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Funding and Information for Prospective Researchers

Astronaut on ISS growing plants.
NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan waters the plant pillows in which Mizuna mustard greens are growing for the Veg-04B experiment. Veg-04B focuses on the effects of light quality and fertilizer on the leafy Mizuna crop, microbial food safety, nutritional value and the taste acceptability by the crew. The space botany research is also informing NASA how to provide fresh food for crews on long-term space missions.
NASA

Where Can I Find Funding Opportunities?

There are several sources of funding available to scientists to be used for research and development, payload development, payload processing at NASA facilities, on-orbit operation, and more. The following is a guide to online funding information for space station research. In general:
  – NASA funding for space station use is obtained through NASA Research Announcements (NRAs)
  – National Laboratory funding for space station use is obtained through research opportunities with other government agencies, private, and non-profit sectors.
  – Space Station International Partner funding can be obtained through their prospective processes. 

NASA-Funded Opportunities

Open Research Opportunities for ISS (within NSPIRES’ NASA Research Solicitations)

Human Research
NASA’s Human Research Program develops capabilities, necessary countermeasures, and technologies in support of human space exploration, focusing on mitigating the highest risks to crew health and performance.

Technology Development and Demonstration
Research funding is available for the use of space station as a relevant environmental testbed to develop technology to mission readiness levels for exploration.

Biological and Physical Sciences
NASA’s goal to maintain US capabilities in biological and physical sciences are realized through funding these investigations on the space station.

Earth and Space Science
Investigations in areas such as heliophysics, observations of Earth and the planets, and astrophysics are just a few examples of the potential Earth and space science research to be done on the space station.

National Laboratory Funding Opportunities or Memoranda of Understanding

In 2005, Congress designated the US assets of the space station a National Laboratory, opening up the use of the space station to other government agencies, the private sector, and non-profit organizations. Those space station researchers whose investigations are not funded by NASA are funded through the space station National Laboratory initiative, or through one of the space station international partners. There are many non-NASA users of the space station. Researchers who wish to perform investigations on space station as part of the International Space Station National Laboratory are sponsored by one of the many other government agencies, academia, and industry participants who have partnered with NASA under Space Act Agreements or Memorandums of Understandings.

 › Overview
 › Current/Upcoming Opportunities and Proposal Submissions (within CASIS)

Space Station International Partner Funding Opportunities

Various research opportunities exist with the space station international partners. To learn about these research opportunities, visit the partner agencies’ research opportunities pages.

 › Partners and Partnerships

ISS Research Client Helpline

The International Space Station Research Integration Office has both a phone and an email client service helpline that payload developers and others interested in doing research on the orbiting laboratory can contact to get assistance. The phone is staffed during regular business hours. After hours, please leave a message and a representative will return the call on the next business day. Or send us an email with your contact info, affiliation, detailed question(s), and how you are planning to use the info.

Phone: 281-244-6187
Email: jsc-iss-research-helpline@mail.nasa.gov