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 Planetary Science Institute, a Tucson-based nonprofit research organization, received a $278,530 grant award from NASA's Shared Services Center on October 18, 2024, for research on simple crater morphometry and degradation processes on Mercury using stereo topography data from the MESSENGER mission. The grant, designated 23-DDAP23-0004, is unencumbered by set-aside provisions and reflects PSI's competitive technical capabilities in planetary science research. The work is scheduled for completion by October 17, 2027, and will be performed at PSI's Tucson, Arizona headquarters.

This award aligns with NASA's broader exploration initiative and the agency's commitment to advancing scientific discovery across lunar, Martian, and solar system research domains. PSI brings substantial expertise in executing balanced science programs consistent with guidance from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and the organization's established track record includes numerous planetary science investigations spanning crater analysis, lunar features, Martian geology, and magnetospheric dynamics. The Mercury crater research contributes to the agency's systematic understanding of planetary surface processes and erosional mechanisms across diverse solar system bodies.

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.