1,000+ Opportunities
Find the right grant
Search federal, foundation, and corporate grants with AI — or browse by agency, topic, and state.
NASA Human Exploration Research Opportunities (HERO) Released Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), entitled, “Human Exploration Research Opportunities (HERO)” (NNJ25ZSA001N) , has been released. This NOFO will solicit applied research in support of NASA’s Human Research Program (HRP). This NOFO is available through the the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) at: https://tinyurl.
com/HERO25NOFO. The research will fall into one or more categories corresponding to HRP’s five Elements: Space Radiation, Human Health Countermeasures, Exploration Medical Capability, Human Factors and Behavioral Performance, and Research Operations and Integration.
This NOFO covers all aspects of research to provide human health and performance countermeasures, knowledge, technologies, and tools to enable safe, reliable, and productive human space exploration. Awards generally range from under $250K per year for focused, limited efforts (e.g., data analysis) to $1. 2M per year for extensive activities (e.g., development of scientific hardware) and will be made as grants.
The funds available for awards in each research opportunity offered in this NOFO range from less than one million to several million dollars. This range allows selection from a few to as many as a dozen proposals depending on the program objectives and the submission of proposals of merit. The period of performance for an award can range from one to five years.
[g1] Any changes or modifications to any of these guidelines will be specified in the descriptions of the relevant research opportunities in the appendices of this solicitation. Details of the topics will be given in the appendices of the NOFO.
Unless otherwise specified, appendices will use a two-step solicitation process requiring that a compliant and relevant Step-1 proposal be submitted in order to be considered to be invited to submit a Step-2 proposal. Proposal due dates will be staggered throughout the HERO open period of November 1, 2024 to October 2025. The first proposal due date (for Step-1 proposals submitted in response to Appendix A) is December 2, 2024.
The electronic submission is required by the due date for proposal submission. Proposal due dates are given in the appendices, which will be posted at https://nspires. nasaprs.
com. Interested proposers should monitor https://nspires. nasaprs.
com or register and subscribe to the Space Operations Mission Directorate (SOMD) electronic notifications system through the NSPIRES account subscription services. New program elements or amendments to this NOFO through October 2025 will be posted in NSPIRES, after which time release of a subsequent HERO NOFO is planned. All categories of United States (U.S.) institutions are eligible to submit proposals in response to the NOFO.
Principal Investigators may collaborate with universities, Federal Government laboratories, the private sector, and state and local government laboratories. In all such arrangements, the applying entity is expected to be responsible for administering the project according to the management approach presented in the proposal. NASA’s policy is to conduct research with non-U.S. organizations on a cooperative, no exchange-of-funds basis.
Thank you for your continued interest in NASA. Please refer to the solicitation document for contact information. Funding Opportunity Number: NNJ25ZSA001N.
Assistance Listing: 43. 007. Funding Instrument: CA,G,PC.
Category: ST.
Get alerted about grants like this
Save a search for “NASA Johnson Space Center” or related topics and get emailed when new opportunities appear.
Search similar grants →Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Eligible applicants: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility. All categories of U.S. institutions are eligible to submit proposals in response to this NRA (see solicitation for details). NASA's policy regarding non-U.S. organizations is to conduct research on a cooperative, no exchange of funds basis (see solicitation for details). Proposers must be affiliated with an institution at https://nspires.nasaprs.com. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Not specified Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is October 31, 2025. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
Past winners and funding trends for this program
NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs are grants from NASA Johnson Space Center that fund early-stage technology research and development by small businesses to support NASA's mission and generate commercial potential. The SBIR program requires the research to be conducted primarily by the small business, while STTR requires collaboration with a nonprofit research institution or federally funded research center. Both programs use a phased approach: Phase I validates feasibility, Phase II develops the technology, and Phase III pursues commercialization. Eligible applicants are U.S. small businesses with 500 or fewer employees. Award amounts vary by phase and program solicitation.
NASA Space Grant College and Fellowship Program is a grant from NASA Johnson Space Center that funds a national network of colleges and universities to expand opportunities for Americans to understand and participate in NASA's aeronautics and space projects through science and engineering education, research, and public outreach. The program's 52 state and territory consortia fund fellowships and scholarships for students pursuing STEM careers, support curriculum enhancement and faculty development, and administer pre-college and public service education projects. Eligible applicants are universities and colleges across the United States. Awards of up to $870,000 annually are available per consortium, supporting fellowships, scholarships, and educational initiatives aligned with NASA's mission.
NASA Pathways Internships at Johnson Space Center is a grant from NASA Johnson Space Center that funds paid internship positions for students to contribute to real human spaceflight programs, including work on NASA vehicles for deep space exploration, the International Space Station, and commercial space partnerships. Interns are assigned mentors who ensure meaningful project work, networking with professionals, and an introduction to NASA's culture and mission. The program is open to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. Internships are paid; students rotate through assignments and gain hands-on experience across engineering, science, and mission operations in the Houston, Texas area.