Posted: Thu, Nov 6, 2003, 7:19 AM ET (1219 GMT)
NASA announced this week that it has chosen five mission concepts, ranging from studies of Jupiter to searches for dark matter, for further study. The five proposals emerged from a group of 36 submitted in February for NASA's Small Explorer (SMEX) program. Each of the five proposals will receive $450,000 for further study. The missions include a an extreme ultraviolet spectrometer to study the Sun; an array of X-ray telescopes to look for dark matter; a spacecraft designed to look for the boundary between the solar system and interstellar space; a telescope to seek out black holes; and a spacecraft to study Jupiter's magnetosphere and aurorae from Earth orbit. NASA plans to select two of the proposals next year for launch in 2007 and 2008.

Related Links:

•  NASA press release
•  Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article