Small Explorer program

The Small Explorer program (SMEX ) is an effort within NASA to fund space exploration missions that cost no more than $120 million.cite web |url=http://explorers.gsfc.nasa.gov/missions.html |title=Explorer Missions |publisher=NASA]

Program history

The first set of three SMEX missions were launched between 1992-07-03 and 1998-12-05. The second set of two missions were launched 1998-04-02 and 1999-03-05. These missions were managed by the Small Explorer Project Office at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). In the Spring of 1999, that office was closed and with the announcement of opportunity for the third set of SMEX missions NASA converted the program so that each mission was managed by its Principal Investigator, with oversight by the GSFC Explorers Project. [cite web |url=http://sunland.gsfc.nasa.gov/smex/ |title=SMEX home page (kept for historical purposes only) |publisher=NASA]

Primary-phase missions

Three SMEX missions are currently funded for their primary missions: Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) and Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX).

Extended-phase or completed missions

* Fast Auroral Snapshot Explorer (FAST)
* Solar Anomalous and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer (SAMPEX)
* Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS)
* Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE)
* Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI)
* Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX)

Candidate missions

On 2008-05-29 NASA announced selection of six candidate mission proposals for further evaluation as part of SMEX. [cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/may/HQ_C08029_SMEX_Awards.html |title=NASA Selects Small Explorer Investigations for Concept Studies |publisher=NASA] These include:
* Coronal Physics Explorer (CPEX),
* Gravity and Extreme Magnetism SMEX (GEMS),
* Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS),
* Joint Astrophysics Nascent Universe Satellite (JANUS),
* Neutral Ion Coupling Explorer (NICE),
* Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).

Unsuccessful missions

* Wide Field Infrared Explorer (WIRE)

References