GSFC XMM-Newton GOF Status Report #291: XMM-Newton AO-15 Call for Proposals

[Newsletter for users of the XMM-Newton mission <xmmnews@lists.nasa.gov>]

                                          25 August 2015

Dear Colleague,

NASA is pleased to call to the attention of members of the U.S.
scientific community the release by the European Space Agency (ESA)
of the Announcement of Opportunity (AO), "XMM-Newton Call for
Observing Proposals", soliciting Guest Observing proposals for the
15th cycle (AO-15) observing program for ESA's X-ray Multi-Mirror
Mission (XMM-Newton).  The subject Announcement solicits proposals
for observations to be performed during a 12-month period commencing
in May 2016.  Due to the nature of the NASA-ESA bilateral agreement,
only proposals from scientists affiliated with U.S. institutions are
solicited by this Letter; others are advised to contact ESA directly.
U.S. scientists may propose either as Principal Investigators or as
Co-Investigators on proposals with either U.S. or non-U.S. (foreign
PI proposals) PIs.  The AO may be accessed directly from ESA at the
following address:

http://xmm.esac.esa.int/external/xmm_science/AO15/index.shtml

The XMM-Newton Guest Observer Facility (GOF) at the Goddard Space
Flight Center (GSFC) is the support center for XMM-Newton activities
in the U.S.  Information of interest to U.S. observers, as well as
general project information, can be found at the following address:

http://xmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/

A detailed description of the mission, including instrument
capabilities and additional information pertaining to the proposal
preparation and submission procedures, is also available via links
from the XMM-Newton home page at that address.  (General questions
concerning XMM-Newton and participation by U.S. investigators should
be addressed to xmmhelp@athena.gsfc.nasa.gov.)  ESA will be responsible
for conducting a peer review of all submitted proposals, including
those from U.S. investigators, and determining the associated time
allocation.  Current plans call for ESA to notify proposers and NASA
of the results of the peer review in mid-December 2015.

The funding level, if any, for successful U.S. GOs will be set by the
results of the 2016 Senior Review of Operating Missions.  For each of
the previous two AOs (AO-13 and AO-14) NASA allocated approximately
$2 M for a Guest Observer (GO) program to support the analysis,
interpretation and publication of data obtained by U.S. proposers who
are granted Open Time observing on XMM-Newton.  If this level of
funding is continued, it is anticipated that only U.S. PIs with
Category "A" or "B" proposals will be invited to apply for support
from the U.S. XMM-Newton GO program for AO-15.  As for AO-14, it is
expected that U.S. Co-Is on foreign-PI Category A and B science
proposals will be permitted to apply for funding from the Astrophysics
Data Analysis Program (ADAP).  Note, however, that the U.S. Co-Is of
the foreign PI proposal must choose a lead who will then submit a
single ADAP funding proposal for that science proposal.  Pending the
results of the ESA selection of observing proposals submitted to
AO-15, NASA will issue an update to this DCL to inform U.S. proposers
of any changes to the above.

For additional technical or programmatic information regarding U.S.
participation in the XMM-Newton mission, please contact:


Technical Information:           Dr. Steve Snowden
                                 Goddard Space Flight Center
                                 Code 662
                                 Greenbelt, MD  20771
                                 Tel:  (301) 286-8100
                                 Steven.L.Snowden@nasa.gov

Programmatic Information:        Dr. Stefan Immler
                                 Astrophysics Division
                                 Science Mission Directorate
                                 300 E Street SW
                                 Washington, DC 20546
                                 Tel: 202-358-0615
                                 Stefan.M.Immler@nasa.gov

Sincerely,

Dr. Stefan Immler
U.S. XMM-Newton Program Scientist

-- 
A service of the XMM-Newton GOF, NASA/GSFC

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