Opportunity Information: Apply for 14 535
Apply for 14 535
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "CubeSat based Science Missions for Geospace and Atmospheric Research" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.050 Geosciences.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 10, 2014 and posted on Feb 10, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 12, 2014 Full Proposal Deadline(s) May 12, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $600,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $900,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity titled "CubeSat based Science Missions for Geospace and Atmospheric Research" (NSF Publication 14-535) was created to address a major bottleneck in geospace and atmospheric science: the ongoing lack of essential space-based observations. Many key scientific questions in space physics and upper-atmospheric research cannot be answered well with current datasets because existing missions are limited in coverage, cost, and flexibility. NSF points to recent advances in sensors and small-spacecraft technologies as a turning point, making it realistic to fly capable scientific instruments on low-cost satellites. One of the strongest motivations highlighted in the solicitation is the ability to collect multi-point measurements in space, meaning observations from more than one location at the same time. That kind of coordinated sampling is often critical for understanding dynamic, spatially structured processes in the geospace environment and the atmosphere, and it is difficult to achieve with traditional single, large spacecraft.
The program is centered on CubeSat-based missions. NSF emphasizes CubeSats because they can be developed and launched more affordably than conventional satellites, and because they fit within standardized deployment approaches used for secondary payloads. In particular, the solicitation notes that launches will mainly occur through the Poly Picosatellite Orbital Deployer (P-POD), a widely used CubeSat deployment system. CubeSats funded under this call are expected to fly as auxiliary payloads on Department of Defense (DOD), NASA, or commercial launches. Importantly, NSF indicates that arranging the launch will happen after selection and is not something proposers need to provide within the solicitation itself, which reduces one of the major logistical barriers that can keep smaller teams from pursuing spaceflight opportunities.
The scope of work NSF is seeking is end-to-end science missions, not just instrument concepts or paper studies. Proposals are expected to cover the development, construction, and testing of the satellite and payload, followed by mission operations once in orbit. Beyond simply collecting measurements, the solicitation explicitly includes requirements and expectations around data distribution and scientific analysis. In other words, the program is designed to fund missions that produce usable datasets for the research community and translate those measurements into scientific results that advance understanding of geospace and atmospheric processes.
A second major goal of the program is workforce development. NSF frames these CubeSat missions as valuable training grounds for the next generation of experimental space scientists and aerospace engineers. Because CubeSat projects often involve integrated teams working on real hardware, testing, operations, and data analysis within a relatively short timeline, they can provide hands-on experience that is difficult to replicate through purely ground-based research or participation in large flagship missions. This training emphasis sits alongside the scientific goals rather than replacing them: the solicitation presents both as central outcomes of the investment.
From an administrative and funding perspective, this opportunity is a discretionary NSF grant under CFDA 47.050 (Geosciences), categorized under science and technology and other research and development. NSF anticipated making about two awards under this solicitation, with an estimated total funding amount of $600,000. Individual awards were expected to fall between $300,000 (floor) and $900,000 (ceiling). There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement stated. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of applicant organization, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement text. Key dates show the opportunity was posted and created on February 10, 2014, with a full proposal deadline of May 12, 2014, and an archive date of June 12, 2014.
For access and support, the notice points applicants to NSF Publication 14-535 as the primary information source and provides Grants.gov support contact information (grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov) for technical issues accessing the announcement. Overall, the solicitation is aimed at enabling scientifically focused CubeSat missions that can deliver new measurements, support multi-point observational strategies, and strengthen the pipeline of researchers and engineers trained through real space mission development and operations.
FAQs: NSF "CubeSat based Science Missions for Geospace and Atmospheric Research" (NSF Publication 14-535)
What is this NSF funding opportunity about?
This NSF opportunity supports CubeSat-based science missions designed to advance geospace and atmospheric research. The solicitation highlights a major bottleneck in the field: too few essential space-based observations to answer many key questions in space physics and upper-atmospheric science. The program is intended to enable new measurements using low-cost, flexible small satellites.
Why is NSF emphasizing CubeSats for this program?
NSF emphasizes CubeSats because they can be developed and launched more affordably than conventional satellites and can take advantage of standardized secondary-payload deployment approaches. The solicitation points to advances in sensors and small-spacecraft technology that make it realistic to fly capable scientific instruments on these platforms.
What scientific gap is this solicitation trying to address?
The solicitation targets the ongoing lack of essential space-based observations for geospace and atmospheric science. It notes that existing missions can be limited in coverage, cost, and flexibility, which restricts the ability to resolve many scientific questions with current datasets.
What kinds of measurements or observation strategies are especially encouraged?
A central motivation described in the solicitation is multi-point measurement in space, meaning coordinated observations from more than one location at the same time. This approach can be critical for studying dynamic and spatially structured processes in the geospace environment and the atmosphere, and it is difficult to achieve using traditional single large spacecraft missions.
Does the program fund full missions or only instruments and concept studies?
The scope is end-to-end science missions. Proposals are expected to cover development, construction, and testing of the satellite and payload, as well as mission operations after launch. The solicitation is not framed as funding only paper studies or isolated instrument concepts.
What activities are expected to be included in a proposal?
Based on the solicitation summary, proposals are expected to include satellite and payload development, construction, and testing, followed by mission operations once in orbit. The program also explicitly includes expectations around data distribution and scientific analysis, aiming for missions that produce usable datasets and scientific results.
Are data sharing and scientific analysis part of the program expectations?
Yes. The solicitation explicitly includes requirements and expectations related to data distribution and scientific analysis, not only the collection of measurements. The intent is to support missions that deliver usable datasets for the research community and translate observations into advances in scientific understanding.
How does NSF expect these CubeSats to be launched?
The solicitation indicates launches will mainly occur through the Poly Picosatellite Orbital Deployer (P-POD), a widely used CubeSat deployment system. CubeSats under this call are expected to fly as auxiliary (secondary) payloads on Department of Defense (DOD), NASA, or commercial launches.
Do applicants need to arrange a launch as part of the proposal?
No. NSF indicates that arranging the launch will happen after selection and does not need to be provided within the solicitation itself. This is described as reducing a major logistical barrier for smaller teams.
What is the workforce development goal mentioned in the solicitation?
In addition to scientific results, NSF frames these CubeSat missions as training grounds for the next generation of experimental space scientists and aerospace engineers. CubeSat projects can offer hands-on experience with real hardware, testing, operations, and data analysis on a relatively short timeline.
Is workforce development a substitute for scientific goals in this program?
No. The solicitation presents workforce development as a second major goal that sits alongside the scientific goals. Both are described as central outcomes of the investment.
What agency is offering this funding?
The funding opportunity is offered by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
What is the official title and reference for the solicitation?
The opportunity is titled "CubeSat based Science Missions for Geospace and Atmospheric Research" and references NSF Publication 14-535.
What program area or CFDA is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is described as a discretionary NSF grant under CFDA 47.050 (Geosciences), categorized under science and technology and other research and development.
How many awards did NSF anticipate making and what was the total funding?
NSF anticipated making about two awards under this solicitation, with an estimated total funding amount of $600,000.
What were the expected award sizes (minimum and maximum)?
Individual awards were expected to range from a floor of $300,000 up to a ceiling of $900,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement was stated in the information provided.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of applicant organization, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications that may appear in the full announcement text.
What were the key dates for this opportunity?
The opportunity was posted and created on February 10, 2014. The full proposal deadline was May 12, 2014. The archive date was June 12, 2014.
Where is the primary official information located?
The notice points applicants to NSF Publication 14-535 as the primary information source for the opportunity.
Who should be contacted for technical issues accessing the announcement?
For technical issues accessing the announcement through Grants.gov, the provided support contact is grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
What is the overall purpose of the solicitation in practical terms?
Overall, the solicitation aims to enable scientifically focused CubeSat missions that can deliver new space-based measurements, support multi-point observational strategies, and strengthen the pipeline of trained researchers and engineers through real mission development and operations.
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