Small Explorer program



The Small Explorer program (SMEX) is an effort within NASA to fund space exploration missions that cost no more than US$120 million. Extending the larger Explorers program, it was started in 1989.

Program history
The first set of three SMEX missions were launched between 1992 and 1998. The second set of two missions were launched in 1998 and 1999. These missions were managed by the Small Explorer Project Office at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). In early 1999, that office was closed and with the announcement of opportunity for the third set of SMEX missions NASA converted the program so that each mission was managed by its Principal Investigator, with oversight by the GSFC Explorers Project.