NASA Outlines Competition Model 2.0 for Science Missions

NASA announced Competition Model 2.0 in an October 21, 2026, letter from Science Mission Directorate Associate Administrator Nicky Fox to the NASA science community. The proposed framework would change how the agency solicits and evaluates science mission proposals, with early submissions focused on scientific objectives and preliminary implementation plans.

Key details

• For Discovery, New Frontiers, and Astro-Probe programs, NASA is expected to retain a modified two-stage process, with a reported selection timeline of about 19.5 months instead of about 35 months.
• Small Explorer, Earth Venture, Missions of Opportunity, hosted payload, and rideshare opportunities are expected to use one-stage selection, with an estimated timeline of 19 months instead of about 32 months.
• Medium-class Explorer and Earth Explorer competitions are expected to open to universities and commercial organizations. Principal investigator-led teams may request support from Goddard or the Jet Propulsion Laboratory during the first stage.
• Flagship missions are expected to keep their current selection procedures.
• NASA plans to increase Goddard Space Flight Center and Jet Propulsion Laboratory involvement in mission development.

NASA expects the selection timeline for some smaller mission opportunities to fall from about 32 months to 19 months.

Why it matters

A shorter selection process could reduce the time teams spend preparing proposals and waiting for decisions. Greater access for universities and commercial organizations could also broaden the pool of teams competing to develop NASA science missions.

What happens next

NASA has not announced a further timeline for implementing Competition Model 2.0.