? Key Takeaways
- ROSES is released every February on NSPIRES � not Grants.gov � the umbrella solicitation covers 40+ program elements across Astrophysics, Earth Science, Heliophysics, and Planetary Science; each has its own deadlines and Step-1/Step-2 process.
- NASA SBIR Phase I pays $150K (6 months), Phase II up to $750K (24 months) � submitted through NASA's own portal at sbir.nasa.gov, not the DOD SBIR system; technology must connect to specific NASA mission needs.
- University Leadership Initiative (ULI) awards $1M�$6M � large collaborative grants for teams addressing high-priority aeronautics research challenges; EPSCoR specifically targets researchers at institutions in historically underrepresented states.
- NSPIRES institutional registration must be completed before individuals can submit � your sponsored research office handles this; allow 1�2 weeks for setup before the first deadline.
- NASA amends ROSES deadlines frequently throughout the year � always check for amendments in NSPIRES before finalizing your submission timeline for any program element.
Agency Overview
NASA distributes approximately $1.5�2 billion annually through research grants and cooperative agreements. Unlike DOD or NIH, NASA research funding is closely tied to mission directorates � your research must connect to NASA's specific exploration, science, or technology priorities. The primary vehicle for competitive research grants is ROSES (Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences), which aggregates dozens of solicitations into a single annual document.
1. ROSES � The Core Research Solicitation
Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) is NASA's umbrella solicitation released each February on NSPIRES (NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System). A single ROSES document contains 40 or more individual program elements spanning four science mission directorates, each with its own deadlines, page limits, and review criteria � think of it less as one competition and more as a directory of separate grant programs that happen to be published simultaneously.
Each ROSES program element has its own Step-1 (Notice of Intent) and Step-2 (full proposal) deadlines, listed in the ROSES summary table. Always check for amendments � NASA frequently amends deadlines and program descriptions throughout the year.
The four science directorates covered by ROSES span a wide range of disciplines. Astrophysics programs include Hubble Space Telescope archival research, X-ray and gamma-ray observational programs, and theoretical astrophysics. Earth Science supports climate modeling, remote sensing data analysis, carbon cycle research, and ocean and cryosphere studies. Heliophysics covers solar wind dynamics, magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling, and space weather prediction � areas with direct relevance to satellite operations and human spaceflight. Planetary Science encompasses lunar and Mars exploration science, outer planet atmospheres, small body characterization, astrobiology, and sample return analysis programs.
Within each directorate, individual program elements operate on independent timelines. A researcher in Planetary Science may face a Step-1 deadline in April while a colleague in Heliophysics has theirs in October � all within the same ROSES document. Tracking the ROSES summary table on NSPIRES and setting calendar reminders for your specific program element is the single most important logistical habit you can develop as a NASA proposer.
2. NASA SBIR/STTR Programs
NASA runs annual SBIR and STTR solicitations through its own portal at sbir.nasa.gov, entirely separate from the DOD SBIR system. Phase I awards are typically $150K over six months; Phase II awards reach up to $750K over 24 months. Unlike a basic research grant, NASA SBIR proposals must demonstrate a clear connection to specific NASA mission needs � the agency publishes a list of subtopics aligned with Human Exploration, Space Operations, and Science directorates, and proposals that fail to credibly map to a subtopic are screened out early.
Technology priority areas tend to cluster around a few persistent mission gaps. Advanced propulsion concepts and in-space manufacturing technologies support the Artemis program and beyond-LEO ambitions. Autonomous systems and robotics address the need for capable planetary surface operations with minimal communication lag. Environmental control and life support systems remain an active development priority for long-duration human missions. On the science instrumentation side, advanced sensors for Earth observation and reliable deep-space communications and navigation hardware are perennial subtopics that attract strong agency interest.
3. University and Education Programs
Beyond ROSES, NASA operates several targeted programs for universities and academic researchers. The University Leadership Initiative (ULI) funds large collaborative teams � awards range from $1M to $6M � working on high-priority aeronautics research challenges defined by NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate. ULI is structured for multi-institution teams with a lead university coordinating the effort, and proposals must address specific technical challenges from NASA's published priority list rather than investigator-initiated topics. The Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) targets researchers at institutions in states that have historically received a low share of NASA funding, using jurisdictional allocations to level the playing field across the research enterprise.
For graduate students and early-career researchers, two programs provide direct support. The Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunities (NSTGRO) fellowship funds PhD students working on space technology-relevant dissertations, with the added benefit of a NASA center internship component that builds agency relationships early. The Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) directs funding specifically to HBCUs, tribal colleges, and other minority-serving institutions � both for research projects and for STEM education programs. MUREP solicitations appear on NSPIRES and operate on their own separate timelines from ROSES.
4. Submitting Through NSPIRES
All NASA research proposals (ROSES and most other programs) are submitted through NSPIRES (nspires.nasaprs.com). Unlike Grants.gov, NSPIRES is NASA-specific. Institutional registration in NSPIRES must be completed by your sponsored research office before individual researchers can submit. Allow 1�2 weeks for institutional setup. Proposals are typically submitted as PDFs with strict page limits and formatting requirements specified per program element.
? Action Checklist
- Register your institution in NSPIRES � have your sponsored research office complete this 1�2 weeks before your first submission deadline; individual researcher accounts cannot submit without it.
- Download the ROSES summary table from nspires.nasaprs.com and identify the specific program element that matches your research � confirm the Step-1 (Notice of Intent) deadline and Step-2 (full proposal) deadline.
- Check for ROSES amendments before finalizing your timeline � NASA amends deadlines and program descriptions throughout the year, and an outdated timeline is one of the most common proposer errors.
- For SBIR/STTR, go directly to sbir.nasa.gov � not Grants.gov and not the DOD SBIR system; identify the subtopic within your technology area and confirm that your innovation credibly addresses a stated NASA mission gap.
- Contact your program officer before submitting � NASA program officers are generally accessible and can confirm whether your research direction fits the program element; a brief email before writing a full proposal can save months of misdirected effort.
- If at an underrepresented institution, check EPSCoR and MUREP first � these programs have less competition and explicit geographic or demographic targeting that can make them more accessible than open ROSES competition for researchers new to NASA funding.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does NASA fund external research?
Most NASA research funding flows through ROSES (Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences), an annual omnibus solicitation with dozens of program elements and staggered deadlines year-round. Proposals are submitted through NSPIRES, NASA's proposal system.
Who can apply for NASA research funding?
Universities, nonprofits, industry, and government labs can apply to most ROSES elements. Principal investigators need not be US citizens, but the proposing institution must typically be US-based. Some elements restrict eligibility, so check the specific program element text.
What are NASA EPSCoR and Space Grant programs?
Space Grant supports STEM education and student research through consortia in every state. EPSCoR builds research capacity in states that historically receive less NASA funding, offering research awards around $750,000. Both are accessed through your state's consortium office.
How competitive are NASA ROSES selections?
Selection rates vary widely by program element, commonly 15 to 30 percent. Proposals are peer-reviewed for scientific merit and relevance to NASA strategic objectives. New investigators improve odds by serving on review panels and starting with smaller program elements.