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NASA and Science Mission Directorate (SMD) Strategies and Policies


1. The New Age of Exploration – NASA’s Direction for 2005 and Beyond (February 2005)
   Describes strategy and goals for achieving the national vision for space exploration
2. The Space Science Enterprise Strategic Plan (October 2003)
   Describes the goals and outlook of NASA's Space Science Enterprise, and of the major ideas described in the context of the overall NASA Strategic Plan.
3. The Education Enterprise Strategic Plan (November 2003 )
   
   Describes the goals and objectives of NASA's Education Enterprise in the overall context of the NASA Strategic Plan.
4. Roadmap for the Office of Space Science Solar System Exploration Division (March 2003)
   
   Describes OSS strategy and plans for exploring the Solar System.
5. Roadmap for the Office of Space Science Origins Theme (February 2003)
   
   Describes OSS strategy and plans for the Astronomical Search for Origins.
6. Solar System Exploration
   
   Web site describing NASA's Solar System exploration programs and missions.
   
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   National Research Council (NRC) Documents
   
   
7. Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Millennium (2001)
   
   NRC decadal recommendations for Universe exploration.
8. New Frontiers in the Solar System: An Integrated Exploration Strategy (2003)
   
   NRC decadal recommendations for Solar System exploration.
   
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   Discovery Program Background
   
   
9. Discovery Program Commitment Agreement (April 2005)
   
   This document is the highest level definition of the Discovery Program, being the commitment the SMD Associate Administrator has with the NASA Administrator. This agreement is updated annually.
10. Discovery Program Plan (September 2005)
    
    Provides the objectives and performance goals, the program-level requirements and interfaces, and the management structure and authority for the overall Discovery Program. It is the commitment between the Discovery Program Manager and the SMD Associate Administrator.
11. Discovery Program Lessons Learned Archive (March 2004)
    
    Summarizes the lessons learned and shared in the Discovery Program Lessons Learned Workshops and Retreats, as well as the Contour Mishap Investigation Board Findings (October 2003).
    
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    Discovery Guidelines and Requirements Documents
    
    
12. Announcement of Opportunity Acronym List (March 2005)
    
    Provides a list of acronyms used in this AO.
13. Cost Element Definitions (February 2004)
    
    Provides definitions for the major cost elements for proposals.
14. Discovery Launch Services Information Summary (January 2006)
    
    Describes capabilities and costs of launch services that are available to launch Discovery spacecraft selected pursuant to this AO.
15. Guidelines and Criteria for the Phase A Concept Study (February 9, 2007). Click here for link to version showing changes.
    
    Provides proposers who are selected via the AO with guidelines and criteria for preparation of the Concept Study Report.
16. 7120.5D Compliant Guidelines and Criteria for the Phase A Concept Study for Full Missions April 2007 (April 9, 2007).
    
    This document has been updated to reflect compliance with the recently approved NPR 7120.5D, NASA Program and Project Management Processes and Requirements. Changes from the previous version are shown in the document with change tracking for easy identification.
17. In-Space Propulsion (ISP) (November 2002)
    
    Describes the technical specifications for utilizing ISP on Discovery missions.
18. NASA Astromaterials Curatorial Facility (October 2006)
    
    Provides guidelines specific to sample return mission proposals for use of the NASA Astromaterials Curatorial Facility.
19. NASA's Mission Operations and Communications Services (November 2006)
    
    Describes the functions and costs of Ground Data Systems and Mission Operations and Data Analysis available via NASA.
20. New Space Communications Capabilities Available for NASA’s Discovery and New Frontier Programs (January 2006)
    
     
21. Navigation and Ancillary Information Facility Services for Discovery Missions (January 2003)
    
    Describes the NASA Ancillary Information Facility and the Spacecraft Planet Instrument C-matrix Events (SPICE) capability for mission design, mission planning, observation planning, and interpretation of scientific observations.
22. Space Science Enterprise Technology Blueprint (January 2003)
    
    Assessment of space science technology needs and their status.
23. Specifications for Space Radioisotope Heating Units (RHUs) for Discovery (May 2003)
    
    A series of documents describing the technical specifications for utilizing RHU options on Discovery missions.
24. Technology Readiness Level (TRL) Definitions (2001)
    
    Brief TRL definitions.
25. U.S. Space Transportation Policy, Section V1.a. (January 2005)
    
    Discusses use of non-U.S. launch vehicles.
26. Safety and Mission Assurance Guidelines and Requirements. (June 2008)
    
    This document establishes the Safety and Mission Assurance guidelines and requirements for the Discovery Program as a means to assure the mission success and safety of personnel, payloads, equipment, and facilities.
    
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    SMD Education and Public Outreach (E/PO) Documents
    
    
27. Explanatory Guide to the Office of Space Science Education and Public Outreach Evaluation Criteria (April 2008)
    
    Answers frequently asked questions, and elaborates on each of the SMD E/PO criteria for space science.
28. Implementing the Office of Space Science Education and Public Outreach Strategy: A Critical Evaluation at the Six-Year Mark (March 2003)
    
    Describes SMD's overall approach to implementing its space science E/PO strategy.
29. Partners in Education: A Strategy for Integrating Education and Public Outreach into NASA’s Space Science Programs (March 1995)
    
    Describes the overall strategy for integrating E/PO into NASA’s s space science programs.
30. SMD Education and Public Outreach Annual Reports
    
    Describe the breadth of SMD Education and Public Outreach (E/PO) programs and accomplishments in space science.
31. SMD Education and Public Outreach Newsletters
    
    Describe SMD space science E/PO newsworthy activities.
    
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    General Guidelines and Requirements Documents
    
    
32. Level 1 Requirements Example
    
     
33. AS9100 Quality Systems - Aerospace - Model for Quality Assurance in Design, Development, Production, Installation and Servicing
    
     
34. Cost Analysis Data Requirement (CADRe)
    
    Templates and examples for generation of the CADRe report.
35. Example Mission Definition and Requirements Agreement
    
    Provides an example of a mission definition and requirements agreement between principal organizations for supporting a SMD mission.
36. ISO 9000 Series
    
    NASA ISO policy as well as current national standards of quality processes and procedures: ISO 9000:2000, Quality Management Systems – Fundamentals and Vocabulary, ISO 9001:2000, Quality Management Systems – Requirements, and ISO 9004:2000, Quality Management Systems – Guidelines for Performance Improvements.
     
    Note: These ISO 9000-related documents are copyrighted and cannot be reproduced without appropriate compensation. For copies contact:
    American Society for Quality (ASQ)
    P.O. Box 3005
    Milwaukee, WI 53201-3005
    U.S.A.
    Tel: (800) 248-1946
    URL: http://www.asq.org/portal
     
    
37. NASA Technology Transfer Resources
    
    Web site providing an integrated information resource for NASA technology transfer and commercialization.
38. NPR 7100.10D, Curation of Extraterrestrial Materials (February 2003)
    
    Provides information on the curation of extraterrestrial materials via NASA's Curatorial Facility at JSC.
39. NPR 7120.5D, NASA Program and Project Management Processes and Requirements (March 2007)
    
    Provides information on typical activities, milestones, and products in the development and execution of NASA missions.
40. NPR 8580.1, Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act and Executive Order 12114 (November 2001)
    
    Provides information on NASA's implementation of NEPA requirements.
41. NPD 8610.7C, Launch Services Risk Mitigation Policy for NASA-Owned Or NASA-Sponsored Payloads (April 2005)
    
    Provides information on NASA's launch services mitigation policy.
42. NPD 2820.1C, NASA Software Policy (August 2005)
    
    Provides information on the NASA IV&V policy.
43. Planetary Data System (PDS)
    
    Web site describing the basic formats and requirements used for the archiving of planetary data products by the NASA PDS. "Proposer's Archive Guide with Examples and Templates" and "Quick Start Guide to PDS Archiving" .
44. Planetary Protection Requirements
    
    A series of documents describing Planetary Protection Requirements for NASA spacecraft missions; includes NPD 8020.7F (February 1999), NPR 8020.12C (April 2005), and NPD 8710.3B (April 2004).
45. NPR 8715.3A, NASA General Safety Program Requirements
    
     
    
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    Directives and Procurement-Related Information
    
    
46. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
    
    Provides searchable and browseable versions of the current CFR.
47. Council on Environmental Quality Regulations, 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508
    
    Provides downloadable version of this portion of the CFR.
48. Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) General Services Administration
    
    Provides the text of the FAR and all current amendments.
49. Final Environmental Assessment of NASA Routine Payloads on Expendable Launch Vehicles from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Florida and Vandenberg Air Force Base California (June 2002)
    
50. Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) (June 2002)
    
51. NASA FAR Supplement Regulations (November 2004)
    
    Provides downloadable versions of the latest NASA Far Supplement and a contact person for related questions.
52. NASA Financial Management Manual
    
    Provides the downloadable Financial Management Module and other documents.
53. NASA Online Directives Information System (NODIS) Library
    
    Provides online access to NASA Policy Directives (NPDs), NASA Procedural Requirements (NPRs), and NASA Policy Charters (NPCs).
54. NPR 2810.1 -- Security of Information Technology (August 2004)
    
55. NPD 2810.1C -- NASA Information Security Policy (April 2004)
    
56. NPR 5800.1D -- Grant and Cooperative Agreement Handbook (July 2004)
    
    Provides links to the four sections of this Handbook.
    
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    Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG) Information
    
    
57. Space Radioisotope Power Systems: Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (October 2008)
    
58. Space Radioisotope Power Systems: Safety (January 2008)
    
    
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• NASA Official:  Dr. Carlos A. Liceaga
• Curator:  SOMA Web Support
• Last Modified:  11.17.2009