The **ROSES 2024: D.21 U.S. Contributions to Ariel Preparatory Science** funding opportunity, offered by NASA under the Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2024 announcement, supports U.S.-based contributions to Ariel Preparatory Science. The Ariel mission, led by the European Space Agency (ESA), focuses on the atmospheric composition of exoplanets to understand their nature and formation. This program is part of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD), which funds a wide range of basic and applied research in space and Earth sciences. Awards will primarily take the form of grants or cooperative agreements, depending on the scope of work.

Key information about this program includes a deferred proposal deadline of **February 20, 2025**, and mandatory Notices of Intent, due via NSPIRES by **December 12, 2024**. Applicants must retrieve the associated instruction documents from NSPIRES, as specific forms are required for proposal submission. The program encourages applications from U.S. institutions but permits participation from non-U.S. organizations under certain conditions, such as no-exchange-of-funds arrangements.

Funding from this opportunity will support projects for up to three years, with some exceptions allowing longer or shorter terms, depending on the program element. Eligible entities include government and private organizations, for-profit and nonprofit institutions, and foreign organizations with proper teaming arrangements. Specific program elements and their detailed requirements can be found in the ROSES 2024 tables of program elements on NSPIRES. Prospective applicants are encouraged to consult the **Proposer's Guide** for further eligibility and application guidance.

Applications must adhere to general NASA submission guidelines, including registration with NSPIRES and compliance with NASA’s grants policy. For technical or administrative inquiries, applicants should contact the designated program officers listed in the announcement. Proposals must be submitted electronically, and proposers are advised to subscribe to updates for new program elements or amendments to ROSES 2024 through the SMD mailing list, blog feed, or due-date Google calendars.

Additional information, including the full program details, submission requirements, and relevant links, is available on the NSPIRES platform. The program overview and FAQ section offer clarifications on ROSES policies, procedures, and specific program elements. Applicants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the specific goals and expectations of Ariel Preparatory Science and align their proposals accordingly.