RESEARCH

This amendment announces two new proposal opportunities in Appendix A.29: Earth Science U.S. Participating Investigator and in Appendix C.25: Lunar and Planetary Science U.S. Participating Investigator. Notices of Intent (NOIs) to propose are due October 15, 2008. Proposals are due December 2, 2008. Questions concerning the Earth Science USPI solicitation may be addressed to Dr. Eric Lindstrom, Earth Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC 20546-0001; Tel: 202-358-4540; Email: Eric.J.Lindstrom@nasa.gov. Questions concerning the Lunar and Planetary Science USPI solicitation may be addressed to Dr. Carlos Liceaga, Planetary Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC 20546-0001; Tel: 202-358-4666; Email: Carlos.A.Liceaga@nasa.gov.

NNH08ZDA009O, entitled "Stand Alone Missions of Opportunity Notice (SALMON)" is being released by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on September 3, 2008. This Announcement of Opportunity (AO) solicits investigations that address the science objectives of the Science Mission Directorate's (SMD) astrobiology, lunar science, and planetary science programs and the Exploration Science Mission Directorate's (ESMD) fundamental space biology program. The complete SALMON AO can be found at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ The three areas of interest for the Fundamental Space Biology Program are 1) Life at molecular and cellular levels, 2) Interactions between organisms and 3) Life across generations. Please refer to Appendix H3 of the SALMON AO for more information on the Fundamental Space Biology section (which can be accessed at the link above). Participation is open to all categories of organizations (U.S. and non-U.S.), including educational institutions, industry, not-for-profit organizations, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), NASA Centers, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and other Government agencies. Upon the AO release, the full text of the AO and all appendices will be available electronically at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/. A preproposal conference will be held in Washington, DC for all the solicitations except the LADEE solicitation; see http://salmon.larc.nasa.gov/ for details.

Earth Science for Decision Making: Gulf of Mexico Region (Appendix A.28) and Astrobiology: Exobiology and Evolutionary Biology (Appendix C.17) are being delayed in recognition of the severe difficulties that our colleagues in the Gulf of Mexico region are experiencing due to recent hurricanes. Outer Planets Research (Appendix C.7) is being delayed by two weeks to accommodate a delay in announcing selection decisions for some proposals submitted last year and to avoid conflicts with the 40th meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences. The new due date for Appendix A.28, Earth Science for Decision Making: Gulf of Mexico Region, is October 30. The new due date for Appendix C.7, Outer Planets Research, is November 14, 2008. The new due date for Appendix C.17, Astrobiology: Exobiology and Evolutionary Biology, is September 26, 2008.