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Amendment 20: Delay of Due Date, Late Data Release, and New opportunity for Cassini Data Analysis

Amendment 20 does three things related to Cassini Data Analysis: First, it notes that the Planetary Data System’s Cassini Data Release 54 posted release date of July 5 was fewer than 30 days prior to the Step-2 due date and, thus, those data are not eligible for the 2018 C.10 CDAP. Second, a new opportunity has been created in program element C.26 specifically for Cassini Data Release 54. Third, the due date for Step-2 proposals to C.10 has been delayed to August 14, 2018.

The objective of C.10 Cassini Data Analysis Program (CDAP) is to enhance the scientific return of the Cassini mission by broadening the scientific participation in the analysis and interpretation of data returned by this mission. Other mission and non-mission data sets may be used with these data, but all proposals must require the use of data from the Cassini mission.

The Planetary Science Research Program Overview specifies that spacecraft mission data to be used in proposed work must be available in the Planetary Data System (PDS) or an equivalent, publicly accessible archive at least 30 days prior to the full proposal submission deadline. Due to inconsistencies in the posted and communicated scheduled release date(s) for these data that were not recognized until after the Step-1 due date, the use of Data Release 54 is excluded from C.10 CDAP. However, this amendment also creates a new opportunity in program element C.26 Cassini Data Analysis Program: PDS Cassini Data Release 54, for proposals that require the use of those data.

The due date for Step-2 proposals to C.10 CDAP has been delayed to August 14, 2018.

For C.26 Cassini Data Analysis Program: PDS Cassini Data Release 54 Step-1 proposals are due by September 18, 2018 and Step-2 proposals are due December 7, 2018.

The amended solicitations contain information on how funding will be handled in this situation, and it is not expected that the later due date of C.26 will delay the announcement of selections for C.10.

Questions concerning this program element may be directed to HQ-CDAP@mail.nasa.gov.