On June 6, NASA will release a broad agency announcement soliciting lunar surface systems concept study proposals to help the agency develop plans for a return to the moon by 2020.

NASA’s Constellation Program is inviting interested institutions, including industry and academia, to attend a discussion of the announcement on June 6 at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 1615 H Street, NW, Washington. Organizations interested in submitting proposals are encouraged to attend the information session. Registration is available online at:

http://www.exploration.nasa.gov/

Attendance is limited. Registration will close at 5 p.m. on June 4. Reporters wanting to attend must contact Stephanie Schierholz at 202-358-4997 or Grey Hautaluoma at 202-358-0688 by June 5.

NASA is soliciting concept studies in several topic areas. The duration for the studies is six months or less. The announcement will be open for approximately 30 days. Proposals are due July 7. NASA expects to award study contracts by mid-August. A total of $2 million is available for awards. The maximum individual award amount is $250,000. The contract performance period is six months or less.

NASA’s Constellation Program is developing a new space transportation system that is designed to travel beyond low Earth orbit. The Constellation fleet includes the Orion crew exploration vehicle, the Ares I and Ares V launch vehicles and Altair human lunar lander.

For more information about NASA’s Constellation Program, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/constellation