ROSES 2025: C.2 Solar System Science

The Solar System Science program is administered by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration within its Planetary Science Division as part of the broader ROSES solicitation. This program functions as an omnibus funding opportunity designed to support a wide range of research, analysis, and tool development activities that contribute to understanding the origin, evolution, and current state of the Solar System, as well as the search for life and its potential distribution in the universe. It consolidates multiple previously separate program elements into a single flexible mechanism, encouraging interdisciplinary and convergent research aligned with national planetary science priorities. The purpose of the program is to fund hypothesis driven and exploratory scientific investigations, including laboratory instrumentation development, planetary data analysis, and the creation of tools that enhance the use of existing or future datasets. Projects may focus on improving measurement precision, generating higher order data products, archiving datasets, or developing new analytical methods. The program emphasizes alignment with strategic priorities defined in the Planetary Science Decadal Survey and NASA Science Strategy, requiring each proposal to clearly identify which priority science questions or objectives it addresses. Funding is available across a range of project sizes and durations. Annual budgets are categorized as small, medium, or large based on thresholds defined by NASA, with most awards expected to fall into the small to medium range. The maximum duration of funding is four years, although shorter pilot studies of one to two years are encouraged for developing new techniques or applications. There is no stated cost sharing or matching requirement for this program. The total program budget for new awards is approximately 26 million dollars, with an estimated 40 to 55 awards anticipated depending on proposal quality and available funds. Eligibility is broadly defined and governed by the overarching Planetary Science Research Program guidelines. Proposals must address a priority of the Planetary Science Division and fall within the scope of eligible research areas. Certain activities are explicitly excluded, including mission development, flight instrument design, Antarctic fieldwork, and proposals that belong under other ROSES program elements. Applicants must comply with dual anonymous peer review requirements, ensuring that initial submissions do not reveal identifying information about investigators or institutions. The submission process is structured as a flexible due date system. Proposals may be submitted at any time up to the final cutoff date of November 12, 2026, but are grouped into periodic review cycles throughout the year. Initial submissions require only an anonymized technical proposal limited to five pages, along with references and a table of work effort. Following peer review, selected proposals may be invited to submit additional documentation, including a detailed budget, biographical sketches, and an Open Science and Data Management Plan. Evaluation criteria are based on scientific merit, technical approach, and alignment with program priorities. Scientific merit accounts for half of the evaluation score, while technical execution and alignment with strategic goals contribute the remainder. Proposals undergo a dual anonymous peer review process to reduce bias and are categorized as either declined or selectable. Selectable proposals are further reviewed for funding decisions based on priority and available resources. The program operates on a recurring annual cycle with multiple submission checkpoints, and anticipated award start dates vary depending on the review cycle. Contact for the program is available through NASA program officers via a designated email inbox. Electronic submission is required through the NSPIRES system, and applicants must adhere strictly to formatting, anonymization, and documentation requirements to be considered for funding.

Ensure strong alignment with NASA PSD priorities clearly articulate scientific merit and technical approach and strictly follow anonymization and formatting requirements