High-End Computing Capability
Computing power to answer NASA's complex science and engineering questions
Accounts Process Overview
Here is an overview of the process for requesting and getting approval for computing time on High-End Computing Capability (HECC) systems at the NASA Advanced Supercomputing (NAS) facility.
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.
- Determine the NASA organization/mission directorate that supports your work: Aeronautics Research (ARMD), Science (SMD), Space Technology (STMD), Space Operations (SOMD), Exploration Systems Development (ESDMD), or the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC).
- Review procedures and guidelines for your supporting organization (follow links shown below).
- As of February 26, 2021, all mission directorates use a tool called the Request Management System (RMS). Submit requests for NASA-supported research and engineering projects here.
- Submit your request according to your supporting organization's procedure.
Approval Process Overview
Each supporting organization has a different process 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.
Within the Science Mission Directorate (SMD), discipline program managers award computing time. New requests and modification requests for existing allocations are reviewed quarterly. All 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 on the supercomputers.
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.
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