The goal of the Planetary Instrument Concepts for the Advancement of Solar System Observations (PICASSO) program is to support the development of spacecraft-based instrument components and systems that would enhance or enable the scientific return from future planetary missions that support the Science Mission Directorate’s (SMD) Planetary Science Division (PSD). Therefore, the proposed instrument component or system must address specific scientific objectives of likely future planetary science missions.
The PICASSO program seeks proposals to develop new proof-of-concept instruments or instrument components, including sampling technologies, that enable new science by significantly improving instrument measurement capabilities for planetary science missions (such as SIMPLEx, Discovery, New Frontiers, Mars Exploration, and other planetary programs, including those flown on commercial spacecraft). The objective of the program is to develop instruments or instrument technologies with a low Technology Readiness Level (TRL 1-3) for use in planetary science missions, after which they may be proposed in response to the Maturation of Instruments for Solar System Exploration (MatISSE) Program, C.13 of ROSES or the Development and Advancement of Lunar Instruments (DALI) Program, C.19. In most cases, that will mean demonstrating that meeting key performance targets is feasible. It is the responsibility of the proposer(s) to justify the entry and exit TRL of the proposed technology; to do so, proposers are encouraged to reference NASA SP-20205003605 "Technology Readiness Assessment: Best Practices Guide". It is also the responsibility of the proposer(s) to demonstrate how their proposed technology addresses significant scientific questions relevant to stated NASA goals; prospective proposers are encouraged to review the most recent Decadal Survey "Origins, Worlds, and Life: A Decadal Strategy for Planetary Science and Astrobiology 2023-2032 (2022)", the goals of the Planetary Science Division as described in the “Science 2020-2024: A Vision for Science Excellence”, and ”An Astrobiology Strategy for the Search for Life in the Universe”. Proposed investigations may target any Solar System body except the Earth and Sun in order to advance the objectives outlined in these documents.
PICASSO is an instrument hardware development program and as such does not support mission operation and system software or platform technologies such as materials and structures, power generation or conditioning, communications, small satellites, landers, rovers, or any spacecraft technology that does not directly address planetary science instrumentation. Integrating multiple existing instrument systems does not generally demonstrate the proof-of-concept of a new instrument element. In addition, PICASSO does not support proposals that seek to develop ground-based laboratory instruments, or instruments for astronomical or astrophysical observations. Instrument systems that have already demonstrated key performance targets (i.e., achieved TRL 4+) can be proposed to the MatISSE program (C.13) or the DALI program (C.19) to be matured for fit, form and function, and testing in relevant use environments.
Proposals may be submitted at any time until March 28, 2025.