Astrophysics Explorers Program 2026 SMEX AO (NNH26ZDA011O)

Astrophysics Explorers Program 2026 SMEX AO (NNH26ZDA011O) is sponsored by NASA. A funding opportunity announcement for the Astrophysics Explorers Program, soliciting proposals for Small Explorer (SMEX) missions.

Announcement of Opportunity SMEX 2026 - NASA Science International Space Station Spacesuits, Exercise, and Cargo Ops Wrap Week Aboard Station NASA to Cover Progress 96 Spacecraft Launch, Docking NASA’s Hubble Tracks New Decagon Encircling Saturn’s South Pole Upcoming Launches and Landings Communicating with Missions James Webb Space Telescope International Space Station Earth Science Researchers Asteroids, Comets & Meteors The Search for Life in the Universe Astrophysics & Space Science Biological & Physical Sciences Human Space Travel Research Technology Transfer & Spinoffs Technology Living in Space Manufacturing and Materials For Colleges and Universities Requests for Exhibits, Artifacts, or Speakers NASA Brand & Usage Guidelines NASA’s X-59 Aircraft Builds Momentum Through 25th Flight NASA’s Hubble Spies Superbubble Scene NASA’s Dragonfly Gets Wired Up While Titan Landing Area Is Named Human-Related Microbes May Survive Moon’s South Pole, NASA Finds NASA’s LRO Images Falcon 9 Crater on Moon, Learns New Details NASA Will Attempt to Observe Rocket Part’s Lunar Impact A Trio of Tropical Cyclones in the Pacific Peatland Fires Darken Skies in Indonesia NASA’s Hubble Tracks New Decagon Encircling Saturn’s South Pole NASA Rocket Takes First Multi-Point Look Inside Radio-Disrupting Clouds What’s Up: September 2026 Skywatching Tips from NASA NASA’s Hubble Spies Superbubble Scene 9 Things to Know About NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope NASA’s Pandora Mission Begins Study of Exoplanets, Host Stars Information for Funded Projects NASA Johnson Pilots Chase Moon’s Shadow for Eclipse Science NASA Selects University Teams to Help Advance Aviation Research NASA Student Aviation Challenge Focuses on Nation’s Infrastructure Ribbon-Cutting Event for NASA Deep Space Network’s Deep Space Station 23 NASA Deep Space Network’s New Goldstone Antenna Goes Online Panorama Showcasing the 34-Meter Antennas of the DSN’s Goldstone Complex NASA Revamps Challenge Linking Community College Studies to Aerospace Careers Building Foresight for Earth Science, featuring Lindsey Jacobson Commercial Spacecraft for NASA’s Swift Boost Continues Tech Demo NASA Welcomes Türkiye as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory President Honors NASA’s Artemis II Crew with Highest US Space Award La NASA anuncia la cobertura de la misión lunar Artemis II Agenda diaria de la misión a la Luna de Artemis II de la NASA La NASA refuerza Artemis: añade una misión y perfecciona su arquitectura general Announcement of Opportunity Astrophysics Explorers Program 2026 Small Explorer (SMEX) Final Text Released The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD) announces the release of an Announcement of Opportunity (AO) to solicit Principal Investigator (PI)-led space science investigations for the Small Explorer (SMEX) opportunity under the Astrophysics Explorers Program.

The SMD strategic goal of expanding human knowledge through new scientific discoveries in astrophysics includes the broad objective: “to understand the Sun, Earth, Solar System, and Universe. ” SMD addresses this objective through astrophysics investigations that address one or more of these science goals: How does the Universe work?

Probe the origin and destiny of our universe, including the nature of black holes, dark energy, dark matter and gravity. How did we get here? Explore the origin and evolution of the galaxies, stars, and planets that make up our universe.

Are we alone? Discover and study planets around other stars and explore whether they could harbor life.

The 2026 Astrophysics SMEX (APSMEX26) Schedule: AO Release Date: June 9, 2026 Preproposal Conference Date: June 30, 2026 Mandatory Notice of Intent Due Date: July 21, 2026 Proposal Due Date: September 9, 2026 The NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) is the official source for the full text of the Astrophysics Explorers Program 2026 SMEX AO. To find the full, final text visit https://go. nasa.

gov/APSMEX26 . Alternatively, visit: http://nspires. nasaprs.

com/ , select 'Solicitations' at the top of the page, and on the next page enter solicitation number NNH26ZDA011O in the search field. Prospective investigators from any category of organizations or institutions, U.S. or non-U.S. with some restrictions as specified in Section 4. 2.

1 of the AO, are welcome. Specific categories of organizations and institutions include, but are not limited to, educational, industrial, and not-for-profit organizations, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs), NASA Centers, and other Government agencies. Both U.S. and non-U.S. participation is subject to China restrictions described in Sections 4.

2. 2 and 5. 8.

1 of the AO. All interested parties must read the final APSMEX26 AO carefully for significant changes from the draft AO (NNH25ZDA008J) and prior years’ SMD Explorers Program AOs. Of particular importance is the change in evaluation and selection to a single-step competitive process.

NASA intends to select one investigation proposal from the APSMEX26 responses to proceed into a combined Phase A&B. All proposals must comply with the requirements, constraints, and guidelines contained within the AO. The Science Office for Mission Assessments (SOMA) will post the virtual Preproposal Conference agenda, connection information, and related information at: https://explorers.

larc. nasa. gov/APSMEX26/SMEX .

SOMA hosts the official “2026 Astrophysics Small Explorer (SMEX)” website that provides further information, including the SMEX Program Library and SMEX Question & Answer (Q&A) page. Anonymity of persons/institutions who submit questions will be preserved. Proposers are encouraged to send comments and questions early so that they may be fully addressed.

Questions posed at least one week before the Pre-Proposal Conference may be addressed in the Pre-Proposal Conference presentation or on the SMEXQ&A page. The deadline for other questions is two (2) weeks before the proposal due date. All questions or comments about the Astrophysics SMEX 2026 AO shall be addressed via email to Daniel Moses, APSMEX26 Lead Program Scientist, dan.

moses@nasa. gov ; Hannah JangCondell, APSMEX26 Deputy Program Scientist, hannah. jang-condell@nasa.

gov ; and Omar Torres, Lead Acquisition Manager for the 2026 Astrophysics SMEX AO, SOMA omar. torres@nasa. gov using subject line “APSMEX26” to be properly routed.

Any costs incurred in preparing a submission in response to this notice or the full APSMEX26 AO are solely the responsibility of the submitter. News Straight to Your Inbox We will never share your email address. Did you find what you were looking for?

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