Key Takeaways
- NASA SBIR/STTR — Phase I up to $150K, Phase II up to $750K; multiple solicitation cycles/year at sbir.nasa.gov; covers all 4 mission directorates
- NSPIRES — the portal for all university NRA/CAN grants; ROSES omnibus alone covers dozens of Earth and space science program elements annually
- NASA EPSCoR — $750K–$1.5M/year for researchers at universities in 27 historically underrepresented jurisdictions; lower competition than national solicitations
- MUREP — $200K–$1M+ dedicated to HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, and other Minority-Serving Institutions for research and education programs
- All NASA grants require SAM.gov registration (CFDA 43.002) — start registration 2–4 weeks before your target deadline
Summary
NASA distributes over $3 billion annually in research and development funding to universities, small businesses, and research institutions across the United States, supporting missions in space exploration, Earth science, astrophysics, and aeronautics. In 2026, NASA's funding landscape spans competitive research announcements, the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, Space Grant Consortia, and mission-focused partnership programs. Organizations with technical capabilities aligned to NASA's mission priorities have access to one of the federal government's most rigorous and rewarding grant ecosystems.
NASA SBIR and STTR Programs
The NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are among the most active federal SBIR programs, issuing multiple solicitation cycles per year. NASA SBIR Phase I awards provide up to $150,000 over six months for feasibility studies, while Phase II awards provide up to $750,000 over two years for full research and development. Phase III awards — not funded through SBIR set-aside funds but through NASA mission directorates — support commercialization and transition of proven technologies.
NASA's SBIR/STTR solicitations are organized around specific subtopics aligned with NASA's four mission directorates: Science, Space Technology, Aeronautics Research, and Space Operations. In 2026, high-priority subtopics include in-space propulsion, lunar surface technologies, Earth observation sensors, autonomous systems, advanced manufacturing, and next-generation avionics. Small businesses must register in SAM.gov and submit proposals through the NASA SBIR/STTR Electronic Submission System (NASA SBIR/STTR ESS) portal at sbir.nasa.gov. Unlike some SBIR programs, NASA actively works to transition successful technologies to flight programs, making NASA SBIR a genuine pathway to long-term mission contracts. CFDA number 43.002 covers NASA's research and development grant programs including SBIR/STTR awards.
NASA Research Announcements for Universities
Universities and research institutions access NASA funding primarily through Research Announcements (NRAs) and Cooperative Agreement Notices (CANs) posted on NASA's NSPIRES system (nspires.nasaprs.com). Each NASA mission directorate issues its own solicitations, covering topics from heliophysics and planetary science to climate modeling and propulsion research. The Science Mission Directorate (SMD), which oversees Earth science, planetary science, heliophysics, and astrophysics programs, issues dozens of NRAs annually with award sizes ranging from $100,000 for one-year grants to over $2 million per year for major investigator programs.
Key university programs include the NASA Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), which targets states and territories that have historically received limited federal R&D funding — currently 27 jurisdictions qualify. NASA EPSCoR awards range from $750,000 to $1.5 million per year over three years, funding research that builds institutional capacity and aligns with at least one NASA mission directorate. The program also funds implementation grants, infrastructure grants, and cooperative agreements for research infrastructure development. Universities in EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions should consider NASA EPSCoR a high-priority funding target given the reduced competition relative to national NRA competitions.
NASA Space Grant Consortia
The NASA Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, authorized under the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Act of 1988, funds a national network of 52 Space Grant Consortia — one per state, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each consortium is anchored at a lead institution (typically a flagship state university) and includes member universities, community colleges, and industry partners. NASA provides base funding of approximately $1 million per year to each consortium, which is then leveraged and distributed through state-level competitions for student fellowships, faculty research awards, and outreach programs.
For students, Space Grant offers undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships, and research internship opportunities at NASA centers. For faculty and researchers, Space Grant seed grants (typically $10,000–$75,000) support preliminary research that feeds into larger NRA proposals. For informal education organizations, Space Grant funds outreach programs that connect communities to space science. Institutions interested in Space Grant participation should contact their state's lead Space Grant institution to explore membership and funding opportunities. Members gain access to NASA resources, facilities, and collaborative networks that significantly enhance research capacity.
Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP)
NASA's Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) funds STEM research and education programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Asian American and Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AAPISIs), and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). MUREP awards range from $200,000 to over $1 million per year and fund faculty-led research projects, undergraduate research experiences, student internship programs, and curriculum development aligned with NASA mission priorities.
MUREP solicitations are issued through NSPIRES and typically include multiple program elements with separate deadlines. Program elements in recent years have included MUREP Institutional Research Opportunity (MIRO) for faculty research projects, MUREP Aerospace Academy (MAA) for pre-college outreach programs, and MUREP Community College Curriculum Improvement (MC3I) for community college curriculum development. In 2026, MSIs with strength in fields such as remote sensing, data science, materials science, propulsion, or atmospheric chemistry are particularly well-positioned to compete for MUREP awards. Institutions should build relationships with their NASA Center of Excellence for Research and Academic Training (CAN) contacts before submitting proposals.
NASA Aeronautics Research Grants
NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) funds research at the frontiers of aviation through several competitive programs. The University Leadership Initiative (ULI) awards multi-year grants of $1–$6 million to university teams working on high-impact aeronautics research challenges defined by ARMD. ULI grants fund student researchers, faculty, and collaborating industry partners working on topics such as advanced air mobility, sustainable aviation fuels, supersonic flight, and airspace management. The Aeronautics Research Institute (NARI) manages NASA's university research grant portfolio and publishes solicitations through NSPIRES.
The University Innovation Project (formerly known as the Seedling project) provides smaller awards of $250,000–$500,000 for exploratory, early-stage aeronautics research that could transform aviation. For small businesses, ARMD participates actively in the SBIR/STTR program with subtopics covering air traffic management automation, hybrid-electric propulsion, advanced materials for aircraft structures, and urban air mobility vehicles. NASA's partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through joint research programs creates additional funding pathways for aviation-focused research institutions. Researchers should note that NASA aeronautics grants are governed by CFDA 43.002 and require compliance with NASA's research integrity and data management requirements.
NASA Earth Science and Climate Research Funding
NASA's Earth Science Division, within the Science Mission Directorate, operates the world's largest civilian Earth observation program and funds significant research using data from its satellite constellation. The Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) annual omnibus solicitation is the primary mechanism for Earth science grants, covering dozens of program elements including physical oceanography, terrestrial hydrology, atmospheric composition, climate variability and change, and applied sciences. ROSES awards typically range from $100,000 to $500,000 per year for three-year grants, with larger awards for multi-institutional investigations.
NASA's Applied Sciences Program funds research that translates Earth observation data into practical decision-support tools for resource management, disaster response, public health, and agriculture. These grants often involve partnerships with federal, state, or local agencies that become end-users of the research products. The NASA Carbon Monitoring System (CMS), the Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team (HAQAST), and the Water Resources Applied Sciences program are examples of applied science program elements with dedicated funding. Universities, research institutions, and non-profit research organizations are eligible; for-profit organizations may collaborate as subawardees but are not typically the prime recipients of NASA Science grants.