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 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Shared Services Center awarded the Planetary Science Institute $206,838 on January 7, 2026, under the Science program (CFDA 43.001) to conduct research with a period of performance through January 6, 2029. Work is performed in Tucson, Arizona.

The award supports planetary science research aligned with NASA's Science Mission Directorate priorities. The Smithsonian Institution serves as a co-investigator sub-recipient (sub-award 80NSSC26K0377-2056-SMITH, awarded March 23, 2026) and will conduct thickness mapping of basaltic material in the South Pole-Aitken basin on the Moon using spectral, topographic, and visible image datasets. The Smithsonian's work includes mentoring a postdoctoral researcher to complete the mapping effort, determine stratigraphies for iSALE modeling inputs, compare model outputs with observed mineralogies, present results at scientific conferences, and contribute to publication of findings.

Participate as a key partner and enabler in the agenc