NASA Headquarters, Code SR, Washington, DC 20546 Attn:SR/Dr. Jay Bergstralh

A -- DRAFT ANNOUNCEMENT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PLUTO EXPRESS MISSION POC Dr. Jay Bergstralh tel: 202/358-0313 The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Office of Space Science, is releasing a draft Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for the Pluto Express Mission series for community review and comment. Pluto Express will consist of a highly integrated, low-cost spacecraft/science investigation package, designated sciencecraft, to perform the first close-up reconnaissance of the Pluto/Charon system. Launch is anticipated in 2001, with a 12-year cruise to Pluto. Investigations proposed in response to this AO must be complete from initiation of preliminary analysis/technical definition (Phase A/B) through design/ development (Phase C/D) including launch plus 30 days and mission operations and data analysis (Phase E). Pluto Express design/development (Phase C/D) costs will be capped at $250 million. Phase E is constrained to $29.5 million, but is not limited in time. NASA seeks a critical community review of the AO, and comments should be submitted to Dr. Jay Bergstralh, Research Program Management Division, Code SR, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC 20546, FAX (202) 358-3097, or e-mail Bergstralh@hq.nasa.gov. Comments are requested no later than June 21, 1996. The AO is available electronically on the Solar System Exploration homepage. The homepage URL address is: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/solar_system. Paper copies may be obtained by written request from Jay Bergstralh at the address above. (0143)

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