Opportunity ID: 363620
General Information
| Funding Opportunity Number | 26-522 |
| Funding Opportunity Title | MPS Astronomical Sciences Research Programs (MPS Astro) |
| Agency | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Document Type | synopsis |
| Version | 1 |
| Opportunity Category | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation | Not specified |
| Funding Instrument Type | Grant |
| Category of Funding Activity | Science and Technology and other Research and Development |
| Category Explanation | Not specified |
| Expected Number of Awards | Not specified |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement | No |
| Posted Date | Aug 17, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT |
| Last Updated Date | Aug 17, 2026 10:29:20 AM EDT |
| Original Closing Date | Nov 16, 2026 12:00:00 AM EST |
| Original Closing Date Notes | Proposals are accepted at any time. However, proposals received after the target submission date may be reviewed in the following fiscal year. |
| Current Closing Date | Nov 16, 2026 12:00:00 AM EST |
| Current Closing Date Notes | Proposals are accepted at any time. However, proposals received after the target submission date may be reviewed in the following fiscal year. |
| Estimated Synopsis Date | Not specified |
| Estimated Application Due Date | Not specified |
| Estimated Award Date | Not specified |
| Estimated Project Start Date | Not specified |
| Archive Date | Dec 16, 2026 12:00:00 AM EST |
| Estimated Total Program Funding | 100,000,000 |
| Award Ceiling | none |
| Award Floor | none |
Assistance Listings
- 47.049 — Mathematical and Physical Sciences
- —
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants | Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" |
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:
Astronomical Sciences Core Research
Astronomical Sciences Technology & Instrumentation
Astronomical Sciences Innovations
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.
Additional Information
| Contact | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Contact Information | NSF support grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov |
| grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov | |
| Email Description | If you have any problems linking to this funding announcement, please contact the email address above. |
| Phone | 703-292-4203 |
NSF Publication 26-522
Version History
| Id | 363620 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Opportunity number | 26-522 |
| Opportunity title | MPS Astronomical Sciences Research Programs (MPS Astro) |
| Owning agency code | NSF |
| Opportunity category / Category | D |
| Opportunity category / Description | Discretionary |
| Synopsis / Opportunity id | 363620 |
| Synopsis / Version | 1 |
| Synopsis / Agency code | NSF |
| Synopsis / Agency name | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Synopsis / Agency phone | 703-292-4203 |
| Synopsis / Agency address desc | If you have any problems linking to this funding announcement, please contact the email address above. |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Code | NSF |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Seed | NSF |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Agency name | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Agency code | NSF |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Top agency code | NSF |
| Synopsis / Top agency details / Code | NSF |
| Synopsis / Top agency details / Seed | NSF |
| Synopsis / Top agency details / Agency name | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Synopsis / Top agency details / Agency code | NSF |
| Synopsis / Top agency details / Top agency code | NSF |
| Synopsis / Agency contact phone | 703-292-4203 |
| Synopsis / Agency contact name | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Synopsis / Agency contact desc | NSF support grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov |
| Synopsis / Agency contact email | grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov |
| Synopsis / Agency contact email desc | If you have any problems linking to this funding announcement, please contact the email address above. |
| Synopsis / Synopsis desc | 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: Astronomical Sciences Core Research Astronomical Sciences Technology & Instrumentation Astronomical Sciences Innovations |
| Synopsis / Response date | Nov 16, 2026 12:00:00 AM EST |
| Synopsis / Response date desc | Proposals are accepted at any time. However, proposals received after the target submission date may be reviewed in the following fiscal year. |
| Synopsis / Funding desc link url | http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf26522 |
| Synopsis / Funding desc link desc | NSF Publication 26-522 |
| Synopsis / Posting date | Aug 17, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT |
| Synopsis / Archive date | Dec 16, 2026 12:00:00 AM EST |
| Synopsis / Cost sharing | No |
| Synopsis / Estimated funding | 100000000 |
| Synopsis / Estimated funding formatted | 100,000,000 |
| Synopsis / Award ceiling | none |
| Synopsis / Award floor | none |
| Synopsis / Create time stamp | Aug 17, 2026 10:29:20 AM EDT |
| Synopsis / Created date | Aug 17, 2026 10:29:20 AM EDT |
| Synopsis / Last updated date | Aug 17, 2026 10:29:20 AM EDT |
| Synopsis / Applicant types 1 / Id | 99 |
| Synopsis / Applicant types 1 / Description | Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" |
| Synopsis / Funding instruments 1 / Id | G |
| Synopsis / Funding instruments 1 / Description | Grant |
| Synopsis / Funding activity categories 1 / Id | ST |
| Synopsis / Funding activity categories 1 / Description | Science and Technology and other Research and Development |
| Synopsis / Response date str | 2026-11-16-00-00-00 |
| Synopsis / Posting date str | 2026-08-17-00-00-00 |
| Synopsis / Archive date str | 2026-12-16-00-00-00 |
| Synopsis / Create time stamp str | 2026-08-17-10-29-20 |
| Agency details / Code | NSF |
| Agency details / Seed | NSF |
| Agency details / Agency name | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Agency details / Agency code | NSF |
| Agency details / Top agency code | NSF |
| Top agency details / Code | NSF |
| Top agency details / Seed | NSF |
| Top agency details / Agency name | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Top agency details / Agency code | NSF |
| Top agency details / Top agency code | NSF |
| Synopsis attachment folders | Not specified |
| Synopsis document urls | Not specified |
| Syn att change comments | Not specified |
| Cfdas 1 / Id | 435084 |
| Cfdas 1 / Opportunity id | 363620 |
| Cfdas 1 / Cfda number | 47.049 |
| Cfdas 1 / Program title | Mathematical and Physical Sciences |
| Cfdas 2 / Id | 435085 |
| Cfdas 2 / Opportunity id | 363620 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Id | 293978 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Topportunity id | 363620 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Family id | 14 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Dialect | XFDL2.2 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Opportunity number | 26-522 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Opportunity title | MPS Astronomical Sciences Research Programs (MPS Astro) |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Opening date | 2026-08-17 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Closing date | 2026-11-16 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Owning agency code | NSF |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Agency details / Code | NSF |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Agency details / Seed | NSF |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Agency details / Agency name | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Agency details / Agency code | NSF |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Agency details / Top agency code | NSF |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Top agency details / Code | NSF |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Top agency details / Seed | NSF |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Top agency details / Agency name | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Top agency details / Agency code | NSF |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Top agency details / Top agency code | NSF |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Contact info | Astronomical Sciences Core Research E-mail: astro-core@nsf.gov |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Electronic required | N |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Expected application count | 800 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Expected application size | 50 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Open to applicant type | 3 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Is multi project | N |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Extension | |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Mimetype | application/pdf |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Last update | Aug 17, 2026 10:29:25 AM EDT |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Workspace compatible flag | Y |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Package id | PKG00293978 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Opening date str | 2026-08-17-00-00-00 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Closing date str | 2026-11-16-00-00-00 |
| Closed opportunity pkgs | Not specified |
| Original due date | Nov 16, 2026 12:00:00 AM EST |
| Original due date desc | Proposals are accepted at any time. However, proposals received after the target submission date may be reviewed in the following fiscal year. |
| Synopsis modified fields | Not specified |
| Forecast modified fields | Not specified |
| Error messages | Not specified |
| Syn post date in past | Yes |
| Doc type | synopsis |
| Forecast hist count | 0 |
| Synopsis hist count | 0 |
| Assist compatible | No |
| Assist url | Not specified |
| Related opps | Not specified |
| Ost | POSTED |
Related Documents
There are no related documents on this grant.
Packages
| Agency Contact Information: | NSF support grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov |
| Assistance Listing Number | Competition ID | Competition Title | Opportunity Package ID | Opening Date | Closing Date | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PKG00293978 | 2026-08-17 | 2026-11-16 | View |
Package 1
Instructions
PKG00293979-instructions.pdf
Mandatory forms
RR_SF424_5_0-V5.0.pdf
NSF_CoverPage_2_3-V2.3.pdf
NSF_KeyPersonExpanded_3_3-V3.3.pdf
RR_Budget_3_0-V3.0.pdf
PerformanceSite_4_0-V4.0.pdf
RR_OtherProjectInfo_1_4-V1.4.pdf
Optional forms
NSF_DeviationAuthorization-V1.1.pdf
NSF_SuggestedReviewers-V1.1.pdf
RR_SubawardBudget_3_0-V3.0.pdf
