ROSES 2025: C.5 Planetary Science Early Career Award

The Planetary Science Early Career Award (ECA) is a program element within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) omnibus solicitation, Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2025. Issued by NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) at Headquarters, this opportunity is targeted specifically at early career researchers in planetary science. It is part of the broader ROSES-2025 initiative, which includes many independent program elements across multiple science divisions. The ECA aims to support promising early career scientists in the United States who are conducting innovative research that aligns with NASA's planetary science goals. NASA is a federal agency responsible for the United States' civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research. The ECA is administered under NASA’s Planetary Science Division, which is one of the components of the ROSES program, corresponding to Appendix C in the solicitation. NASA supports research and development in science and technology, and this opportunity contributes to that mission by enabling the growth and independence of early career planetary scientists. While the announcement itself is a general synopsis, detailed information on the ECA program element is located within Tables 2 or 3 of the full ROSES-2025 solicitation. These documents contain the specific application instructions, evaluation criteria, and objectives of the ECA component. Eligibility for the ECA is limited to proposers affiliated with U.S.-based institutions registered with the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES). Foreign organizations are generally not funded unless the proposal is part of a cooperative program where funds are not exchanged. Non-U.S. organizations interested in applying must comply with NASA's Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual (GCAM), particularly in cases where U.S. personnel are involved. Most ROSES elements, including ECA, exclude contract-based awards and are instead awarded as grants or cooperative agreements. In some cases, funded collaborators at government laboratories may receive funds through inter- or intra-agency transfers. The typical performance period for funded proposals under ROSES is three years, although durations may vary depending on the nature of the research. Most awards made through ROSES, including ECA, are grants or cooperative agreements. While there is no stated cost-sharing or matching requirement, the program structure, budgetary scope, and award limits are determined by the individual ROSES program element text, which applicants must download from the NSPIRES site. Application submissions for most ROSES elements are via NSPIRES and not through Grants.gov, unless requested 30 days prior to the due date. The closing date for applications to the ECA is December 4, 2025. The opportunity is currently active and accepting proposals. The original announcement was posted on July 14, 2025, and will remain open until early January 2026, when it will be archived. NASA encourages prospective applicants to consult the Summary of Solicitation and the C.1 Planetary Science Research Program Overview for additional program context and proposal guidance. Key program dates, proposal requirements, and submission instructions are detailed in the PDF linked within each program element on the NSPIRES platform. Questions about the ROSES-2025 or this specific program element may be directed to the SMD Deputy Associate Administrator for Research at sara@nasa.gov, or specifically to Nicholas Lang at hq-eca@mail.nasa.gov. For those interested in staying updated on changes or additions to the ROSES-2025 NRA, subscription options include the SMD mailing list, the ROSES-2025 blog, and the due date Google calendars available via NASA’s science research website.