NASA To Release Major Research Solicitation In January
The 50-element ROSES-27 program aims to align academic research with the agency's new Golden Age of Science exploration goals.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Space
Live Poll
Do you believe government-funded research programs are essential to maintaining national science and technology leadership?
NASA will release its ROSES-27 research solicitation by January 2027, marking the next phase of its recently announced Golden Age of Science initiatives. The program will invite research proposals across approximately 50 distinct scientific domains.
Why it matters
This solicitation cycle is designed to align research investments with the national space policy goal of sustaining long-term science leadership. By streamlining the request for proposals, NASA aims to accelerate discovery and create a closer integration between scientific research and space exploration objectives.
The upcoming solicitation will encompass approximately 50 program elements spanning astrophysics, biological and physical sciences, Earth science, heliophysics, lunar science, and planetary science. The Science Mission Directorate manages the framework to facilitate both discipline-specific and cross-disciplinary research.
The players
NASA
The United States government agency responsible for space exploration, aeronautics research, and science missions.
Science Mission Directorate
The NASA department that manages the agency's portfolio of science research and solicitation processes.
The details
The Science Mission Directorate uses the Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) process to source external research from academia and private institutions. The solicitation functions as an open call for proposals, requiring investigators to define how their work advances mission-specific objectives. This year, the structure explicitly supports the newly announced Golden Age of Science initiatives, which coordinate research outputs with upcoming exploration goals.
Timeline
October 8, 2026: NASA announced the Golden Age of Science initiatives.
January 2027: NASA plans to release the ROSES-27 research solicitation.
The Tech Race
This development follows the trajectory set by the National Space Policy to prioritize research that delivers tangible mission objectives. The solicitation represents a shift toward consolidating academic efforts under the broader Golden Age of Science program to maintain U.S. competitiveness in space research.
Academic and commercial researchers preparing for the next funding cycle should monitor the Science Mission Directorate for the finalized list of the 50 program elements. The release will dictate the scope of research opportunities available to the scientific community starting in early 2027.
The takeaway
The upcoming solicitation confirms NASA is shifting its research strategy toward highly integrated scientific exploration goals. Interested parties should watch for the official release in January 2027 to identify the specific requirements for the 50 program elements.
What happens next
NASA is scheduled to release the full ROSES-27 solicitation document by January 2027, which will initiate the formal proposal submission window.
Further reading
For broader context on current initiatives, explore recent developments in the Space section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Science @ NASA.
Live Poll
Do you believe government-funded research programs are essential to maintaining national science and technology leadership?
