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High-End Computing Program

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PROCESS OVERVIEW

Here is an overview of the process for requesting and getting approval for computing time on High-End Computing (HEC) Program systems at the NASA Advanced Supercomputing (NAS) Facility and the NASA Center for Climate Simulation (NCCS). Except for the Science Mission Directorate, which allocates time at both the NAS and NCCS facilities, all organizations allocate time on NAS systems only.

General Request Process for Principal Investigators

Principal Investigators (PIs) are scientists or engineers who submit computing time requests for themselves and associated researchers. PIs may submit multiple requests, but each request must correspond to a uniquely named computational project—either new or renewing from the previous year.

  1. Determine the NASA organization that supports your work: one of the four Mission Directorates (Aeronautics Research, Exploration Systems, Science, Space Operations) or the NASA Engineering and Safety Center.
  2. Review procedures and guidelines for your supporting organization (follow links shown below).
  3. As of February 23, 2021, all NASA Mission Directorates and the NASA Engineering and Safety Center are using the HEC Request Management System (RMS). Following this link provides access to the RMS home page, where you can apply for an RMS account. Please note, if you previously used eBooks, your account was migrated. If you need assistance accessing your account, please contact support@hec.nasa.gov.
  4. Submit your request according to your supporting organization's procedure.

Note: Willful provision of false information in requests for allocations, accounts, or in required reports under an ensuing allocation is a criminal offense under Section 1001 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code.

Mission Directorate Procedures and Guidelines

Follow the links below for each organization's "Rolling Call," which contains detailed procedures and guidelines for requesting computing time.

Approval Process Overview

Each supporting organization has different processes for approving new or continuing projects. Mission Directorates typically wait for all requests to determine the demand for time, but some may decide in advance how to allocate time among programs and projects.

SMD discipline program managers allocate computing time. The other organizations appoint Points of Contact (POCs) to allocate time, based on their knowledge of the work's importance to NASA. SMD program managers and POCs serve the same function and will subsequently be referred to as POCs.

Regardless of approach, the POCs are responsible for allocating time. POCs typically determine allocations based on information at hand: list of computational projects, amount of time requested, amount of time previously used, and amount of time available/remaining.

If requests exceed the total time available, the POCs decide whether to reduce or deny some requests. The POCs may also get periodic requests for new projects and/or additional time. Some users need more time than requested, while other users may use little or none at all. Allocation decisions ultimately depend on user requests and the amount of time available.

Additional Resources

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