MPS Astronomical Sciences Research Programs (MPS Astro)

Key facts

Copied from the official Grants.gov record. Last verified October 29, 2026.

Program name

MPS Astronomical Sciences Research Programs (MPS Astro)

Issuing agency

U.S. National Science Foundation

Opportunity number

26-522

Funding type

Grant

Funding purpose

Science and Technology and other Research and Development

Status

Open (posted)

Application deadline

Closes October 7, 2076Agency note: Proposals accepted anytime

Published award range

Not published by the agency

Estimated total program funding

$100,000,000

Cost sharing or match required

No

Eligible applicants (official categories)

• Unrestricted (open to any type of entity, subject to any clarification in Additional Information on Eligibility)

Relevant to

Businesses and NonprofitsHow we determined this: Grants.gov lists eligibility as Unrestricted.

Geographic restrictions

None stated in structured data (federal opportunities are often nationwide). Check the eligibility details and full announcement for any limits.

Assistance Listing (CFDA)

47.049

Official source

View on Grants.gov ↗ · Agency information link ↗

Application URL

www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/363620 ↗Apply through Grants.gov (Workspace) using the application package on the official listing, unless the full announcement names a different submission system.

Source identifier

Grants.gov opportunity ID 363620 · Funding opportunity number 26-522

Posted

August 17, 2026 · Source last updated October 7, 2026

Last verified

October 29, 2026 (against Grants.gov)

Data completeness

83% of key fields published by the sourceNot published: published funding range, eligibility criteria text.

Record confidence

highVerified against the official source; key fields present; no open issues.

Description (from the official listing)

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 ResearchAstronomical Sciences Technology & InstrumentationAstronomical Sciences InnovationsResearch 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.

Agency contact

NSF grants.gov support grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov