TechnologyNews

NASA plans ROSES-27 research solicitation by January 2027

NASA has given researchers an early planning window for its next broad science solicitation, which it expects to cover about 50 program elements.

NewsJaws DeskEditorial desk

Published 20 Oct 2026, 20:07 BST2 min read

The NASA Headquarters building at 300 E Street SW in Washington, D.C. — File photograph of NASA Headquarters at 300 E Street SW in Washington, D.C.; the photograph dates from between 1992 and 1997. NASA HQ Building (resized and converted to WebP). Public domain.Image source Image licence: Public domain

Save for later

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate said on October 20 that it plans to release its Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences 2027 solicitation, known as ROSES-27, no later than January 2027. The announcement gives researchers and institutions advance notice to prepare proposals and assemble teams for a call expected to span much of the agency’s science work.

In its announcement, NASA said it expects roughly 50 program elements covering astrophysics, biological and physical sciences, Earth science, heliophysics, lunar science, planetary science and research across disciplines. That figure is an expectation for the forthcoming solicitation; NASA has not published its final contents.

Why NASA announced the ROSES-27 window early

NASA said the planned release window is intended to help researchers and institutions plan proposals, build teams and support students and early-career scientists. The notice gives prospective applicants a time frame, though the agency has not set out the final requirements and deadlines for ROSES-27.

The agency describes ROSES-27 as a way to involve researchers in its science and exploration priorities. NASA links that approach to its Ignition initiatives, which it says are intended to accelerate discovery and connect science with exploration, drawing on researchers, industry and partners across the United States.

Research calls continue under the current ROSES edition

NASA is still adding opportunities to the current ROSES edition while preparing the 2027 call. Its listed areas include cryosphere and geosphere research, planetary science facilities, astrophysics theory and observations, and heliophysics spaceflight science and low-cost access to space. Applicants considering those opportunities have separate schedules from the planned ROSES-27 release.

For example, NASA lists a November 10, 2026, proposal deadline for Planetary Science Enabling Facilities. It lists a December 3 deadline for Theoretical and Computational Astrophysics Networks proposals, following a mandatory October 15 notice of intent. The listed Cryosphere proposal deadline is December 4, following a mandatory October 16 notice of intent.

The policy behind NASA’s research plans

A December 2025 White House executive order directs federal space research and development investments toward near-term space objectives while enabling discoveries for longer-term US science and technology leadership. NASA cites that policy in explaining its plans for ROSES-27. The directive provides context for the agency’s priorities; the approximately 50 program elements remain NASA’s projected scope for a solicitation it has yet to release.