Execute a balanced science program based on discipline-specific guidance from the national academies of sciences, engineering, and medicine, administration priorities, and direction from congress.…

The Smithsonian Institution, operating through its Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO), was awarded an $90,000 research grant by a civilian federal agency effective August 1, 2025, with a completion date of July 31, 2026. This grant supports SAO's participation as a key partner in the agency's exploration initiative, focusing on scientific research related to the Moon, lunar orbit, Mars, and beyond. The award also encompasses the execution of a balanced science program aligned with discipline-specific guidance from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, as well as administration priorities and congressional direction. The work will be performed at SAO's Cambridge, Massachusetts location.

The grant funding will support SAO's advancement of discovery in emerging scientific fields through cross-disciplinary collaboration between traditional science disciplines, as well as the development of a directorate-wide, target-user focused approach to applied programs. These applied programs include Earth science applications, space weather, planetary defense, and space situational awareness. This award carries no set-aside designation, reflecting SAO's competitive positioning in the federal research marketplace. As a non-profit research and educational organization serving as a trust instrumentality of the U.S. government, SAO brings its extensive expertise in astrophysics, solar physics, and planetary science to support the agency's broader scientific and exploration objectives.

Execute a balanced science program based on discipline-specific guidance from the national academies of sciences, engineering, and medicine, administration priorities, and direction from congress. Participate as a key partner and enabler in the agency s exploration initiative, focusing on scientific research of, on, and from the moon, lunar orbit, mars, and beyond. Advance discovery in emerging fields by identifying and exploiting cross-disciplinary opportunities between traditional science disciplines develop a directorate-wide, target-user focused approach to applied programs, including earth science applications, space weather, planetary defense, and space situational awareness