Paula Cleggett-Haleim
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                                          
September 4, 1992
(Phone:  202/358-0883)

Dolores Beasley 
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
(Phone:  301-286-2806)


Release:  92-144

CALL FOR NEXT GENERATION OF SMALL EXPLORERS ANNOUNCED

     An announcement of opportunity inviting proposals for the 
next set of Small Explorer (SMEX) missions has been sent to the 
scientific community.

     The Small Explorer program provides frequent flight 
opportunities for highly focussed and relatively inexpensive 
space science missions.  These missions allow critical training 
opportunities for the next generation of scientists and 
engineers.

     This series of small scientific missions can launch at a 
rate of about one mission per year, depending on mission cost 
and the availability of funds.  NASA plans to develop only two 
or three missions which can be completed and launched by 1997.

     Proposals for future missions are due Dec. 18, 1992.  The 
opportunity is restricted to the scientific disciplines of 
astrophysics and space physics, but is open to all categories of 
organizations, including educational institutions, industry, 
nonprofit institutions, NASA field centers and other 
governmental agencies, as well as foreign research institutions.

     Total costs for development of missions, including the 
spacecraft and excluding mission operations and analysis costs 
following the first 30 days in orbit, are expected to average 
less than $35 million in FY 1992 dollars.

     NASA's first Small Explorer, the Solar Anomalous and 
Magnetospheric Particle Explorer was launched July 3, 1992.  Two 
other missions are currently approved, the Fast Auroral Snapshot 
Explorer, scheduled for launch in 1994, and the Submillimeter 
Wave Astronomy Satellite, set for launch in 1995.
                            - end -