ROSES25: B.2 Heliophysics Foundational Research

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), through its Science Mission Directorate (SMD), is offering research funding under the ROSES25: B.2 Heliophysics Foundational Research opportunity. NASA, a key U.S. federal agency responsible for the nation’s civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research, is focused on expanding our understanding of space phenomena and Earth's relationship with the solar system. The ROSES25 solicitation represents NASA SMD’s annual omnibus Research Announcement, covering a wide range of basic and applied science and technology initiatives. This specific program element, B.2 Heliophysics Foundational Research, supports innovative, high-impact scientific research to advance the understanding of heliophysical systems. This opportunity invites proposals for research that contributes to the foundational knowledge of heliophysics, encompassing areas such as solar activity, space weather phenomena, and their impacts on planetary environments. The overarching goal is to develop comprehensive scientific insights that support future NASA missions and enhance predictive capabilities. Research proposals must align with the objectives outlined in the Heliophysics Research Program Overview and adhere to guidelines stated in the ROSES-2025 Summary of Solicitation. Funded projects are expected to promote cutting-edge scientific inquiry and may support up to five years of performance, although the typical duration is three years. Proposals will undergo a dual-anonymous peer review process to ensure impartial evaluation based on scientific merit. All proposals must comply with the formatting and content requirements described in Section 2.4.2 of the program element documentation, including submission via the NSPIRES system. Researchers are encouraged to use NASA’s standard Open Science Data Management Plan template. A unique feature of this opportunity is the two-step submission process: a Step-1 proposal is required by May 1, 2026, and only those who submit Step-1 proposals may submit Step-2 proposals, whose due date will be announced at least 60 days in advance. Eligibility is generally restricted to U.S.-based institutions; however, international institutions may participate if they follow a no-exchange-of-funds policy. Further stipulations for international collaborators, particularly where NASA funding for U.S. participants is sought, are available in the NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual. NASA permits a Principal Investigator (PI) to submit only one proposal under this program, with certain exceptions for oversight-required submissions by institutional science PIs. Though this announcement does not specify budget ceilings or the total program funding, amendments clarify that listed budget figures are per award per year, not total for all awards. Awards may be issued as grants or cooperative agreements depending on the proposed work. Inter- or intra-agency transfers are possible for government lab Co-Investigators. Matching funds are not required. Interested applicants should visit the ROSES-2025 solicitation tables for full program element text and ensure all deadlines are met, particularly for the mandatory Step-1 submission. The full proposal process and documentation are accessible through the NSPIRES portal, and questions may be directed to the official program inbox at [email protected].

Use NASA’s standard template for data management plans; ensure submission of Step-1 by May 1 to qualify for Step-2; comply with page limits and proposal formatting rules.