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FIGURE 7.4 Science accomplishments from competitively selected astrophysics Explorer SMEX and MIDEX<br />

missions over the last decade (missions launched since 2000). In addition the Explorer program supported a<br />

Mission‐<strong>of</strong>‐ Opportunity contribution to Suzaku and will launch two new SMEX X‐ray missions, NuSTAR and<br />

GEMs, in 2012 and 2014, respectively. A MoO contribution <strong>of</strong> an X‐ray spectrometer to the Japanese Astro‐H<br />

is planned for 2014. Upper left: Credit: NASA / WMAP Science Team, Upper right left: Credit: Spectrum and<br />

NASA E/PO, Sonoma State University, Aurore Simonnet, Upper right right: Credit: NASA E/PO, Sonoma State<br />

University, Aurore Simonnet, Lower left right: Credit: NASA/JPL‐Caltech/WISE Team, Lower left left: Credit:<br />

NASA/JPL‐Caltech, Lower right: Credit: NASA/JPL‐Caltech<br />

Priority 2 (Large, Space). Explorer Program<br />

<strong>The</strong> Explorer program’s small and medium-size missions, developed and launched on few-year<br />

timescales, enable rapid response to new discoveries and provide platforms for targeted investigations<br />

essential to the breadth <strong>of</strong> NASA’s astrophysics program. From the WMAP mid-scale Explorer’s<br />

(MIDEX’s) measurements <strong>of</strong> the age and content <strong>of</strong> the universe accomplished through its mapping <strong>of</strong> the<br />

cosmic microwave background (see Figures 2.4, 2.5 in Chapter 2), to the small-scale Explorer (SMEX)<br />

GALEX’s contributions to understanding <strong>of</strong> the evolution <strong>of</strong> galaxies, Explorers are on the forefront <strong>of</strong><br />

scientific discovery (Figure 7.4). With multiple missions launched per decade for a cost substantially less<br />

than that <strong>of</strong> a single flagship mission, the Explorer program is unique in the world for its versatility and<br />

scientific return for the investment. <strong>The</strong> Explorer program also <strong>of</strong>fers highly leveraged missions <strong>of</strong><br />

opportunity (MoOs), which enable U.S. scientists to make scientific and hardware contributions to non-<br />

NASA missions, and which provide a mechanism to develop large suborbital experiments.<br />

PREPUBLICATION COPY—SUBJECT TO FURTHER EDITORIAL CORRECTION<br />

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