The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD) has announced its Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) – 2025, including the Exoplanets Research (XRP) program element under funding opportunity number NNH25ZDA001N-XRP. This program is part of NASA’s broader effort to support fundamental and applied research in space and planetary sciences. The XRP aims to advance scientific understanding of exoplanets, their atmospheres, potential habitability, and related astrophysical phenomena. Research projects funded under this program will contribute to NASA’s long-term goals of exploring the universe and identifying exoplanets that may harbor life.

The funding will be provided as grants or cooperative agreements, depending on the nature of the proposed work. NASA's ROSES solicitation encompasses multiple program elements, each with specific topics and deadlines, and covers a broad spectrum of research and technology development in support of space and earth sciences. While the expected number of awards and total available funding for the XRP program are not specified, individual awards typically have a three-year performance period, with some flexibility for projects requiring shorter or longer durations.

Eligibility for this funding opportunity is primarily limited to U.S. institutions, and proposers must be affiliated with an institution registered on NASA's NSPIRES platform. Non-U.S. organizations may apply under certain conditions, generally on a no-exchange-of-funds basis, and are subject to additional requirements outlined in the NASA Proposer’s Guide. Some elements of ROSES may be issued jointly with non-U.S. organizations, particularly in the case of collaborative space science programs.

Applicants are required to follow a two-step submission process. The Step-1 proposal must be submitted by April 3, 2025, and only those who have submitted a Step-1 proposal will be eligible to submit a Step-2 proposal by the final deadline on June 2, 2025. The application package includes mandatory forms, which must be downloaded and attached to the submission. Proposers can find detailed program guidelines and application instructions through NASA’s NSPIRES platform, where additional documents, tables, and solicitation summaries are available.

Evaluation criteria for this program will focus on scientific and technical merit, relevance to NASA’s strategic objectives, feasibility of the proposed research, and the qualifications of the research team. Specific assessment details may vary by program element and are outlined in the solicitation documents. Applicants are encouraged to review the ROSES-2025 summary and consult relevant program officers for further guidance.

For additional information, applicants may visit NASA’s research solicitation portal or contact John Wisniewski at hq-xrp@mail.nasa.gov. General inquiries about the ROSES-2025 solicitation can be directed to the Office of the SMD Deputy Associate Administrator for Research at sara@nasa.gov. To stay updated on amendments and new program elements, researchers can subscribe to NASA’s mailing lists, the ROSES-2025 blog feed, or the due date calendar.