2025: B.7 The Heliophysics Low-Cost Access to Space
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 8, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for U.S. institutions and researchers developing low-cost suborbital research payloads for heliophysics science. Proposers must be affiliated with an institution registered at NSPIRES. U.S.-based nonprofits, universities, research centers, and companies may apply. Non-U.S. organizations may participate on a no-exchange-of-funds basis with prior NASA approval. The program supports development of flight-ready science instruments and platforms for near-space access.
The program uses a two-step submission process. Step-1 proposals are due November 20, 2026. Only groups that submit Step-1 can advance to Step-2 (March 16, 2027). All proposals undergo dual anonymous peer review and must be anonymized.
Proposers must submit a Payload Reference Document to match research needs with compatible flight platforms. "Science-enabling-only" proposals require an Application of Traceability Matrix. All proposals must include a "Rideshare Opportunity" section describing available resources for rideshare instruments.
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Program description
The close date above is the date for the Step-2 proposal due date. The Step-1 proposal due date is November 20, 2026. Step-2 proposals cannot be submitted if a Step-1 proposal was not submitted.
NOTICE: Amended October 7, 2026. This amendment adds this new program element to ROSES-2025. Step-1 proposals are due by November 20, 2026, and Step-2 proposals are due March 16, 2027.
The page limit for the anonymized central Science-Technical-Management (S/T/M) section of proposals is 20 pages.
Proposers must provide a separately uploaded Payload Reference Document (PRD) to allow NASA to best match the research payload needs with multiple compatible flight platforms and identify the greatest suborbital research capabilities and launch flexibilities possible. See Section 1.3.1.
New: Proposals must include a “Rideshare Opportunity” section that describes the availability of resources for a rideshare instrument to be included with the flight. See Section 4.4.
New: Proposals self-identified as “science-enabling-only” must include an Application of Traceability Matrix, see 4.2.3.
New: Proposals will be submitted via a binding two-step submission process, see Section 3.
New: Proposals will be evaluated using dual anonymous peer review, so the technical proposal must be anonymized, see Section 5.1.
All proposers are strongly encouraged to use the standard SMD template for the Open Science Data Management Plan see https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/faqs/OSDMP
This synopsis is a generic summary that is posted for each of the many individual “program elements” in NASA’s Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) – 2025 solicitation. For specific information on this particular program element download and read the PDF of the text of this program element by going to Tables 2 or 3 of ROSES at https://solicitation.nasaprs.com/ROSES2025table2
and https://solicitation.nasaprs.com/ROSES2025table3, respectively, click the title of the program element of interest, a hypertext link will take you to a page for that particular program element. On that page, on the right side under “Announcement Documents” the link on the bottom will be to the PDF of the text of the call for proposals. For example, if one were interested in the Solar System Science program (NNH25ZDA001N-SCUBED) one would follow the link to the NSPIRES page for that program element and then to read the text of the call one would click on “C.2 Solar System Science (.pdf)” to download the text of the call. If one wanted to set it into the context of the goals, objectives and know the default rules for all elements within Appendix C, the planetary science division, one might download and read “C.1 Planetary Science Research Program Overview (.pdf)” from that same page. While the letters and numbers are different for each element within ROSES (A.10, B.3, etc.) the basic configuration is always the same, e.g., the letter indicates the Science Division (A is Earth Science, B is Heliophysics etc.) and whatever the letter, #1 is always the division overview. In 2025, most program elements will be set up for application via Grants.gov only if requested at least 30 days in advance of the due date. For more on Grants.gov submissions see Section IV(b)v of the ROSES Summary of Solicitation, that may be found at https://solicitation.nasaprs.com/ROSES2025.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD) released its annual omnibus Research Announcement (NRA), Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) – 2025 (OMB Approval Number 2700-0092, CFDA Number 43.001) on February 21, 2025. In this case “omnibus” means that this NRA has many individual program elements, each with its own due dates and topics. All together these cover the wide range of basic and applied supporting research and technology supported by SMD. Awards will be made as grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts depending on the nature of the work proposed. However, most extramural research awards deriving from ROSES will be grants, and many program elements of ROSES specifically exclude contracts, because contracts would not be appropriate for the nature of the work solicited. Funded Co-Is at government labs will receive inter- or intra-agency transfers. The typical period of performance for an award is three years, but some programs may allow up to five years and others specify shorter periods. In most cases, organizations of every type, Government and private, for profit and not-for-profit, domestic and foreign (with some caveats), may submit proposals without restriction on teaming arrangements. Tables listing the program elements and due dates (Tables 2 and 3), a table that provides a very top level summary of proposal contents (Table 1), and the full text of the ROSES-2025 “Summary of Solicitation”, may all be found NSPIRES at https://solicitation.nasaprs.com/ROSES2025.
Frequently asked questions for ROSES are posted at http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/faqs. Questions concerning specific program elements should be directed to the point(s) of contact for that particular element, who may be found either at the end of the individual program element in the summary table of key information or on the web list of topics and points of contact at: http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/program-officers-list. General questions concerning ROSES-2025 may be directed to the office of the SMD Deputy Associate Administrator for Research at sara@nasa.gov.
Not all program elements are known at the time of the release of ROSES. To be informed of new program elements or amendments to this NRA, proposers may subscribe to: (1) The SMD mailing lists (by logging in at http://nspires.nasaprs.com and checking the appropriate boxes under “Account Management” and “Email Subscriptions”), (2) The ROSES-2025 blog feed for amendments, clarifications, and corrections to at https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/solicitations/roses-2025/, and (3) The ROSES-2025 due date Google calendars (one for each science division). Instructions are at https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/library-and-useful-links (link from the words due date calendar).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Step-1 Proposal (anonymized)
- Payload Reference Document (PRD)
- Rideshare Opportunity Section
- Open Science Data Management Plan
- Application of Traceability Matrix (science-enabling-only proposals only)
- Budget and justification
- Institutional registration at NSPIRES
Program contact
- 👤 Caleb Schuler Grantor
- 📧 hq-hpd-lcas@mail.nasa.gov
- 📞 2406169381
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 43.001 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$243,555,196
-
$139,591,380
-
$137,783,105
-
$104,843,521
-
$104,153,585
-
$97,031,502
-
$87,578,015
-
$74,314,104
-
$59,639,440
-
$55,593,686
Top States by Funding
- MD 17 awards $691.5M
- CA 16 awards $361.4M
- TX 6 awards $213.9M
- AL 4 awards $201.8M
- DC 5 awards $182.6M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 43.001). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $921,764,932 | |
| 2025 | $1,189,411,503 | |
| 2026 est. | $907,114,426 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this NASA grant?
U.S. institutions and researchers with NSPIRES registration can apply. Non-U.S. organizations may participate under a no-exchange-of-funds policy with NASA approval.
Is this a one-step or two-step process?
This is a binding two-step process. Step-1 proposals are due November 20, 2026. Only Step-1 awardees can submit Step-2 proposals (due March 16, 2027).
What happens if I don't submit a Step-1 proposal?
Step-2 proposals cannot be submitted without a prior Step-1 submission. Missing Step-1 means you are ineligible for Step-2 consideration.
What documents are required beyond the proposal?
You must submit a Payload Reference Document (PRD), a "Rideshare Opportunity" section, and an Open Science Data Management Plan. Science-enabling-only proposals must also include an Application of Traceability Matrix.
How is this grant reviewed?
Proposals are evaluated using dual anonymous peer review, so your proposal must be anonymized. The science-technical-management section has a 20-page limit.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start your Step-1 proposal early to allow time for NASA feedback and resubmission. Step-1 is not a formality.
- Create a clear Payload Reference Document that describes how your instrument could accommodate rideshare payloads. This increases mission compatibility and competitiveness.
- Anonymize your proposal thoroughly for dual review. Remove author names, institutional logos, and identifying details from text and figures.
- Include an Open Science Data Management Plan using NASA's standard SMD template. This demonstrates commitment to open data practices.
- For science-enabling-only proposals, develop a rigorous Application of Traceability Matrix that links requirements to verification methods.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Failing to submit Step-1 by November 20, 2026, making Step-2 submission impossible. Not anonymizing the proposal properly, compromising the dual anonymous peer review process. Omitting the required Payload Reference Document or Rideshare Opportunity section results in proposal rejection.
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