ROSES 2025: B.3 Living with a Star Science

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), through its Science Mission Directorate (SMD), offers funding under the Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) omnibus solicitation. This specific program element, Living with a Star Science, is part of the heliophysics division and supports scientific research that advances understanding of the Sun-Earth system and its impacts on space weather. NASA, as a federal agency responsible for civilian space exploration and scientific discovery, administers this program to support both basic and applied research that contributes to national scientific priorities and technological advancement. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to enable research that improves the ability to understand, model, and predict solar variability and its interactions with Earth and the heliosphere. Projects funded under this program may include theoretical, observational, or modeling-based studies aligned with NASA’s strategic science objectives. The program operates within a broader framework of multiple program elements under ROSES, each with distinct topics and deadlines, but unified under the goal of advancing space and Earth sciences. Funding is provided primarily through grants and cooperative agreements, depending on the nature of the proposed work. While the total program funding and individual award sizes are not specified in the synopsis, NASA indicates that awards typically support multi-year projects, most commonly spanning three years, with some programs allowing up to five years. Funds are generally intended to support research-related expenses, including personnel, equipment, and operational costs directly tied to the proposed scientific work. Cost sharing is not required for this opportunity. Eligibility for this program is broad and inclusive, encompassing a wide range of organizational types. NASA generally funds U.S.-based institutions, including universities, nonprofit organizations, private companies, and government entities. Foreign organizations may participate under specific conditions, typically on a no-exchange-of-funds basis or through special collaborative arrangements. All proposers must be affiliated with an institution registered in NASA’s NSPIRES system, which is required for submission and management of proposals. The application process follows a two-step submission structure. First, applicants must submit a Step-1 proposal by the specified deadline. Only those applicants who submit Step-1 proposals and are subsequently invited may proceed to submit a Step-2 full proposal. This gating mechanism ensures that only selected proposals advance to the full application stage. Submission is typically conducted through NASA’s NSPIRES system, although Grants.gov submissions may be used if requested in advance. Applicants are encouraged to review the full program element documentation available through NASA’s solicitation tables for detailed requirements. The timeline for this opportunity includes a Step-1 proposal deadline of January 21, 2026, and a Step-2 proposal deadline of June 22, 2026. The opportunity was originally posted in November 2025 and updated in April 2026 to confirm the Step-2 deadline. NASA provides additional resources such as FAQs, program officer contacts, and mailing lists to support applicants throughout the process. Questions specific to this program can be directed to designated NASA contacts, and general inquiries may be sent to the SMD research office. Evaluation of proposals is conducted by NASA based on scientific merit, relevance to program objectives, and feasibility. Awards are typically announced following a review process after the Step-2 submissions. The program is part of an annual solicitation cycle, indicating that similar opportunities are expected to recur in future years. Applicants are encouraged to monitor updates through NASA’s official channels and subscription services to stay informed about future funding cycles and amendments.