A--"DRAFT" ANNOUNCEMENT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MEDIUM-CLASS EXPLORER (MIDEX) PROGRAM

"DRAFT" ANNOUNCEMENT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MEDIUM-CLASS EXPLORER (MIDEX) PROGRAM RELEASE DATE: DECEMBER 15, 2003 COMMENT DUE DATE: JANUARY 16, 2004 The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Office of Space Science is releasing a DRAFT Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for community review and comment for the next missions in the Medium-class Explorer (MIDEX) program. Selections of proposals through the final AO, once released, are intended to provide two mission launches by August 2011. A Mission of Opportunity, long duration balloon mission, International Space Station payload, or new science mission extension may also be selected. The science objectives covered by this AO include those in the currently defined Office of Space Science themes of the Astronomical Search for Origins, the Sun-Earth Connection, and the Structure and Evolution of the Universe. Participation is open to all categories of organizations, foreign and domestic, including industry, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, NASA centers, and other Government agencies. NASA welcomes critical review and comment of this DRAFT AO, which will be available from December 15, 2003, through January 16, 2004, via the World Wide Web site: http://research.hq.nasa.gov/. For those not having access to the Internet, a printed copy may be obtained by written request to the address below. Send comments to Dr. Paul Hertz, Explorer Program Scientist, Office of Space Science, Code SZ, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC 20546-0001. FAX: +1 (555) 000-0000; or E-mail: contact@example.gov. Comments are preferred in writing and may be sent by fax or E-mail; the character string "MIDEX 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.