ROSES25: C.12 Foundational Artificial Intelligence for the Moon and Mars

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), through its Science Mission Directorate (SMD), has issued a new program element under its Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) – 2025 omnibus solicitation. This program element, titled "Foundational Artificial Intelligence for the Moon and Mars," seeks proposals that advance core artificial intelligence (AI) technologies applicable to NASA’s goals for lunar and Martian exploration. As a part of NASA’s broader efforts in planetary science and technology development, this initiative aims to fund projects that lay the groundwork for intelligent systems capable of enhancing scientific discovery, autonomy, and decision-making in space environments. The program reflects NASA’s commitment to pushing the frontiers of AI to support future missions to the Moon and Mars under the Artemis and Mars Exploration programs. The program is released as part of the ROSES-2025 omnibus, which includes numerous discrete elements across NASA’s science divisions, including planetary science. Each program element operates independently with specific deadlines, evaluation criteria, and submission guidelines. This particular opportunity—designated NNH25ZDA001N-FAIMM—does not require Notices of Intent or Step-1 proposals, streamlining the application process. Full proposals must be submitted by April 28, 2026. Applications are accepted via the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES), unless applicants have arranged for Grants.gov submission at least 30 days in advance. Funding will be provided in the form of grants or cooperative agreements, with the specific mechanism depending on the nature of the work proposed. Awards typically span three years but may extend up to five years, depending on the scope and complexity of the project. While the number of awards and total funding amount were not specified, selected proposals are expected to demonstrate significant potential to advance foundational AI capabilities with relevance to NASA missions. NASA will not generally provide funding to organizations outside the United States unless the proposals are submitted on a no-exchange-of-funds basis. In such cases, non-U.S. organizations must refer to the NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual (GCAM) for eligibility specifics and submission instructions. Eligible applicants include individuals affiliated with institutions registered on NSPIRES, including public and private universities, nonprofit organizations, and other research entities based in the United States. Proposals involving non-U.S. organizations must align with NASA policies and may require special provisions. The eligibility criteria are broadly inclusive of various institutional types, although organizations must meet compliance and registration requirements set by NASA. The solicitation emphasizes flexibility in teaming arrangements and welcomes collaborations that span governmental, academic, and private sectors, provided U.S. entities are the funding recipients. Applicants should access Tables 2 and 3 of the ROSES-2025 solicitation via the NSPIRES portal to find the PDF containing the full program text and submission instructions. The agency encourages proposers to stay informed through the SMD mailing list, the ROSES blog feed, and due date calendars specific to each science division. For questions related to the FAIMM program element, Rebekah Dawson-Rigas is the designated contact and may be reached via email. Additional general inquiries may be directed to the SMD Deputy Associate Administrator for Research. Proposals will be evaluated based on scientific merit, relevance to NASA’s exploration objectives, and the potential to significantly advance AI research in planetary contexts. The opportunity is part of a recurring series of solicitations under ROSES, with this program element newly introduced in the 2025 cycle. While there are no recurring deadlines listed for this particular program, applicants are encouraged to monitor future solicitations for updates or potential continuation of the opportunity in subsequent ROSES cycles.