D.7 K2 Guest Observer – Cycle 6 (K2GO) solicits proposals for the acquisition and analysis of new scientific data from the K2 mission. The submission and target selection process has been changed.

K2 repurposes the space-borne hardware and ground-based operations of the Kepler mission for a pointed survey of predetermined locations along the ecliptic plane. The fields covered by the observing campaigns under Cycle 6 are described at:

https://keplerscience.arc.nasa.gov/k2-fields.html.

K2GO6 will use a new two-phase submission and target selection process, since spacecraft fuel is estimated to run out during observations. An optional Phase-1 proposal, for campaigns 17-19 combined, will enable targets to be selected ahead of the observing campaigns. Phase-1 proposals, including target lists and a scientific rationale (submitted to [email protected]) are requested by October 12, 2017. If the spacecraft health and fuel allow, then Phase-2 proposals will be due April 19, 2018. Phase-2 proposals are limited to use observations for targets selected as part of Phase-1 published in February 2018 at:

https://keplerscience.arc.nasa.gov.

Technical and implementation questions should be directed to: Geert Barentsen ([email protected]).

The NASA point of contact for programmatic information is Mario R. Perez ([email protected]).