NASA ANNOUNCEMENT NNH06ZDA001R
 
   ROSSI X-RAY TIMING EXPLORER GUEST OBSERVER  CYCLE 12
 
 
   Release Date: October 23, 2006
   Proposal Due Date: January 26, 2007
 
   Astrophysics Division
   Science Mission Directorate
   National Aeronautics and Space Administration
   Washington, DC 200546-0001
 
   This Announcement solicits observing proposals for participation in the
   National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) program to acquire
   scientific data from the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). The primary
   goal of the RXTE mission is to investigate the nature and physics of
   compact astrophysical objects as revealed through temporal variations in
   their high energy emission on time scales from microseconds to years.
   This Announcement is for Cycle 12 of RXTE Guest Observations, and
   solicits proposals for observations to be carried out beginning on or
   around June 1, 2007. Cycle 12 is expected to last approximately 18
   months.  
 
   One hundred percent of the observing time on RXTE is available to the
   scientific community through this solicitation; that is, there is no
   guaranteed or reserved time for the original RXTE instrument teams. All
   proposals submitted in response to this Announcement must be for new
   pointed observations with RXTE using either or both of the Proportional
   Counter Array (PCA) and High Energy X-ray Timing Experiment (HEXTE)
   instruments. Analyses of All-Sky Monitor (ASM) observations are the
   responsibility of the RXTE ASM team and the results are placed in the
   High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC) public
   archive as soon as possible after the data are obtained. Investigations
   that do not require new pointed RXTE observations are not within the
   scope of this opportunity, including: proposals for specific
   configurations or observing sequences using the ASM or for analysis of
   ASM data; proposals for analysis of archival RXTE data; and proposals for
   complementary observations or theoretical work that do not require new
   pointed observations.
 
   Potential proposers should note that this Announcement is solely for the
   selection of observing time on RXTE and that no funds are available for
   support of selected proposals. Budgets are not to be submitted in
   response to this solicitation. Observers with proposals accepted through
   this Announcement may submit funding proposals to the NASA Astrophysics
   Data Program (ADP). Foreign proposals accepted under this Announcement
   will be implemented on the customary no exchange of funds basis in which
   NASA and the sponsoring foreign agency will each bear the cost of
   discharging their respective responsibilities.
 
   Details of the proposal submission requirements and process may be found
   at the RXTE Cycle 12 Web site,
   http://rxte.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/xte/cycle12.html, which includes a
   detailed mission description; technical information about the RXTE
   mission, instruments, and feasibility; detailed information regarding
   proposal submission, evaluation, selection and implementation; and
   instructions for completing the required proposal forms. Electronic
   submission of Cycle 12 proposals must be completed by the stated proposal
   due date. Notices of Intent to propose (NOI) are not required.
 
   Proposals to NASA-sponsored research programs are judged on three
   criteria: Scientific and technical merit of the proposed work, relevance
   of the proposed work to NASA missions and science goals, and cost realism
   and reasonableness (see also Appendix C, Section C.2, of the Guidebook
   for Proposers Responding to NASA Research Announcement – 2006 at
   http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/nraguidebook/). Proposals
   submitted to RXTE Cycle 12 will be evaluated with respect to these
   criteria (excluding cost realism and reasonableness).
 
   In addition to the factors given in Section C.2 of the Guidebook for
   Proposers, the merit of a proposal shall include the following factors:
   .   The suitability of using the RXTE observatory and data products
       for the proposed investigation;
   .   The degree to which the investigation utilizes RXTE's unique
       capabilities;
   .   The feasibility of accomplishing the objectives of the
       investigation within the time, telemetry, and scheduling constraints; and
   .   The feasibility of the proposed analysis techniques.
 
   In addition to the factors given in Section C.2 of the Guidebook for
   Proposers, the relevance of a proposal shall include the following
   factor:
   .    Potential contribution of the proposed investigation to the
        science goals of the RXTE mission, to investigate the nature and physics
        of compact astrophysical objects as revealed through temporal variations
        in their high energy emission on time scales from microseconds to years.
 
   Based upon the results of this evaluation, the RXTE Program Officer will
   recommend a set of proposals to the Director, Astrophysics Division,
   Science Mission Directorate, for final selection.
 


   Scientific and technical questions concerning RXTE Cycle 12 should be
   directed to the RXTE Guest Observer Facility:
 
   Dr. Patricia Boyd
   RXTE Guest Investigator Program
   Code 661
   Goddard Space Flight Center
   National Aeronautics and Space Administration
   Greenbelt, MD 20771-0001
        Tel: (301) 286-2550
    Email: xtehelp@athena.gsfc.nasa.gov
 
   Programmatic information may be obtained from the RXTE Program Officer:
 
   Dr. Alan Smale
   Astrophysics Division
   Science Mission Directorate
   National Aeronautics and Space Administration
   Washington, DC 20546-0001
       Tel: (202) 358-2016
    Email: Alan.Smale@nasa.gov