NASA to Change Space Mission Selection Rules to Accelerate Launches
The agency plans to simplify application submissions, shorten the review periods for scientific projects, and reduce preparation costs.
NASA has introduced a new system for selecting scientific missions called Competition Model 2.0. The reform was announced on October 21 by the head of the agency's Science Mission Directorate, Nicky Fox.
The new model will enable scientists, universities, and private companies to advance projects more quickly. In the first stage, NASA will focus on the scientific value of proposals, with detailed engineering and financial calculations required at a later stage.
For a number of programs, the volume of initial applications will be reduced by nearly half, and the selection timeline is planned to be shortened from 35 to 19.5 months. For small missions, a single-stage competition will be introduced, reducing the procedure from 32 to 19 months.
At the same time, NASA will strengthen oversight of project budgets and timelines. Serious violations may result in mission cancellations.
