NASA Updates Research Solicitations, Program Announcements, and Submission Portals

NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) has released a series of updates, announcements, and solicitations regarding ongoing research programs, funding opportunities, and upcoming mission milestones. The updates provide guidance for prospective investigators across Earth science, astrophysics, and planetary science.

Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES)

The current omnibus research funding opportunity, ROSES-2025, remains open through August 2026. NASA anticipates releasing the subsequent ROSES-2026 solicitation in July 2026. Researchers can track amendments to ROSES-2025 by bookmarking the official ROSES-2025 blog, subscribing to due date calendars, or signing up for the Science Mission Directorate mailing lists through the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) portal at [nspires.nasaprs.com](https://nspires.nasaprs.com/).

NASA has also highlighted ongoing procedural changes within ROSES, including the expanded implementation of dual-anonymous peer review, where both proposers and reviewers remain anonymous during the scientific merit evaluation phase. Additionally, several programs continue to feature no fixed due date (NoDD), allowing rolling proposal submissions without preliminary notices of intent.

Astrophysics Explorers Program and Earth Venture Solicitations

The full text of the Astrophysics Explorers Program 2026 Small Explorer (SMEX) Announcement of Opportunity (AO NNH26ZDA011O) has been posted at [go.nasa.gov/APSMEX26](https://go.nasa.gov/APSMEX26). A virtual Preproposal Conference is scheduled for June 30, 2026, followed by a mandatory Notice of Intent due date on July 21, 2026. The evaluation and selection process for this cycle utilizes a single-step competitive process to select one investigation proposal to proceed into a combined Phase A and B.

In Earth science, NASA issued an advance notice for the first Earth Venture Orbital (EVO-1) solicitation, focusing on Principal Investigator-led, cost-capped investigations for Low Earth Orbit operations. Community feedback and questions on the EVO-1 announcement are requested by April 23, 2026. Furthermore, NASA released Announcements for Partnership Proposals (AFPP) for the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) and the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2), alongside a Request for Information (RFI) for the Terra, Aqua, and Aura missions.

Private Sector RFI and Manuscript Submission Portal Updates

NASA SMD has published an RFI concerning Private Sector Activities in Astrobiology, Planetary Protection, and Space Biology, seeking expressions of interest from U.S. private sector, academic, nonprofit, and government organizations. Responses are due by August 10, 2026, through NSPIRES. Officials emphasize that this RFI is strictly for planning purposes and does not constitute a formal solicitation for contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements.

Additionally, the NASA Scientific and Technical Information (STI) Program is developing an external submission portal for NASA-funded investigators to submit Accepted Manuscripts and other STI products. Set to launch later in the summer, the portal will replace the National Institutes of Health Manuscripts System (NIHMS) for grant and cooperative agreement recipients, providing a streamlined workflow for compliance reporting.

Practical Implications and Verification

Researchers and organizations planning to apply for NASA funding or partnerships should review the specific requirements and deadlines outlined in individual program documents. Because guidelines vary significantly between programs—ranging from mandatory Notices of Intent to rolling submissions—investigators must consult the official solicitation pages directly.

• Confirmed Details: ROSES-2025 remains open through August 2026; the SMEX AO mandatory Notice of Intent is due July 21, 2026; the Private Sector RFI accepts responses through August 10, 2026; and the STI Program is introducing a direct manuscript submission portal this summer.
• Uncertainties: Exact release dates for future solicitations like ROSES-2026 or the final New Frontiers 5 AO are subject to adjustment based on program planning.
• How to Verify: Readers can review the original announcements and access primary document links via the [NASA SARA Grant Solicitations Page](https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/grant-solicitations/).