Editing Discovery Program (section)

==Selection process==
=== Discovery 1 and 2 ===
[[File:Pathfinder01.jpg|thumb|Mars Pathfinder's ''Sojourner'' rover taking its Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer measurement of the [[Yogi Rock]] (1997)]]
The first two Discovery missions were [[NEAR Shoemaker|Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR)]] (later called Shoemaker NEAR) and ''[[Mars Pathfinder]]''. These initial missions did not follow the same selection process that started once the program was under-way.<ref name="mars.nasa.gov">{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Mars Pathfinder Frequently Asked Questions|url=https://mars.nasa.gov/MPF/mpf/faqs_general.html#discovery|access-date=20 February 2021|website=[[NASA]]|date=December 20, 2017}}</ref> ''Mars Pathfinder'' was salvaged from the idea for a technology and EDL demonstrator from the [[Mars Environmental Survey]] program.<ref name="mars.nasa.gov"/> One of the goals of ''Pathfinder'' was to support the Mars Surveyor program.<ref name="mars.nasa.gov"/> Later missions would be selected by a more sequential process involving Announcements of Opportunity.<ref name="mars.nasa.gov"/>

In the case of NEAR, a working group for the program recommended that the first mission should be to a [[near-Earth asteroid]].<ref name="techdigest.jhuapl.edu">{{cite web |url=http://techdigest.jhuapl.edu/TD/td2301/farquhar.pdf |title=02-0483D Farquhar.Indd |access-date=2018-04-28 |archive-date=February 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226155236/http://techdigest.jhuapl.edu/TD/td2301/farquhar.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> A series of proposals limited to missions to a near-Earth asteroid missions were reviewed in 1991.<ref name="techdigest.jhuapl.edu"/> What would be the NEAR spacecraft mission was formally selected in December 1993, after which began a 2-year development period prior to launch.<ref name="techdigest.jhuapl.edu"/> NEAR was launched on February 15, 1996, and arrived to orbit [[433 Eros|asteroid Eros]] on February 14, 2000.<ref name="techdigest.jhuapl.edu"/> ''[[Mars Pathfinder]]'' launched on December 4, 1996, and landed on Mars on July 4, 1997, bringing along with it the first NASA Mars rover, ''Sojourner''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/history/marspath.html |title=NASA Glenn Participation in Mars Pathfinder Mission &#124; NASA |publisher=Nasa.gov |date=1996-12-04 |access-date=2018-04-28}}</ref>

=== Discovery 3 and 4 ===
[[File:Lunar Thorium concentrations.jpg|thumb|Thorium concentrations on the Moon, as mapped by ''Lunar Prospector'']]
In August 1994, NASA made an Announcement of Opportunity for the next proposed Discovery missions.<ref name=d95>{{cite web|url=http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/discover95.txt |title=Discover 95: Mission to the Moon, Sun, Venus and a Comet Picked for Discovery – NASA |access-date=2018-04-28}}</ref> There were 28 proposals submitted to NASA in October 1994:<ref name=d95/> 
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
# ASTER - Asteroid Earth Return
# Comet Nucleus Penetrator
# Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR)
# Cometary Coma Chemical Composition (C4)
# Diana  (Lunar and Cometary Mission)
# FRESIP-A mission to Find the Frequency of Earth-sized Inner Planets
# Hermes Global Orbiter (Mercury Orbiter)
# Icy Moon Mission (Lunar Orbiter)
# Interlune-One (Lunar Rovers)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234389634 |title=Interlune-One: A Scientific Mission Across the Surface of the Moon (PDF Download Available) |website=Researchgate.net |access-date=January 11, 2016}}</ref>
# Jovian Integrated Synoptic Telescope (IO Torus investigation)
# Lunar Discovery Orbiter<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue2/1995/01/27/97568-ua-scientist-seeking-big-bucks-from-nasa/ |title=UA scientist seeking big bucks from NASA – Tucson Citizen Morgue, Part 2 (1993–2009) |website=Tucsoncitizen.com |date=January 27, 1995 |access-date=January 11, 2016}}</ref>
#  {{Background color|#EEE|'''[[Lunar Prospector]]''' (Lunar Orbiter) – chosen in February 1995 for Discovery 3.}}
# Mainbelt Asteroid Exploration/Rendezvous
# Mars Aerial Platform (Atmospheric)
# Mars Polar Pathfinder (Polar Lander)
# Mars Upper Atmosphere Dynamics, Energetics and Evolution
# Mercury Polar Flyby
# Near Earth Asteroid Returned Sample
# Origin of Asteroids, Comets and Life on Earth
# PELE: A Lunar Mission to Study Planetary Volcanism
# Planetary Research Telescope
# Rendezvous with a Comet Nucleus (RECON)
#  {{Background color|#EEE|'''Suess-Urey''' (Solar Wind Sample Return) – Discovery 4 finalist.}}
# Small Missions to Asteroids and Comets
#  {{Background color|#EEE|'''[[Stardust (spacecraft)|Stardust]]''' (Cometary/Interstellar Dust Return) – Discovery 4 finalist.}}
# Venus Composition Probe (Atmospheric)
# Venus Environmental Satellite (Atmospheric)
#  {{Background color|#EEE|'''Venus Multi-Probe Mission''' (Atmospheric)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20020038535 |title=NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) – Venus Multiprobe Mission |website=Ntrs.nasa.gov |date=January 2001 |access-date=January 11, 2016}}</ref> – Discovery 4 finalist.}}
{{div col end}}
In February 1995, ''[[Lunar Prospector]]'', a lunar orbiter mission, was selected for launch. Three other missions were left to undergo a further selection later in 1995 for the fourth Discovery mission: ''Stardust'', ''Suess-Urey'', and ''Venus Multiprobe''.<ref name=d95/> [[Stardust (spacecraft)|''Stardust'']], a comet sample-return mission, was selected in November 1995 over the two other finalists.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/news/sd-selected.html |title=STARDUST Selected as Discovery Flight |website=Stardust.jpl.nasa.gov |access-date=January 11, 2016}}</ref>

=== Discovery 5 and 6 ===
In October 1997, NASA selected ''[[Genesis (spacecraft)|Genesis]]'' and ''[[CONTOUR]]'' as the next Discovery missions, out of 34 proposals that were submitted in December 1996.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/text/discovery_pr_971020.txt |format=TXT |title=Missions to Gather Solar Wind Samples and Tour Three Comets Selected as Next Discovery Program Flights |website=Nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov |access-date=January 11, 2016}}</ref>

The five finalists were:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lpi.usra.edu/publications/newsletters/lpib/lpib82/nspace82.html |title=News from Space – LPIB 82 |website=Lpi.usra.edu |date=September 30, 2002 |access-date=January 11, 2016}}</ref>
* Aladdin (Mars moon sample return)
* Comet Nucleus Tour ([[CONTOUR]])
* ''[[Genesis (spacecraft)|Genesis]]'' (Solar wind sample return)
* Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry and Ranging mission ([[MESSENGER]])
* Venus Environmental Satellite (VESAT)

=== Discovery 7 and 8 ===
[[File:Deep Impact HRI.jpeg|thumb|''Deep Impact'' impacted a comet nucleus]]
In July 1999, NASA selected ''[[MESSENGER]]'' and [[Deep Impact (spacecraft)|''Deep Impact'']] as the next Discovery Program missions.<ref name="nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov"/> ''MESSENGER'' was the first [[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]] orbiter and mission to that planet since [[Mariner 10]].<ref name="nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov">{{cite web |url=http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/news/discovery_pr_19990707.html |title=NASA Selects Missions to Mercury and a Comet's Interior as Next Discovery Flights |website=Nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov |access-date=January 11, 2016}}</ref> Both missions targeted a launch in late 2004 and the cost was constrained at about US$300 million each.<ref name="nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov"/>

In 1998 five finalists had been selected to receive US$375,000 to further mature their design concept.<ref name="autogenerated1998">{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/1998/98-203.txt |format=TXT |title=Five Discovery Mission Proposals Selected For Feasibility Studies |website=Nasa.gov |access-date=January 11, 2016 |archive-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126075335/https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/1998/98-203.txt |url-status=dead }}</ref> The five proposals were selected out of about 30 with the goal of achieving the best science.<ref name="autogenerated1998"/> Those missions were:<ref name="autogenerated1998"/>
* ''Aladdin''
* ''[[Deep Impact (spacecraft)|Deep Impact]]''
* [[MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging|''MESSENGER'']]
* ''INSIDE Jupiter''
* ''Vesper''

''Aladdin'' and ''MESSENGER'' were also finalists in the 1997 selection.<ref name="autogenerated1998"/>

=== Discovery 9 and 10 ===
[[File:Ceres and Vesta, Moon size comparison.jpg|alt=|thumb|Scale comparison of Vesta, Ceres, and the Moon]]
[[File:Kepler spacecraft artist render (crop).jpg|thumb|[[Kepler space telescope]], artist's impression]]
26 proposals were submitted to the 2000 Discovery solicitation, with budget initially targeted at US$300 million.<ref name="autogenerated3"/> Three candidates were shortlisted in January 2001 for a phase-A design study: [[Dawn (spacecraft)|''Dawn'']], [[Kepler space telescope]], and ''INSIDE Jupiter''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spacetoday.net/Summary/7 |title=NASA announces Discovery mission finalists |website=Spacetoday.net |date=January 4, 2001 |access-date=January 11, 2016}}</ref> ''INSIDE Jupiter'' was similar to a later New Frontiers mission called ''[[Juno (spacecraft)|Juno]]''; ''Dawn'' was a mission to asteroids [[4 Vesta|Vesta]] and [[Ceres (dwarf planet)|Ceres]], and ''Kepler'' was a space telescope mission aimed to discover [[extrasolar planet]]s. The three finalists received US$450,000 to further mature the mission concept.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Richard |last1=Stenger |url=https://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/space/01/05/discovery.missions/ |title=Space – NASA selects finalists for next Discovery mission – January 5, 2001 |website=CNN.com |access-date=January 17, 2023}}</ref>

In December 2001, Kepler and ''Dawn'' were selected for flight.<ref name="autogenerated2001">{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/releases/2001/01_107AR.html |title=NASA |website=Nasa.gov |access-date=January 11, 2016 |archive-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126075755/https://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/releases/2001/01_107AR.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> At this time, only 80 exoplanets had been detected, and the main mission of Kepler to look for more exoplanets, especially Earth-sized.<ref name="autogenerated2001"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seti.org/seti-institute/project/science-analysis-support-nasa-discovery-programs-kepler-extended-mission |title=Science Analysis Support for NASA Discovery Program's Kepler Extended Mission &#124; SETI Institute |website=Seti.org |access-date=January 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151215105444/http://www.seti.org/seti-institute/project/science-analysis-support-nasa-discovery-programs-kepler-extended-mission |archive-date=December 15, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both ''Kepler'' and ''Dawn'' were initially projected for launch in 2006.<ref name="autogenerated3">{{cite web |author=Susan Reichley |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/releases/2001/release_2001_245.html |title=2001 News Releases – JPL Asteroid Mission Gets Thumbs Up from NASA |website=Jpl.nasa.gov |date=December 21, 2001 |access-date=January 11, 2016 |archive-date=May 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501104328/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/releases/2001/release_2001_245.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Discovery 11 ===
The original Announcement of Opportunity for a Discovery mission released on April 16, 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|date=16 April 2004|title=Announcement of Opportunity Discovery Program 2004 and Missions of Opportunity|url=https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/viewrepositorydocument/cmdocumentid=71453/solicitationId=%7BA9BD7790-3480-5577-1572-EB65D9985FD2%7D/viewSolicitationDocument=1/NNH04ZSS002O.pdf|access-date=20 February 2021|website=[[NASA]]}}</ref> The only candidate for selection for a concept Phase A study was JASSI, which was a Jupiter flyby mission based on the New Frontiers Mission Juno that was already under consideration for final selection (eventually Juno was selected as the 2nd New Frontiers mission in 2005 and launched in 2011). No other discovery mission proposed in response to the Announcement of Opportunity was considered for concept study and therefore no Discovery mission was selected for this opportunity (although a mission of opportunity was selected (Moon Mineralogy Mapper) as part of the AO in 2004<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Dolores|first1=Beasley|last2=Cook-Anderson|first2=Gretchen|date=2 February 2021|title=NASA Selects Moon Mapper for Mission of Opportunity|url=https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/viewrepositorydocument/cmdocumentid=71454/solicitationId=%7BA9BD7790-3480-5577-1572-EB65D9985FD2%7D/viewSolicitationDocument=1/DISC04%20selections.pdf|access-date=20 February 2021|website=[[NASA]]}}</ref>). The next Announcement of Opportunity for a Discovery mission was released on January 3, 2006.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cain |first=Fraser |url=http://www.universetoday.com/966/back-to-venus-with-vesper/ |title=Back to Venus with Vesper |work=Universe Today |access-date=January 11, 2016}}</ref> There were three finalists for this Discovery selection including [[GRAIL]] (the eventual winner), OSIRIS, and VESPER.<ref name="google1">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CJWLBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA349|title=Robotic Exploration of the Solar System: Part 4: The Modern Era 2004–2013 |author1=Paolo Ulivi |author2=David M. Harland |page=349|date=September 16, 2014|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-1-4614-4812-9}}</ref> OSIRIS was very similar to the later [[OSIRIS-REx]] mission, an asteroid sample-return mission to [[101955 Bennu]], and ''Vesper'', a Venus orbiter mission.<ref name="google1"/> A previous proposal of ''Vesper'' had also been a finalist in the 1998 round of selection.<ref name="google1"/> The three finalists were announced in October 2006 and awarded US$1.2 million to further develop their proposals for the final round.<ref name="autogenerated2006">{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2006/oct/HQ_06342_Discovery_AO.html |title=NASA – NASA Announces Discovery Program Selections |website=Nasa.gov |date=November 2, 2008 |access-date=January 11, 2016 |archive-date=June 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629094310/http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2006/oct/HQ_06342_Discovery_AO.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In November 2007 NASA selected the GRAIL mission as the next Discovery mission, with a goal of mapping lunar gravity and a 2011 launch.<ref name="nbcnews1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/22202797/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/nasa-aiming-look-inside-moon/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306114716/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/22202797/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/nasa-aiming-look-inside-moon/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |title=NASA aiming to look inside the moon - Technology & science - Space - Space.com |work=[[NBC News]] |date=September 6, 2011 |access-date=January 11, 2016}}</ref> There were 23 other proposals that were also under consideration.<ref name="nbcnews1"/> The mission had a budget of US$375 million (then-year dollars) which included construction and launch.<ref name="nbcnews1"/>

=== Discovery 12 ===
[[File:TSSM-TandEM-Lander.jpg|thumb|Artist's impression of proposed TiME lake lander for Saturn's moon Titan]]

The Announcement of Opportunity for a Discovery mission released on June 7, 2010. For this cycle, 28 proposals were received; 3 were for the Moon, 4 for Mars, 7 for Venus, 1 for Jupiter, 1 to a Jupiter Trojan, 2 to Saturn, 7 to asteroids, and 3 to comets.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Eric |last=Hand |title=Venus scientists fear neglect |journal=Nature |volume=477 |issue=7363 |pages=145 |date=September 2, 2011 |pmid=21900987 |bibcode=2011Natur.477..145H |doi=10.1038/477145a |s2cid=4410972 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Jpl, Nasa |url=http://marsmobile.jpl.nasa.gov/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1316 |title=Mars Mobile |website=Marsmobile.jpl.nasa.gov |date=August 20, 2012 |access-date=January 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604121730/http://marsmobile.jpl.nasa.gov/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1316 |archive-date=June 4, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Out of the 28 proposals, three finalists received US$3 million in May 2011 to develop a detailed concept study:<ref>{{cite web |title=NASA Selects Investigations For Future Key Planetary Mission |url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/may/HQ_11-132_Future_Plantary.html |publisher=NASA |access-date=May 6, 2011 |archive-date=May 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507065258/http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/may/HQ_11-132_Future_Plantary.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> 
* ''[[InSight]]'', a Mars lander.
* [[Titan Mare Explorer]] (TiME), a lake lander for [[Saturn]]'s moon [[Titan (moon)|Titan]] with methane-ethane lakes.
* [[Comet Hopper]] (CHopper) to study cometary evolution by landing on a comet multiple times and observing its changes as it interacts with the Sun.

In August 2012, '''''[[InSight]]''''' was selected for development and launch.<ref name="washington">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/nasa-will-send-robot-drill-to-mars-in-2016/2012/08/20/43bf1980-eaef-11e1-9ddc-340d5efb1e9c_story.html |title=NASA will send robot drill to Mars in 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Brian |last=Vastag |date=August 20, 2012}}</ref> The mission launched on May 5, 2018, and successfully landed on Mars on November 26.<ref>{{Cite web|title=InSight Mission Timeline Overview|url=https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/timeline/overview/|access-date=24 February 2021|website=mars.nasa.gov|publisher=[[NASA]]}}</ref>

=== Discovery 13 and 14 ===
[[File:NASA NEXT Ion thruster.712983main NEXT LDT Thrusterhi-res full.jpg|thumb|NASA made ion thruster technology available for proposals for the thirteenth Discovery Program mission.<ref name="fp">{{cite web |first=Van |last=Kane |url=https://futureplanets.blogspot.com/2014/02/boundaries-for-next-discovery-mission.html |title=Boundaries for the Next Discovery Mission Selection |publisher=Future Planets |date=February 20, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307163947/http://futureplanets.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/boundaries-for-next-discovery-mission.html |archive-date=March 7, 2014}}</ref>]]
{{main|Selection of Discovery Mission 13 and 14}}

In February 2014, NASA released a Discovery Program 'Draft Announcement of Opportunity' for launch readiness date of December 31, 2021.<ref>{{cite news |title=NASA Discovery Program Draft Announcement of Opportunity |date=February 19, 2014 |publisher=SpaceRef |url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=45337 |work=[[Science Mission Directorate|NASA Science Mission Directorate]] |access-date=February 22, 2014 |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140222205001/http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=45337 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The final AO was released on November 5, 2014, and on September 30, 2015, NASA selected five mission concepts as finalists,<ref>{{cite web |author=Stephen Clark |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2015/10/05/nasa-might-pick-two-discovery-missions-but-at-a-price/ |title=NASA might pick two Discovery missions, but at a price |publisher=Spaceflight Now |access-date=January 11, 2016}}</ref><ref name="selection 1st round">{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Dwayne C. |last2=Cantillo |first2=Laurie |url=http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-selects-investigations-for-future-key-planetary-mission |title=NASA Selects Investigations for Future Key Planetary Mission |work=NASA News |location=Washington, D.C. |date=September 30, 2015 |access-date=October 1, 2015}}</ref> each received $3 million for one-year of further study and concept refinement.<ref name="laser2015">{{cite news |last=Clark |first=Stephen |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2015/02/24/nasa-receives-proposals-for-new-planetary-science-mission/ |title=NASA receives proposals for new planetary science mission |work=Space Flight Now |date=February 24, 2014 |access-date=February 25, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kane |first=Van |url=http://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/van-kane/20141201-selecting-the-next-creative-discovery-mission.html |title=Selecting the Next Creative Idea for Exploring the Solar System |work=Planetary Society |date=December 2, 2014 |access-date=February 10, 2015}}</ref>

*[[DAVINCI (spacecraft)|Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging]] (DAVINCI)
*[[VERITAS (spacecraft)|Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR Topography and Spectroscopy]] (VERITAS)
*[[Near-Earth Object Camera]] (NEOCam)
*[[Lucy (spacecraft)|''Lucy'']]
*[[Psyche (spacecraft)|''Psyche'']]

On January 4, 2017, '''''[[Lucy (spacecraft)|Lucy]]''''' and '''''[[Psyche (spacecraft)|Psyche]]''''' were selected for the 13th and 14th Discovery missions, respectively and launched on 16 October 2021 and 13 October 2023, respectively.<ref name=nasataps /><ref name="nasaselectslucypsyche">{{cite news |url=https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-selects-two-missions-to-explore-the-early-solar-system/|title=NASA Selects Two Missions to Explore the Early Solar System|date=January 4, 2017 |access-date=January 4, 2017}}</ref> ''Lucy'' will fly by five [[Jupiter trojan]]s, [[asteroid]]s which share Jupiter's [[orbit]] around the [[Sun]], orbiting either ahead of or behind the planet.<ref name="NYT-20170106">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/06/science/nasa-psyche-asteroid.html |title=A Metal Ball the Size of Massachusetts That NASA Wants to Explore |work=[[The New York Times]] |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |date=January 6, 2017 |access-date=January 7, 2017}}</ref><ref name="nasaselectslucypsyche" /> ''Psyche'' will explore the origin of [[planetary core]]s by orbiting and studying the metallic asteroid [[16 Psyche]].<ref name="NYT-20170106" />

===Discovery 15 and 16===
On December 22, 2018, NASA released a draft of its Discovery 2019 Announcement of Opportunity, which outlined its intent to select up to two missions with launch readiness dates of July 1, 2025 – December 31, 2026, and/or July 1, 2028 – December 31, 2029, as Discovery 15 and 16, respectively.<ref name="NASA 19AO">{{cite web|title=NASA SOMA: Discovery 2019 AO Homepage|publisher=[[NASA]]|url=https://discovery.larc.nasa.gov/|access-date=16 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=NSPIRES: DRAFT Discovery AO (Solicitation: NNH19ZDA009J)|publisher=[[NASA]]|url=https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary!init.do?solId={858E0901-4A66-3391-60AE-3EF0779AE750}&path=open|access-date=16 February 2020}}</ref> The final Announcement of Opportunity was released on April 1, 2019, and proposal submissions were accepted between then and July 1, 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=NASA Announcement: Release of the 2019 Announcement of Opportunity for Discovery Program |url=https://www.fbo.gov/index.php?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=544eb5d82b65bcddaf467e61c668f179&tab=core&_cview=0 |publisher=NASA |access-date=23 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510195634/https://www.fbo.gov/index.php?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=544eb5d82b65bcddaf467e61c668f179&tab=core&_cview=0|archive-date=10 May 2019}}</ref>

Finalists, announced on February 13, 2020, were:<ref>{{cite web|title=NASA Selects Four Possible Missions to Study the Secrets of the Solar System|publisher=[[NASA]]|date=13 February 2020|url=https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-selects-four-possible-missions-to-study-the-secrets-of-the-solar-system|access-date=13 February 2020}}</ref>

*[[DAVINCI]] (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging), a Venus atmospheric probe.<ref>[https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/venus-earths-evil-twin-beckons-space-agencies/ Venus, Earth's Evil Twin, Beckons Space Agencies]. By Shannon Hall, ''Scientific American''. 12 June 2019.</ref>
*[[Io Volcano Observer]], an orbiter to Jupiter to perform at least nine flybys of Jupiter's volcanically active moon [[Io (moon)|Io]].<ref>[https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC-DPS2019/EPSC-DPS2019-996-1.pdf "Follow the Heat: Io Volcano Observer".] A.S. McEwen, E. Turtle, L. Kestay, K. Khurana, J. Westlake, etal. EPSC Abstracts Vol. 13, EPSC-DPS2019-996-1, 2019 EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2019.</ref>
*[[Trident (spacecraft)|''Trident'']], a probe that would conduct a flyby of [[Neptune]] and its moon [[Triton (moon)|Triton]].<ref name="Trident_Description">{{cite web |url=https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2019/pdf/3188.pdf |title=Exploring Triton With Trident: A Discovery-Class Mission |date=2019-03-23|website=Universities Space Research Association |access-date=2019-03-26}}</ref>
*[[VERITAS (spacecraft)|VERITAS]] (Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy), a Venus orbiter to map the surface of Venus in high resolution.<ref>[https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC-DPS2019/EPSC-DPS2019-1124-1.pdf VERITAS (Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography And Spectroscopy): A Proposed Discovery Mission.] Suzanne Smrekar, Scott Hensley, Darby Dyar, Jörn Helbert, and the VERITAS Science Team. EPSC Abstracts Vol. 13, EPSC-DPS2019-1124-1, 2019 EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2019.</ref>
On June 2, 2021, NASA administrator [[Bill Nelson]] announced in his "State of NASA" address that the two Venus missions, '''[[VERITAS (spacecraft)|VERITAS]]''' and '''[[DAVINCI]]''', had been selected for development.<ref name="space-20221104" /><ref name=":4">{{cite press release |last=Potter |first=Sean |url=https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-selects-2-missions-to-study-lost-habitable-world-of-venus |title=NASA Selects 2 Missions to Study 'Lost Habitable' World of Venus |publisher=[[NASA]] |date=June 2, 2021 |access-date=June 2, 2021}}</ref> The two missions will launch between 2031 and 2032.<ref name="aas-20240325" />

Other proposal submissions for Discovery 15 and 16 missions included:

;Asteroids, comets, Centaurs, interplanetary dust
*''[[Centaurus (spacecraft mission)|Centaurus]]'', a reconnaissance mission to explore multiple [[Centaur (small Solar System body)|Centaurs]] via flybys as a way to learn about Solar System and planet formation.<ref>{{Citation|last1=Singer|first1=Kelsi|title=Centaurus: A Spacecraft Discovery Mission Proposal to Explore Centaurs and More, Messengers from the Era of Planet Formation|date=2019|url=https://figshare.com/articles/Centaurus_A_Spacecraft_Discovery_Mission_Proposal_to_Explore_Centaurs_and_More_Messengers_from_the_Era_of_Planet_Formation/9956210|doi=10.6084/m9.figshare.9956210|access-date=2019-10-08|last2=S. Alan Stern|publisher=Figshare }}</ref><ref>[https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC-DPS2019/EPSC-DPS2019-2025.pdf Centaurus: Exploring Centaurs and More, Messengers from the Era of Planet Formation]. Kelsi N. Singer, S. Alan Stern, Daniel Stern, Anne Verbiscer, Cathy Olkin, and the Centaurus Science Team. (. EPSC Abstracts Vol. 13, EPSC-DPS2019-2025-1, 2019 EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2019</ref>
*''[[Chimera (spacecraft)|Chimera]]'', a mission concept to orbit the highly active [[Centaur (small Solar System body)|Centaur]] 29P/[[29P/Schwassmann–Wachmann|Schwassmann-Wachmann 1]], to study the evolutionary middle ground between the [[Trans Neptunian Object]]s (TNOs) and Jupiter Family Comets.<ref>[https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC-DPS2019/EPSC-DPS2019-1094-1.pdf "Chimera: A Mission of Discovery to the First Centaur".] Walter Harris, Laura Woodney, Geronimo Villanueva and the Chimera Science team. EPSC Abstracts Vol. 13, EPSC-DPS2019-1094-1, 2019 EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2019.</ref>
*FOSSIL (Fragments from the Origins of the Solar System and our Interstellar Locale), a spacecraft to be placed in an Earth-trailing orbit to determine the composition of the local and [[interplanetary dust cloud]].<ref>"[https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC-DPS2019/EPSC-DPS2019-1202-6.pdf Fragments from the Origins of the Solar System and our Interstellar Locale (FOSSIL): A Discovery Mission Concept."] Mihaly Horányi, Neal J. Turner, Conel Alexander, Nikolas Altobelli, Tibor Balint, Julie Castillo-Rogez, Bruce Draine, Cecile Engrand, Jon Hillier, Hope Ishii, Sascha Kempf, Tobin Munsat, David Nesvorný, Larry Nittler, Peter Pokorný, Frank Postberg, Ralf Srama, Thomas Stephan, Zoltan Sternovsky, Jamey Szalay, Andrew Westphal, Diane Wooden. EPSC Abstracts Vol. 13, EPSC-DPS2019-1202-6, 2019 EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting. 2019</ref>
*[[MANTIS (spacecraft)|MANTIS]] (Main-belt Asteroid and NEO Tour with Imaging and Spectroscopy), a mission that would flyby 14 asteroids covering a wide range of types and masses.<ref>[https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC-DPS2019/EPSC-DPS2019-1277-1.pdf The Main-belt Asteroid and NEO Tour with Imaging and Spectroscopy (MANTIS)]. Andrew S. Rivkin, Barbara A. Cohen, Olivier Barnouin, Carolyn M. Ernst, Nancy L. Chabot, Brett W. Denevi, Benjamin T. Greenhagen, Rachel L. Klima, Mark Perry, Zoltan Sternovsky, and the MANTIS Science Team. EPSC Abstracts Vol. 13, EPSC-DPS2019-1277-1, 2019 EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2019</ref>

;Venus:
*HOVER (Hyperspectral Observer for Venus Reconnaissance), a Venus orbiter that would perform spectral studies from the top of the atmosphere to the surface. Its main goal is understanding the mechanics of the Venus climate and atmospheric super-rotation.<ref name='HOVER EPSC 2019'>[https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC-DPS2019/EPSC-DPS2019-340-2.pdf Hyperspectral Observer for Venus Reconnaissance (HOVER)]. Larry W. Esposito, and the HOVER Team. EPSC Abstracts Vol. 13, EPSC-DPS2019-340-2, 2019 EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2019.</ref>

;Moon:
*[[Moon Diver (spacecraft)|''Moon Diver'']], a lunar lander which would deploy a rover to rappel down a deep pit, analyzing the exposed geological layers and investigate if the pit connects to a [[lunar lava tube|lava tube]].<ref name='Issa 2019'>[https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8741788 Moon Diver: A Discovery Mission Concept for Understanding the History of Secondary Crusts through the Exploration of a Lunar Mare Pit.] Issa A. Nesnas, Laura Kerber, Aaron Parness, Richard Kornfeld, Glenn Sellar, etal. 2019 IEEE Aerospace Conference. 2–9 March 2019. Big Sky, MT, USA. {{doi|10.1109/AERO.2019.8741788}}</ref>
*''Lunar Compass Rover,'' a rover designed to explore a nearside magnetic region and [[Lunar swirls|swirl]], and would answer some questions in planetary science, including planetary magnetism, [[Plasma (physics)|space plasma]] physics, space weathering, planetary geology, and the [[lunar water]] cycle. A proposal for Lunar Compass was not submitted to this Discovery round.<ref>[https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm18/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/347040 Key Questions in Planetary Science to be Addressed by Exploration of a Lunar Magnetic Anomaly: The Lunar Compass Rover Discovery Mission Concept.] David T. Blewett, Jasper S. Halekas, Benjamin T. Greenhagen, etal. AGU Fall Meeting, Washington DC, 14 December 2018.</ref>
*[[ISOCHRON (spacecraft)|ISOCHRON]] (Inner SOlar system CHRONology), a mission that would perform a robotic lunar sample-return of the youngest [[Lunar mare|mare basalts]].<ref>[https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2019/pdf/1110.pdf The Inner Solar System Chronology (ISOCHRON) Discovery Mission: Returning Samples of the Youngest Lunar Mare Basalts.] D. S. Draper, R. L. Klima, S. J. Lawrence, B. W. Denevi, and the ISOCHRON Team. 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2019 (LPI Contrib. No. 2132).</ref>
*NanoSWARM, a lunar orbiter to investigate [[lunar swirls]], space weathering, [[lunar water]], lunar magnetism, and small-scale magnetospheres.<ref>[https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2019/pdf/2786.pdf NanoSWARM: A Proposed Discovery Mission to Study Space Weathering, Lunar Water, lunar magnetism, and small-scale magnetospheres.] 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2019 (LPI Contrib. No. 2132).</ref>

;Mars
*COMPASS (Climate Orbiter for Mars Polar Atmospheric and Subsurface Science) is a mission concept for a Mars orbiter to research the Martian climate record through the study of its ice deposits and their interaction with current climate.<ref name='Byrne EPSC 2019'>[https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC-DPS2019/EPSC-DPS2019-912-1.pdf Climate Orbiter for Mars Polar Atmospheric and Subsurface Science (COMPASS): Deciphering the Martian Climate Record.] S. Byrne, P. O. Hayne, P. Becerra, The COMPASS Team. EPSC Abstracts Vol. 13, EPSC-DPS2019-912-1, 2019 EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2019.</ref> This mission is led by the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona and the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder.<ref name="Byrne EPSC 2019" />
*[[Icebreaker Life]], a mission concept led by the [[Ames Research Center]] for a lander to search for direct signs of life on Mars via biomarker detection, with a focus on sampling ice-cemented ground for its potential to preserve and protect biomolecules or biosignatures.<ref name="LPI 2012">{{Cite journal|author=McKay, C. P.|author2=Carol R. Stoker|author3=Brian J. Glass|author4=Arwen I. Davé|author5=Alfonso F. Davila|author6=Jennifer L. Heldmann|author7=Margarita M. Marinova|author8=Alberto G. Fairen|author9=Richard C. Quinn|author10=Kris A. Zacny|author11=Gale Paulsen|date=2012|title=THE ICEBREAKER LIFE MISSION TO MARS: A SEARCH FOR BIOCHEMICAL EVIDENCE FOR LIFE|url=https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/marsconcepts2012/pdf/4091.pdf|journal=Concepts and Approaches for Mars Exploration|publisher=[[Lunar and Planetary Institute]]|author17=Wayne H. Pollard|name-list-style=amp|author16=Denis Lacelle|author15=Michael H. Hecht|author14=Dale T. Andersen|author13=Victor Parro|author12=Peter H. Smith}}</ref>

;Jupiter

*MAGIC (Magnetics, Altimetry, Gravity and Imaging of Callisto) is an orbiter reconnaissance concept to Jupiter's moon [[Callisto (moon)|Callisto]].<ref name='Smith EPSC MAGIC 2019'>[https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC-DPS2019/EPSC-DPS2019-363-1.pdf MAGIC, A Proposed Geophysical Mission to Jupiter's Icy Moon, Callisto.] David E. Smith, Terry Hurford, Maria T. Zuber, Robin Canup, Francis Nimmo, Mark Wieczorek, Edward Bierhaus, Antonio Genova, Erwan Mazarico and the MAGIC Team. EPSC Abstracts Vol. 13, EPSC-DPS2019-363-1, 2019 EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2019.</ref>

===Discovery 17 and beyond===
On August 24, 2023, NASA announced that due to budgetary constraints enacted through the [[Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023]], the official release of the Announcement of Opportunity for the [[New Frontiers program#New Frontiers 5|fifth mission]] in the Discovery Program's "big sibling" program, New Frontiers, would be delayed to no earlier than 2026.<ref>{{cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |url=https://spacenews.com/nasa-confirms-multi-year-delay-in-next-new-frontiers-competition/ |title=NASA confirms multi-year delay in next New Frontiers competition |work=[[SpaceNews]] |date=August 28, 2023 |access-date=August 31, 2023}}</ref> In October 2023, Planetary Science Division Director [[Lori Glaze]] presented to the National Academies' Committee on Astrobiology and Planetary Science on the implications of these resource constraints, noting that there were unlikely to be solicitations for further Discovery missions until at least 2026 either.<ref>{{cite conference|title=Presentation to Committee on Astrobiology and Planetary Sciences Autumn 2023 Meeting|contribution=Planetary Science Division Update|date=24 October 2023|place=Irvine CA|url=https://www.nationalacademies.org/documents/embed/link/LF2255DA3DD1C41C0A42D3BEF0989ACAECE3053A6A9B/file/DB5A7F1704EF6D9AA343457C70C7D0477572C5D6EEA0?noSaveAs=1|last1=Glaze|first1=Lori|publisher=National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine|access-date=1 March 2025}}</ref>