ROSES 2025: A.4 Rapid Response and Novel Research in Earth Science

The Rapid Response and Novel Research in Earth Science program is administered by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration within its Earth Science Division under the Science Mission Directorate. This program exists to address gaps in traditional annual solicitations by enabling support for research opportunities that arise unexpectedly or that represent fundamentally new scientific directions. NASA recognizes that some high value scientific opportunities cannot be predicted in advance and therefore cannot be included in standard funding cycles. As a result, this program is structured to remain flexible, allowing proposals to be submitted at any time while still maintaining a competitive evaluation process. The program is designed around two primary objectives. First, it supports rapid response research related to unforeseen or unpredictable Earth system events such as major fires, volcanic eruptions, large scale pollution events, or unusual environmental phenomena. These projects must demonstrate urgency and require near term data collection or field activity. Second, it supports exceptionally novel ideas in Earth remote sensing that do not align with any existing or recent NASA solicitations. These proposals must demonstrate high scientific merit and the potential to significantly advance understanding of Earth systems or remote sensing methodologies. Funding for this program is not pre allocated as a centralized pool. Instead, individual program managers within NASA Earth Science Division determine whether to fund a very small number of highly meritorious proposals each year. As a result, applicants are required to engage directly with relevant NASA program officers prior to submission to assess alignment and funding likelihood. Most projects are expected to be short term, typically one year or less, although proposals may request up to three years if a strong justification is provided. For novel research efforts, typical funding levels are modest, often in the range of seventy five thousand to one hundred fifty thousand dollars for one year of work. Eligibility is broad but functionally limited to organizations and researchers capable of conducting high level Earth science research aligned with NASA priorities. This includes universities, research institutions, and potentially other organizations with relevant technical expertise. Proposals must demonstrate direct relevance to NASA Earth Science Division goals, including alignment with strategic documents such as the NASA Science Plan, decadal surveys, or program roadmaps. Additionally, all proposals must include a comprehensive Open Science and Data Management Plan outlining how data, software, and publications will be made publicly available without restriction. The submission process is continuous, with proposals accepted at any time through the NSPIRES system. There is no notice of intent required, but proposers must consult NASA program officers before submitting. Applications must include a scientific and technical plan with strict page limits depending on the proposal type, along with budget justifications and required documentation such as the data management plan. For rapid response proposals, the emphasis is on urgency and immediate action, while novel research proposals must clearly establish originality and lack of overlap with prior NASA solicitations. Evaluation is conducted initially through internal NASA review, with the possibility of external peer review depending on the scope and funding level requested. Proposals may be declined due to lack of funding availability or failure to meet program criteria, sometimes with limited feedback. Key evaluation factors include scientific merit, relevance to NASA priorities, urgency for rapid response proposals, and degree of innovation for novel research proposals. The uniqueness and transformative potential of the proposed work are especially important for novel research submissions. The program operates on a rolling basis but has an administrative close date aligned with the broader solicitation cycle. For the current cycle, proposals may be submitted until December thirty first, two thousand twenty six at eleven fifty nine PM Eastern Time. Project start dates vary depending on proposal type, with rapid response projects potentially beginning as soon as one and a half months after submission, while novel research projects typically begin around six months after submission.

Contact program officers before submission; clearly justify urgency or novelty; demonstrate alignment with NASA priorities; ensure strong data sharing plan