# Exploration (43.003)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/programs/43-003-exploration/  
Publisher: Well Told Grants. Data: USAspending.gov and Grants.gov, updated November 7, 2026.

Exploration is run by National Aeronautics and Space Administration. From fiscal 2021 to 2025 it awarded $354 million in 208 grants, about $1.7 million per award.

## Objectives

The Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD) defines and manages systems development for programs critical to the NASA’s Artemis campaign and planning for NASA’s Moon to Mars exploration approach in an integrated manner. ESDMD manages the human exploration system development for lunar orbital, lunar surface, and Mars exploration. ESDMD leads the human aspects of the Artemis activities as well as the integration of science into the human system elements. ESDMD is responsible for development of the lunar and Mars architectures. Programs in the mission directorate include Orion, Space Launch System, Exploration Ground Systems, Gateway, Human Landing System, and Extravehicular Activity (xEVA)and Human Surface Mobility.

## Funding by fiscal year

| Year | Amount | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $62.9 million | 141 |
| 2022 | $62.0 million | 129 |
| 2023 | $77.4 million | 116 |
| 2024 | $65.4 million | 94 |
| 2025 | $86.6 million | 71 |

## Largest recipients

| Recipient | State | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland, College Park | Maryland | $162 million |
| Baylor College of Medicine | Texas | $78.9 million |
| The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees | Florida | $5.9 million |
| The Regents of the University of Colorado | Colorado | $5.7 million |
| Georgetown University | District of Columbia | $4.9 million |
| San Jose State University Research Foundation | California | $4.6 million |
| The General Hospital Corporation | Massachusetts | $4.4 million |
| The Research Foundation for the State University of New York | New York | $4.4 million |
| Georgia Tech Research Corp | Georgia | $3.9 million |
| The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | $3.6 million |
| Brown University | Rhode Island | $3.5 million |
| Southwest Research Institute | Texas | $3.4 million |
| National Council on Radiation Protection & Measurements | Maryland | $3.0 million |
| Old Dominion University Research Foundation | Virginia | $2.8 million |
| University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston | Texas | $2.6 million |
| The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center | Texas | $2.5 million |
| University of New Mexico | New Mexico | $2.4 million |
| Rector & Visitors of the University of Virginia | Virginia | $2.4 million |
| University of Rochester | New York | $2.2 million |
| Utah State University | Utah | $2.0 million |