ROSES25: A.3 NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar Mission Data, Applications, Research, and Technology Team

The NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) Mission is a collaborative project between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), aiming to deliver critical synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data for Earth system science. This grant opportunity, issued as part of the Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) – 2025 under the identifier NNH25ZDA001N-NISAR, seeks to support data applications, research, and technology development through the formation of a mission data team. The Science Mission Directorate (SMD) at NASA Headquarters is responsible for overseeing this program. As part of ROSES, this specific element supports scientific investigations using NISAR data and related technologies, inviting U.S.-based institutions to contribute to advancing Earth science objectives. The mission's core objective is to leverage NISAR’s advanced radar imaging capabilities to monitor and understand changes in the Earth's land and ice surfaces. The opportunity supports a wide scope of scientific endeavors, including but not limited to, algorithm development, data processing pipelines, integration with other NASA datasets, and applications in hazards, cryosphere, hydrology, and land use studies. Proposals should align with the mission’s goals to maximize scientific returns and technological utility of NISAR’s SAR data. Cooperative agreements and grants will be issued under this announcement, excluding contracts, given the academic and research-oriented nature of the work. Proposals are accepted through a two-step submission process. Step-1 proposals are required and due by March 13, 2026, while Step-2 proposals must be submitted by May 14, 2026. Only applicants who submitted a Step-1 proposal may proceed to Step-2. Submission must comply with formatting and documentation instructions detailed in Section 8.3.1 of the program text, and proposers are strongly encouraged to use the Earth Science Division templates for work effort reporting. Step-2 proposals will undergo a dual-anonymous peer review process as outlined in Section 8.3.2. Proposal documents must be submitted through the NSPIRES portal, and submissions via Grants.gov are only possible with advance coordination. Eligible applicants must be affiliated with institutions registered in NSPIRES, typically limited to U.S.-based organizations. Non-U.S. entities may submit under a no-exchange-of-funds policy, but should consult the NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual (GCAM) for detailed guidance, especially when requesting support for U.S. personnel. This policy ensures NASA’s funding remains primarily within the domestic research ecosystem while still enabling international collaboration under clearly defined terms. Key documentation, including FAQs and specific program element PDFs, are accessible via the NSPIRES system through the ROSES 2025 Tables 2 and 3. These documents provide the foundational understanding necessary to construct a competitive proposal. Additional program guidelines, templates, and amendments will also be made available there. Applicants are advised to subscribe to the ROSES-2025 email list or blog feed for any updates or clarifications. Inquiries about this opportunity can be directed to Thorsten Markus, the NASA Program Officer for Research in the Cryosphere and Geosphere, via email at [email protected] or by phone at 202-358-3860. The expected performance period for awards is typically three years, with the possibility of extension up to five years depending on the nature of the work. The program is recurring and generally follows an annual solicitation cycle. Future deadlines will align closely with the current structure, with the next anticipated cycle expected to begin in March 2027.

Prepare proposals to be fully anonymized for Step-2 peer review, per Section 8.3.2 guidelines.