Space Operations

NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate ensures continued American leadership in low Earth orbit, encourages economic growth of the commercial space sector, enables continued and successful access to space, and provides a foundation for deep space exploration.

Categories of organizations that may be eligible for NASA grants and cooperative agreements include: Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) A two- or four-year university or college (including U.S. community colleges), public or private, accredited to confer degrees beyond that of the K-12 grade levels. 29 Educational Institutions Non-higher-education entities, such as K-12 education groups or institutions of informal education, are classified as Educational Institutions.2 Non-profit Organization An organization that: o Is operated primarily for scientific, engineering, educational, research, or similar purposes in the public interest; o Is not organized primarily for profit; o Uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the organization’s operations; and o Is not an IHE. Non-profit organizations generally exclude (i) colleges and universities; (ii) hospitals; and (iii) state, local, and Federally recognized Indian tribal governments. For-profit Entity An organization of any size that is organized primarily for profit. Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) FFRDCs are under a broad charter by a Government agency for performing, analyzing, or conducting research for the United States Government. NASA sponsors JPL as the Agency’s sole FFRDC, and JPL is not an eligible applicant to receive a NASA-funded grant or cooperative agreement as a recipient or...

All proposals will undergo an administrative, merit, and financial review. The NASA funding organization responsible for managing the technical aspects of an awarded effort is responsible for the merit review process, which may be based on peer review. All applications for NASA discretionary awards are subject to a merit review with the objective of selecting the recipient most likely to be successful in delivering results based on the objectives outlined in this Assistance Listing. Applicants may consult the NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement manual for additional information on NASA Proposal review and selection process. https://www.nasa.gov/grants-policy-and-compliance-team/#Regulations

This program has no statutory formula. A cost-sharing percentage is displayed to satisfy a system requirement that necessitates selection of a value. Cost-sharing requirements, including any applicable percentages, may apply under this listing and, if applicable, will be specified in the NOFO. Applicants should refer to the NOFO for detailed cost-sharing requirements.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Fiscal Year2021: Ground and Flight investigations within applied research and development; technology readiness level maturation; and technology demonstrations to be performed on the International Space Station.Fiscal Year2022: Human Exploration Research Opportunities (HERO) NASA Research Announcements: Solicits applied research in support of NASA’s Human Research Program (HRP). The research falls into one or more categories corresponding to HRP’s five Elements: Space Radiation, Human Health Countermeasures, Exploration Medical Capability, Human Factors and Behavioral Performance, and Research Operations and Integration. Solicitation covers all aspects of research to provide human health and performance countermeasures, knowledge, technologies, and tools to enable safe, reliable, and productive human space exploration. Ground and Flight investigations within applied research and development; technology readiness level maturation; and technology demonstrations.Fiscal Year2024: Human Exploration Research Opportunities (HERO) NASA Research Announcements: Solicits applied research in support of NASA’s Human Research Program (HRP). The research falls into one or more categories...