ROSES 2025: C.2 Solar System Science

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, through its Science Mission Directorate, has released the 2025 omnibus Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences solicitation, known as ROSES 2025. Within this solicitation is program element C.2 Solar System Science, issued under funding opportunity number NNH25ZDA001N-SCUBED. This element supports scientific research projects that advance understanding of the solar system through basic and applied science, making use of spacecraft mission data and other research avenues. The initiative falls under the federal Assistance Listings number 43.001, associated with science research. Awards will be made in the form of grants or cooperative agreements, depending on the nature of the work proposed. The Solar System Science element does not have a fixed proposal due date. Proposals may be submitted at any time until March 31, 2026, which is the final cut-off for the ROSES 2025 cycle. This approach allows continuous proposal submission with overlapping coverage into ROSES 2026, ensuring uninterrupted research opportunities. Although proposals are accepted continuously, cut-off dates exist for inclusion in specific review cycles. For example, the Winter 2025 review required submissions by September 15, 2025, and the Spring 2026 review is anticipated, as noted in the solicitation updates. The period of performance for funded projects is typically three years, though in some cases projects may extend up to five years. Eligibility for this program is generally restricted to institutions based in the United States. Proposers must be affiliated with institutions registered through the NSPIRES system. While NASA funding is normally provided only to U.S. institutions, organizations outside the United States may participate under a no-exchange-of-funds policy, or in some cases under joint international arrangements, such as co-sponsored space science programs. Proposals involving non-U.S. organizations that request support for U.S. personnel must comply with the NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual. Applicants must carefully follow submission instructions outlined in the program element PDF, available through the ROSES 2025 tables. Proposals are subject to anonymization rules, page limits for specific sections, and guidelines on the use of spacecraft mission data. Changes made through amendments in August and September 2025 clarify requirements for the anonymized Table of Work Effort, resubmission timing, and requests for instruments or equipment. Proposers should also consult the C.1 Planetary Science Research Program Overview for contextual rules applying to all Appendix C elements. NASA evaluates proposals based on scientific merit, relevance to its planetary science goals, and feasibility, with reviews conducted on a schedule aligned to the cut-off dates. The program allows flexibility in resubmissions but enforces restrictions to avoid duplicate proposals. Award mechanisms include inter- or intra-agency transfers for government laboratory investigators and grants for extramural researchers. Contracts are generally excluded, as they are not suited to the research-oriented objectives of this program. Questions about the Solar System Science element should be directed to the program officers listed in the synopsis: Katharine Robinson, Curtis Williams, and Rebekah Dawson-Rigas, who can be contacted at hq-scubed@mail.nasa.gov. Broader questions regarding ROSES 2025 may be addressed to the Deputy Associate Administrator for Research at sara@nasa.gov. Applicants may also access frequently asked questions and updates through NASA’s research website, the ROSES 2025 blog, and subscription email services. The official close date of March 31, 2026, marks the final submission opportunity under this solicitation, with the next cycle expected to begin under ROSES 2026 shortly thereafter.