NASA Issued New Geosphere Research Opportunity

The agency released Amendment 77 for the ROSES-2025 program to solicit new Earth science research proposals.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Geography

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a layered geologic core sample cylinder, representing earth science research and institutional policy.
NASA has opened the A.18 Geosphere program element under its ROSES-2025 research cycle, requiring mandatory notices of intent for all project proposals. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

NASA has officially opened the A.18 Geosphere program element as part of its Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES-2025) cycle. This solicitation marks a new research path for the agency, with all proposals requiring a preliminary notice to qualify for review.

Why it matters

The program provides a formal mechanism for researchers to secure funding for specialized geoscience studies under the ROSES framework. It establishes the current trajectory for NASA-sponsored Earth science exploration in the coming year.

The opportunity is designated as program element A.18 within the broader ROSES-2025 architecture. NASA requires applicants to adhere to specific administrative hurdles, including a mandatory submission window, to maintain eligibility for peer review.

The players

NASA

The United States federal agency responsible for the civil space program and aeronautics and space research.

Thorsten Markus

The designated point of contact responsible for fielding technical questions regarding the A.18 Geosphere program.

The details

The program element functions through a structured proposal process overseen by NASA. Applicants must first file a mandatory Notice of Intent, which serves as a required screening step for all prospective research projects. Proposals that fail to meet this filing deadline will be returned by the agency without undergoing technical review.

Timeline

  1. October 2, 2026: Amendment 77 was officially released by NASA.

  2. November 16, 2026: Mandatory Notices of Intent are due from applicants.

  3. January 15, 2027: Final proposals are due for the A.18 Geosphere element.

The Tech Race

This release follows the established annual cycle of the Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES) program. It continues the agency's effort to maintain a competitive pipeline of Earth-focused research proposals.

This opportunity is targeted at the academic and professional research community currently working within Earth sciences. Interested parties must ensure their workflows account for the mandatory November intent filing to remain eligible for the January 2027 proposal deadline.

The takeaway

The A.18 Geosphere element establishes the primary research agenda for this category within the 2025 ROSES cycle. Researchers should monitor the mandatory November 16 submission deadline to ensure their project proposals remain viable for consideration.

What happens next

Applicants must submit their mandatory Notices of Intent by November 16, 2026, followed by final proposal submissions no later than January 15, 2027.

Further reading

For broader context on how NASA manages its scientific initiatives across the country, see the Geography section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Science @ NASA.