NASA Opens New $100 Million-Class Research Opportunity to Advance Astrophysics and Space Science

Washington, D.C.: NASA has opened a new research opportunity aimed at bringing scientists together to tackle some of the most complex questions in modern astrophysics, with a particular focus on theoretical modelling, advanced computing and the study of extreme events across the universe.

The opportunity, announced through NASA’s Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES-25) programme, is part of a new initiative called Theoretical and Computational Astrophysics Networks (TCAN). NASA is inviting researchers to form collaborative networks that can combine expertise from different scientific and computational disciplines.

The programme places particular emphasis on Time Domain Multi-Messenger Astrophysics, an area of astronomy that studies rapidly changing and extreme cosmic events by combining different types of observations and scientific information.

Modern astrophysics increasingly depends on bringing together observations from different sources. Instead of studying a cosmic event through only one type of signal, researchers can combine information from areas such as electromagnetic observations and gravitational-wave measurements with theoretical and computational models. NASA’s new programme is designed to strengthen the scientific and computational capabilities needed to interpret this increasingly complex data.

The research networks supported through the programme can involve scientists working across a wide range of disciplines, including astrophysics, gravitational physics, nuclear physics, plasma physics, computational mathematics and scientific software development. The initiative is also expected to encourage collaboration between researchers working with theoretical models, computer simulations and astronomical observations.

NASA is particularly interested in projects that can improve the theoretical and computational tools used to understand extreme astrophysical phenomena. Such tools can help scientists model events that are difficult or impossible to reproduce on Earth and compare those models with observations collected by space- and ground-based telescopes and other scientific instruments.

Another important aspect of the programme is its emphasis on scientific computing. As astronomical datasets become larger and simulations become increasingly sophisticated, researchers require advanced algorithms, numerical methods and specialised software capable of processing enormous amounts of information.

The new initiative therefore goes beyond traditional astronomy research. It brings together fundamental physics, mathematics, computer science and astronomy to develop better ways of understanding the universe.

NASA is also encouraging participation from universities, national laboratories and other research organisations. The collaborative network structure is intended to allow scientists with different areas of expertise to work together rather than conducting isolated projects.

The agency expects the programme to contribute not only to astrophysical discoveries but also to the development and training of the next generation of theoretical and computational scientists.

One of the major areas of interest is multi-messenger astrophysics, which has become increasingly important as scientists gain access to different ways of observing cosmic events. By combining information from multiple messengers, researchers can obtain a more complete picture of phenomena such as explosions, compact objects and other transient events occurring across the universe.

NASA’s latest opportunity comes as space agencies and scientific institutions increasingly rely on advanced computing and data analysis to interpret observations from modern astronomical missions. The combination of increasingly powerful telescopes, detectors and computational systems is producing unprecedented quantities of scientific data.

Under the ROSES-25 Amendment 70 opportunity, researchers must submit a Notice of Intent by October 15, 2026, followed by full proposals by December 3, 2026.

The programme represents another step toward a more collaborative model of astrophysics, where astronomers, physicists, mathematicians and computer scientists work together to solve problems that cannot easily be addressed within a single scientific discipline.

For NASA, the objective is ultimately to improve humanity’s ability to understand some of the universe’s most extreme and mysterious phenomena through a combination of advanced theory, computational science and astronomical observations.