NASA SMD’s PI Launchpad Update

Keith’s note: This preprint appeared online on Monday night. The paper seeks to convey the process whereby people can become PIs on NASA projects. One of the co-authors is Dr. Michael New, Deputy Associate Administrator for Research at the NASA Science Mission Directorate. Oh yes, the paper says “NASA maintains a website for the PI Launchpad workshop (PI Launchpad Website), which has pdfs of presentations and recordings of many of the workshop sessions from 2019 and 2021. In addition, the PI Launchpad Workbook and additional resources are also available at the same website.” but the paper never bothers to mention the address of the website. How un-useful. Its here, BTW.

The paper goes on to say: “The PI Launchpad attempts to provide an entry level explanation of the process of space mission development for new Principal Investigators (PIs). In particular, PI launchpad has a focus on building teams, making partnerships, and science concept maturity for a space mission concept, not necessarily technical or engineering practices. … It is not designed to replace real experience but to provide an easily accessible resource for potential PIs who seek to learn more about what it takes to submit a space mission proposal, and what the first steps to take can be.”

Sounds useful. You’d think that SMD would want people to know that this paper is online – and to get it out to new investigator prospects. Let’s see how long it takes for SMD PAO to even notice that this is online much less tell people about it.

More: The PI Launchpad: Expanding The Base Of Potential Principal Investigators Across Space Sciences