Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH10ZDA005J
Apply for NNH10ZDA005J
- The NASA Headquarters in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT ON A NASA SOLICITATION FOR EXOMARS TRACE GAS ORBITER INSTRUMENTS NNH10ZDA005J" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 00.000 Not Elsewhere Classified.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 15, 2009 and posted on Dec 15, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by N/A. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
- Unrestricted
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Opportunity Summary:
This opportunity, NNH10ZDA005J, is an early community notice from NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and the European Space Agency (ESA) about a planned solicitation for science instruments to fly on the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO). The core purpose of the mission element is to study trace gases in the Martian atmosphere, with a strong emphasis on methane and related chemically important species. NASA and ESA indicated they intended to release the actual call for proposals in mid-January 2010, as an amendment to NASA's existing SALMON Announcement of Opportunity (the Stand Alone Mission of Opportunity Notice). In other words, this is not a standalone grant program so much as a competed "Focused Mission of Opportunity" (FMO) under the broader SALMON AO framework, aimed specifically at assembling a payload suite for TGO.
The solicitation was expected to invite proposals for a coordinated suite of instruments aligned to four prioritized science goals. First, proposers were asked to enable detection of a broad range of atmospheric trace gases and key isotopes, since isotopic ratios can help distinguish between possible sources and processes. Second, the mission sought to characterize how methane and other key species vary across both space and time, ideally capturing families of photochemically important gases (such as HOx, NOx, and hydrocarbons) as well as their source molecules like water vapor. Third, the payload was expected to help localize sources, understand the evolution of methane and other species, and investigate interactions with atmospheric aerosols and changing atmospheric state variables (including temperature and the distribution of major gases like water). Fourth, the opportunity included a surface-imaging aspect: instruments should support imaging of surface features that might be tied to trace gas sources and sinks, connecting atmospheric detections to potential geologic or surface processes.
A major theme of the announcement is that this instrument competition was intended to be the first competed element of the anticipated joint ESA-NASA Mars Exploration Programme, pending approval by the ESA Council. NASA and ESA emphasized that selection would be highly coordinated while still respecting each agency's established internal processes. Practically, NASA planned to provide logistical support for proposal submission, and the review was expected to be tightly coordinated and, as much as possible, jointly conducted. The agencies also signaled an intent to select a combination of instrument investigations that together meet the mission objectives, assuming enough meritorious proposals were received.
Eligibility was described as very broad. Participation was open across U.S. organizations and ESA member states, and also to other countries, covering universities, industry, nonprofit organizations, federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), NASA Centers, JPL, and other government agencies. Principal Investigators were explicitly allowed to assemble teams spanning any of these organization types. Because TGO was positioned as part of a joint international program, proposals with an international dimension were encouraged. The announcement specifically highlighted involvement from the U.S. and from countries contributing to ESA's Aurora Programme, listing: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Greece, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Funding and cost expectations were also sketched at a high level. NASA anticipated an approximate cost cap of $100 million for the entire suite of instruments that would require NASA funds and be selected through this AO. At the same time, the announcement notes an important ESA policy constraint: ESA does not fund development and exploitation of instruments for its spacecraft. Instead, for participants working through ESA coordination, the relevant national agencies and research institutions (not ESA centrally) would be responsible for funding instruments selected in response to the announcement. Cross-border teaming was permitted, but both NASA and ESA stressed "no exchange of funds" arrangements for foreign participation (for example, non-U.S. partners on NASA-funded proposals would need to participate without receiving NASA money) and compliance with U.S. export control and technology transfer restrictions.
On the technical planning side, the agencies pointed proposers to a more detailed mission and payload concept in the Joint Investigation Definition Team (JIDT) Report available in the SALMON Reference Library. That report included a strawman instrument set and notional payload allocations intended as a proof of concept only. The announcement made a point of clarifying that the strawman should not be interpreted as any pre-selection of instruments, techniques, or specific implementations by NASA or ESA, but rather as guidance to help teams propose credible approaches consistent with mission constraints.
The solicitation also set clear expectations around data policy. All data from selected TGO investigations were required to be made fully public in a usable form as soon as practical, with products documented, validated, and calibrated into physical units suitable for broad scientific use. This reflects an emphasis not just on instrument delivery, but on producing community-quality data sets that can be independently analyzed and compared.
Finally, the notice included an anticipated schedule and several administrative cautions. The target timeline was: AO release around mid-January 2010; a pre-proposal teleconference about two weeks after release; notices of intent due about four weeks after release; full proposals due about three months after release; non-U.S. letters of endorsement due with proposals; and selections targeted for announcement in July 2010. The launch of ExoMars TGO was targeted for January 2016. NASA and ESA also included standard language that this community announcement did not obligate them to issue the AO, and that any proposal preparation costs incurred before the official AO release would be entirely at the submitters' risk. Points of contact were provided for both agencies: Dr. Philippe Crane at NASA SMD and Dr. Jorge Vago at ESA/ESTEC.
FAQs - NASA/ESA ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) Instrument Solicitation Early Notice (NNH10ZDA005J)
What is opportunity NNH10ZDA005J?
NNH10ZDA005J is an early community notice from NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and the European Space Agency (ESA) about a planned solicitation for science instruments to fly on the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO). It is not the final call for proposals; it is advance notice intended to help the community prepare for an upcoming solicitation.
Is this a standalone grant or solicitation?
No. The notice describes a planned solicitation expected to be released as an amendment to NASA's existing SALMON Announcement of Opportunity (AO). The instrument selection was described as a competed "Focused Mission of Opportunity" (FMO) under the broader SALMON AO framework.
What mission is this opportunity supporting?
The opportunity is tied to instrument investigations for the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), a mission element focused on studying trace gases in the Martian atmosphere, with a strong emphasis on methane and related chemically important species.
What are the main science objectives the instrument suite is expected to address?
The planned solicitation anticipated proposals for a coordinated suite of instruments aligned to four prioritized science goals: (1) detect a broad range of atmospheric trace gases and key isotopes; (2) characterize spatial and temporal variability of methane and other key species, including photochemically important gas families and source molecules such as water vapor; (3) localize sources, understand evolution and interactions with aerosols and atmospheric state variables (including temperature and major gas distributions like water); and (4) support surface imaging of features potentially tied to trace gas sources and sinks to link atmospheric detections to surface or geologic processes.
What does "coordinated suite of instruments" mean in this context?
Based on the notice, proposals were expected to fit into a broader payload concept where NASA and ESA could select a combination of instrument investigations that, together, meet the mission objectives (assuming sufficient meritorious proposals were received). The emphasis is on a payload suite that works as an integrated set rather than isolated, unrelated instruments.
Why is methane specifically emphasized?
The notice highlights a strong emphasis on methane because it is a key trace gas for Mars atmospheric science and is linked to chemically important species and processes. The planned solicitation also emphasized related species and isotopic ratios to help distinguish between possible sources and processes.
Are isotopes and isotopic ratios part of the expected measurement goals?
Yes. One of the prioritized science goals explicitly called for enabling detection of key isotopes and isotopic ratios, because such ratios can help differentiate among potential sources and chemical/physical processes.
What types of trace gases are mentioned as priorities beyond methane?
The notice references families of photochemically important gases such as HOx, NOx, and hydrocarbons, along with their source molecules like water vapor, as part of the desired capability to characterize variability across space and time.
Does the opportunity include surface imaging, or is it only atmospheric measurements?
It includes a surface-imaging aspect. The notice indicates instruments should support imaging of surface features that might be tied to trace gas sources and sinks, helping connect atmospheric detections to potential geologic or surface processes.
Who is eligible to participate?
Eligibility was described as very broad. Participation was open across U.S. organizations and ESA member states, and also to other countries. The notice explicitly includes universities, industry, nonprofit organizations, federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), NASA Centers, JPL, and other government agencies.
Can a Principal Investigator build a team across multiple organization types?
Yes. The notice explicitly allows Principal Investigators (PIs) to assemble teams spanning any of the organization types listed (for example, universities, industry, nonprofits, FFRDCs, NASA Centers, JPL, and other government agencies), and it encourages an international dimension given the joint program context.
Are international teams encouraged?
Yes. Because TGO was positioned as part of a joint international program, proposals with an international dimension were encouraged, and the notice highlights involvement from the U.S. and from countries contributing to ESA's Aurora Programme.
Which countries are specifically highlighted in the notice?
The notice specifically highlighted countries contributing to ESA's Aurora Programme, listing: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Greece, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom (in addition to U.S. involvement).
How is NASA and ESA coordination expected to work for selection and review?
NASA and ESA stated that selection would be highly coordinated while still respecting each agency's internal processes. NASA planned to provide logistical support for proposal submission, and the review was expected to be tightly coordinated and, as much as possible, jointly conducted.
Will NASA and ESA select a single instrument or multiple investigations?
The notice signals an intent to select a combination of instrument investigations that together meet mission objectives, assuming a sufficient number of meritorious proposals are received.
What funding level is mentioned for NASA-supported instruments?
NASA anticipated an approximate cost cap of $100 million for the entire suite of instruments that would require NASA funds and be selected through the AO described in the notice.
Does ESA fund instrument development for its spacecraft under this opportunity?
The notice states an ESA policy constraint: ESA does not fund development and exploitation of instruments for its spacecraft. Instead, the relevant national agencies and research institutions would be responsible for funding instruments selected through ESA coordination.
Can foreign partners be funded by NASA on NASA-selected proposals?
The notice emphasizes "no exchange of funds" arrangements for foreign participation. As described, non-U.S. partners on NASA-funded proposals would need to participate without receiving NASA money, and teams must comply with U.S. export control and technology transfer restrictions.
Are there export control or technology transfer constraints mentioned?
Yes. The notice explicitly calls out compliance with U.S. export control and technology transfer restrictions, especially in the context of cross-border teaming and "no exchange of funds" arrangements.
Where can proposers find more detailed mission and payload concept information?
The notice directs proposers to the Joint Investigation Definition Team (JIDT) Report available in the SALMON Reference Library. That report includes a strawman instrument set and notional payload allocations intended as a proof of concept.
Does the strawman instrument set in the JIDT Report represent pre-selection by NASA or ESA?
No. The notice explicitly clarifies that the strawman should not be interpreted as any pre-selection of instruments, techniques, or implementations by NASA or ESA. It is presented as guidance to help teams propose credible approaches consistent with mission constraints.
What is the expected data policy for selected investigations?
All data from selected TGO investigations were required to be made fully public in a usable form as soon as practical. The notice also states products must be documented, validated, and calibrated into physical units suitable for broad scientific use.
What are the key anticipated dates mentioned in the notice?
The notice lists an expected schedule: AO release around mid-January 2010; a pre-proposal teleconference about two weeks after release; notices of intent due about four weeks after release; full proposals due about three months after release; non-U.S. letters of endorsement due with proposals; and selections targeted for announcement in July 2010.
When was launch of ExoMars TGO targeted?
The notice states that launch of ExoMars TGO was targeted for January 2016.
Does this early community notice obligate NASA or ESA to release the actual AO?
No. The notice includes standard language that the community announcement does not obligate NASA or ESA to issue the AO.
Are proposal preparation costs reimbursable if incurred before the AO is officially released?
No. The notice cautions that any proposal preparation costs incurred before the official AO release would be entirely at the submitters' risk.
Are non-U.S. letters of endorsement mentioned, and when are they due?
Yes. The notice indicates that non-U.S. letters of endorsement were due with proposals (i.e., at the time full proposals are submitted under the anticipated schedule).
Who are the listed points of contact for this notice?
The notice provides points of contact for both agencies: Dr. Philippe Crane at NASA SMD and Dr. Jorge Vago at ESA/ESTEC.
How does this opportunity relate to broader Mars exploration plans?
The notice describes the instrument competition as intended to be the first competed element of an anticipated joint ESA-NASA Mars Exploration Programme, pending approval by the ESA Council.
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