MPS Astronomical Sciences Research Programs (MPS Astro)

Research
Funding Agency:
Funding Agency
National Science Foundation
RFP# and Website:
RFP# and Website
NSF 26-522
Awards:
Awards

Standard Grant or Continuing Grant
Anticipated Funding Amount:
Anticipated Funding Amount

$100,000,000
Letter of Intent:
Letter of Intent
Not Required
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:
Preliminary Proposal Deadline:
Full Proposal Submission Deadline:
Full Proposal Submission Deadline

November 16, 2026

Third Monday in November, Annually Thereafter

Proposals are accepted at any time. However, proposals received after the target submission date may be reviewed in the following fiscal year.
Contacts:
Contacts
Description

The U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (NSF MPS) supports multiple research programs in the astronomical sciences. NSF MPS funds foundational astronomical sciences research and instrumentation focused on exploring space and advancing fundamental understanding of the universe.

The programs covered by this funding opportunity are:

Research supported by these programs is essential for ongoing discovery in a range of fields. The programs provide a strong scientific foundation for America's capabilities in multiple areas: predicting solar storms, discovering potentially habitable planets in other solar systems, understanding the physical workings of extreme astrophysical objects like black holes, and more.

NSF MPS is particularly interested in intellectually ambitious and potentially transformative foundational research. Proposals need not promise a near-term product, deployment, or commercial outcome, nor need they address later-stage development to be competitive.