The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD) has announced a funding opportunity under the Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) – 2025 initiative. The specific program element, titled "C.2 Solar System Science," aims to support scientific research and technology development related to the solar system. This opportunity falls under NASA’s broader efforts to advance space science through the study of planetary bodies, small solar system objects, and other relevant topics. The solicitation is part of NASA’s annual omnibus Research Announcement, which includes multiple program elements covering a range of disciplines in space and Earth sciences.

This funding opportunity will be provided as either a grant or a cooperative agreement. NASA encourages research proposals that contribute to its planetary science objectives, and awards will generally have a period of performance of up to three years, with some flexibility for programs requiring shorter or longer durations. This funding opportunity is open to U.S. institutions and organizations listed on the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES). While NASA primarily funds U.S.-based institutions, international organizations may apply on a no-exchange-of-funds basis or under specific joint agreements. Additional eligibility details and requirements are outlined in the NASA Proposer’s Guide.

There are no fixed deadlines for proposal submissions, as this program follows an open submission policy. However, all proposals must be submitted before March 31, 2026, which is the final closing date for applications under the ROSES-25 guidelines. The solicitation also notes that a new version under ROSES-26 will be introduced, likely overlapping with ROSES-25 for a few weeks to allow continuous proposal submissions across different funding cycles. Applicants must download the instructions document associated with the application package to ensure compliance with required forms and submission processes.

Funding specifics, including the total program funding amount, award ceiling, and award floor, have not been explicitly stated. However, previous NASA ROSES awards have generally ranged from modest research grants to substantial funding for multi-year projects. The application process requires careful adherence to NASA’s guidelines and proposal requirements, which can be found in the ROSES-2025 solicitation and its associated appendices.

For additional information regarding program-specific guidelines, applicants are encouraged to review the ROSES-2025 solicitation tables, which list individual program elements and due dates. General questions about this funding opportunity may be directed to the Science Mission Directorate’s Deputy Associate Administrator for Research at sara@nasa.gov, while specific inquiries should be sent to the designated program contacts: Katharine Robinson, Curtis Williams, and Rebekah Dawson-Rigas at hq-scubed@mail.nasa.gov.