Co-Conveners: David Cheney – NASA Heliophysics Program Executive, Alan Zide – NASA Heliophysics Program Executive

Potential Speakers: Dr. Wanda Peters, NASA SMD Deputy Associate Administrator for Programs; Dr. Nicola Fox – NASA Heliophysics Division Director; Dr. Lori Glaze – NASA Planetary Systems Division; Alicia Mendoza-Hill – NASA SMD Rideshare Lead; David Cheney – NASA Heliophysics Program Executive; Alan Zide – NASA Heliophysics Program Executive; Norman Phelps – NASA HQ Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate Launch Services and Structural Dynamicist; Florence Tan - SMD Deputy Chief Technologist; others are TBD.

Recent advances in launch capabilities and strategies for small satellites provide ample opportunities to usher in a new era in space science research. While traditional NASA mission opportunities provide a well-defined approach on conducting research, NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is implementing a new rideshare policy which enables the ability to launch multiple science missions through the utilization of excess launch performance on our existing missions. The policy allows for enabling greater collaboration with other government and science community organizations. SMD is currently coordinating and managing the rideshare efforts of 35 missions (45 individual spacecrafts) by utilizing the near-full performance on six separate SMD launches.

The ability to include multiple missions on one launch maximizes the science, technology, and exploration return on investment and fosters multi-spacecraft launch opportunities using existing resources. These rideshare opportunities enable the path for additional selections of small satellite science missions, thereby providing increased development opportunities for the next generation of scientists and engineers.

This session will cover varying perspectives on the following topics: i) sensitive science payload rideshare mission concepts, ii) overcoming challenges during implementation, iii) lessons learned for flexibility and resiliency, including success tips, iv) maturation of interface requirements affecting rideshare missions, and v) SMD Engagement Strategy for diversity and inclusion.

Preference: Union/Special Session

75-minute session

Combination of in-person and virtual panel with live presentations, and hybrid Q&A opportunity