NASA Competition Model 2.0 implementation

NASA has introduced Competition Model 2.0 (CM 2.0), a revised framework intended to accelerate the selection of scientific missions and improve cost and schedule predictability. The policy aims to reduce selection timelines for mission classes such as Astro-Probes, New Frontiers, and Discovery by up to 45 percent, potentially cutting the process from 35 months to 19.5 months.

The new two-step process prioritizes scientific merit by requiring science cases and preliminary designs before demanding extensive engineering and cost documentation. This shift is designed to reduce bureaucracy and provide more equitable opportunities for principal investigators and smaller teams who may lack major commercial or university backing.

Under this model, the Goddard Space Flight Center and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory will play expanded roles in assisting with mission preparation and implementation studies. While flagship mission management remains unchanged, smaller mission categories will transition to a single-step competition with an expected selection period of approximately 19 months.