Federal Grant Award Summary

The Planetary Science Institute received a $280,379 Project Grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate under the Science program (CFDA 43.001), awarded on April 8, 2026, with a completion date of April 7, 2029. Under this award, the Institute will execute a balanced science program aligned with guidance from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, NASA administration priorities, and Congressional direction. As a key partner and enabler for NASA, the Institute will conduct fundamental planetary science research utilizing space observatories, spacecraft missions, and data analysis to advance scientific understanding of planetary systems, solar system bodies, and related scientific domains.

Based on the Institute's historical performance under similar awards, deliverables are expected to include theoretical modeling, data analysis, geomorphic mapping, spectroscopic analysis, and peer-reviewed publications spanning research areas such as planetary geology, surface processes, atmospheric characterization, and magnetospheric dynamics. The research will be conducted at the awardee's facility in Tucson, Arizona, and may involve sub-award partnerships with academic and research institutions to provide specialized expertise in mineralogical analysis, numerical modeling, and data interpretation supporting broader NASA research initiatives.