Planetary Data System Program

Release Date: October 1, 2003
NOI Release Date: October 30, 2003
Proposals Due: January 8, 2004

NRA 03-OSS-04

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Office of Space
Science is releasing NASA Research Announcement (NRA) 03-OSS-04 entitled
Operation of the Discipline Nodes of NASA's Planetary Data System
(PDS). The PDS is a distributed information system that consists of a
central service and coordinating node called the Central Node, connected
electronically to several classes of distributed centers called Discipline
Nodes, their associated Discipline Subnodes, and short-term Discipline Data
Nodes. This NRA solicits proposals for the Discipline Nodes. The existing
Discipline Nodes are as follows: Atmospheric Science; Geosciences,
including geology, geochemistry, geophysics, surface properties, and
tectonics; Imaging, including very large imaging datasets; Planetary Plasma
Interactions; Rings, including planetary rings; Small Bodies, including
comets, asteroids, and dust; and Radio Science, including planetary
atmospheric studies. The purpose of a Discipline Node is to curate
specific planetary data sets; to provide an environment that promotes
active research through the analyses of these data by in-house and/or
visiting scientists; and to furnish access, data, and assistance to
scientists at their home institutions through electronic connection. The
Discipline Node Institution employs scientists who are conducting active
research on their data sets and are available to consult with others on
questions regarding the use of the data.

Upon its release date, this NRA will be available electronically from the
World Wide Web by accessing the central NASA Web site for the listing of
all research solicitations at http://research.hq.nasa.gov/research.cfm and
linking through the menu listings for the "Office of Space Science" and
then "Current (Open) Solicitations". Participation is open to all
categories of organizations, foreign and domestic, including industry,
educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, NASA centers, and other
U.S. Government agencies.

Obtain additional programmatic information from Mr. William Knopf,
Planetary Data System Program Executive, Solar System Exploration Division,
Code SE, Office of Space Science, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC
20546-0001; telephone (202) 358-0742; FAX: (202) 358-3091;
E-mail: william.knopf.1@....