Astronomical Research Institute

Astronomical Research Institute is a non-profit organization registered to receive federal contract and grant awards since March 17, 2005. The institute specializes in research and development services related to Near-Earth Object (NEO) detection and monitoring, supporting NASA's strategic asteroid monitoring objectives. As a tax-exempt corporate entity, Astronomical Research Institute focuses on advancing scientific knowledge in the field of astronomy, particularly in the area of potentially hazardous asteroid detection and tracking.

Through federal contract awards, Astronomical Research Institute has primarily worked with NASA's Shared Services Center to execute multiple phases of the NEO Follow Up Project. The most recent contract, awarded on March 2, 2024, for $2,246,949.00, supports Phase VI of this ongoing project. Previous contracts, such as the $2,242,635.00 award for Phase V from March 2021 to March 2024, have focused on delivering new facilities to enable rapid NEO characterization measurements and observe thousands of faint near-Earth asteroids annually. These contracts are typically structured as grants for research, without set-aside designations, and do not involve major subcontractors. The institute's work under these contracts contributes significantly to NASA's capabilities in early detection and tracking of potentially hazardous asteroids.

Astronomical Research Institute has also received federal grant awards to complement its contract work. The most recent grant, awarded on March 2, 2024, provides $748,983 for the NEO Follow Up Project Phase VI under the Science (CFDA 43.001) federal grant program. This three-year project grant, running through March 1, 2027, continues the institute's efforts in providing research and development services for NEO detection and monitoring. Similarly, a previous grant of $2.2 million was awarded for Phase V of the project from 2021 to 2024. These grants, awarded by NASA's Shared Services Center, enable the institute to develop and operate facilities that provide rapid NEOCP measures and observe over 4,000 near-Earth asteroids fainter than magnitude 22.0 per year. The consistent funding through both contracts and grants underscores the importance of Astronomical Research Institute's work in supporting NASA's asteroid monitoring and planetary defense initiatives.