NASA Research Grants: Funding Opportunities for Scientists & Engineers

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). It contains program elements across four science mission directorates:

• Astrophysics — Hubble Space Telescope archival research, X-ray, gamma-ray, and theoretical astrophysics programs.
• Earth Science — Climate modeling, remote sensing data analysis, carbon cycle, ocean and cryosphere research.
• Heliophysics — Solar wind, magnetosphere, ionosphere, space weather research.
• Planetary Science — Lunar, Mars, outer planets, small bodies, astrobiology, and sample analysis programs.

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.

2. NASA SBIR/STTR Programs

NASA runs annual SBIR and STTR solicitations through its own portal separate from the DOD system. NASA SBIR Phase I awards are typically $150K for 6 months; Phase II awards up to $750K for 24 months. NASA prioritizes technologies that align with Human Exploration, Space Operations, and Science mission needs. Key focus areas include:

• Advanced propulsion and in-space manufacturing
• Autonomous systems and robotics for planetary exploration
• Environmental control and life support systems
• Advanced sensors and instruments for Earth observation
• Communications and navigation for deep space missions

3. University and Education Programs

NASA funds several programs specifically targeting universities and academic research beyond ROSES:

• University Leadership Initiative (ULI) — Large collaborative grants ($1–6M) for teams addressing high-priority aeronautics research challenges.
• Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) — Funds researchers at institutions in states historically underrepresented in NASA funding.
• Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunities (NSTGRO) — Fellowship program for graduate students in space technology-relevant disciplines.
• Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) — Targets HBCUs, tribal colleges, and minority-serving institutions.

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.