ROSES 2025: C.8 Yearly Opportunities for Research in Planetary Defense

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), through its Science Mission Directorate (SMD), is offering research funding under the program element titled "Yearly Opportunities for Research in Planetary Defense (YORPD)" as part of the broader ROSES omnibus announcement. The YORPD initiative is structured to advance NASA's efforts in planetary defense, focusing specifically on the detection, tracking, and mitigation of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). These include asteroids and cometary bodies whose orbits bring them close to Earth's trajectory, with a subset categorized as potentially hazardous if their size exceeds 140 meters and their orbits approach within 7.5 million kilometers of Earth. The program supports a diverse scope of research areas including NEO survey operations for discovering new objects, rapid astrometric follow-up for tracking orbital trajectories, physical and compositional characterization using ground or space-based assets, and the development of operational tools to aid in rapid NEO detection and analysis. Investigations that leverage legacy datasets, spacecraft mission archives, or introduce dynamical modeling, laboratory analysis, or proof-of-concept mitigation strategies are also encouraged. Additionally, mission concept studies related to NEO threat mitigation are within scope, excluding the development of actual spacecraft or suborbital missions. Funding decisions are made through a two-step, dual-anonymous peer review process. Step-1 proposals are mandatory and must be submitted by September 12, 2025, while Step-2 proposals are due December 3, 2025. Only those who submitted a Step-1 proposal are eligible to proceed to Step-2. All proposals must comply with specific anonymization and formatting requirements outlined in the ROSES guidelines and associated documentation. Data management plans are mandatory, particularly for those conducting NEO observations, with submission of astrometric data required to the Minor Planet Center. NASA anticipates issuing between 7 to 9 new awards under this program, with a first-year funding estimate of approximately $1.5 million. Awards typically span three years, although proposals may request durations of up to five years. Eligibility is open primarily to U.S.-based institutions, with international proposals considered under special "no-exchange-of-funds" provisions. All submissions must be made electronically through NSPIRES, unless Grants.gov access is requested at least 30 days in advance. Questions about the program may be directed to the central contact email HQ-YORPD@mail.nasa.gov. To stay updated on amendments or new elements, applicants are encouraged to subscribe to NASA SMD mailing lists and monitor the ROSES blog feed and calendars. YORPD is part of NASA’s broader commitment to planetary protection and research in alignment with national preparedness strategies for addressing NEO hazards.

Comply with strict anonymization for dual-anonymous peer review; proposals must show direct alignment with NASA's planetary defense goals; use proper observatory codes and data reporting protocols for NEO findings.