protected]. Comments are preferred in writing and may be sent by E-mail; the character string "Discovery 2010 Draft AO" (without quotes) should be included in the subject line of all transmissions. The identity of those submitting comments will be held in confidence. Answers to questions about this Draft Discovery 2010 AO will be made available on the Discovery Acquisition Additional Information Page at http://discovery.larc.nasa.gov/ .