Space Technology (43.012)
Space Technology (Assistance Listing 43.012) is run by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It awarded $327 million in 939 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $347,956 per award on average. 3 funding opportunities are open or forecast now.
The typical award was $168,000. Half of the 939 awards fell between $81,591 and $292,000, and they ranged from $2,123 to $15.3 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$327 million
- Grant awards939
- Typical award$168,000
- Awarded in FY 2025$58.0 million
- Size rank478 of 1824
- Type of assistanceCooperative agreements, cooperative agreements (discretionary grants), project grants, project grants (capacity building and complaint processing, training), project grants (cooperative agreements), project grants (discretionary), project grants (fellowships), project grants (for collaborative design of curriculum, production of, project grants (for specified projects), project grants (including individual awards), project grants (including travel grants), direct payments for specified use (cooperative agreements), use of property, facilities, and equipment, training
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $68.5 million in fiscal 2021 to $58.0 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 478th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 62% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 48 states and territories.
What the program funds
NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) leads the development, demonstration, and infusion of transformational technologies that enhance NASA’s efforts to explore the unknown in space, benefit life on Earth, and solve critical stakeholder needs. Space technology investments made today are shaping the missions of the future, including to the Moon and Mars, while delivering the cutting-edge technology that will define American leadership in space exploration for years to come. STMD engages and inspires thousands of entrepreneurs, researchers, innovators, and small businesses to solve the Nation’s toughest challenges. Cutting-edge and impactful space technology research and development take place at NASA Centers, universities, and national laboratories. STMD also leverages partnerships with other Government agencies and commercial industry to change what is possible in space.
Open opportunities
- Space Technology Research Institutes
- Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion (SpaceTech REDDI-2026)
- NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase II
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Categories of organizations that may be eligible for NASA grants and cooperative agreements include: • Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) – A two- or four-year university or college (including U.S. community colleges), public or private, accredited to confer degrees beyond that of the K-12 grade levels. 29 • Educational Institutions – Non-higher-education entities, such as K-12 education groups or institutions of informal education, are classified as Educational Institutions.2 • Non-profit Organization – An organization that: o Is operated primarily for scientific, engineering, educational, research, or similar purposes in the public interest; o Is not organized primarily for profit; o Uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the organization’s operations; and o Is not an IHE. Non-profit organizations generally exclude (i) colleges and universities; (ii) hospitals; and (iii) state, local, and Federally recognized Indian tribal governments. • For-profit Entity – An organization of any size that is organized primarily for profit. • Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) – FFRDCs are under a broad charter by a Government agency for performing, analyzing, or conducting research for the United States Government. NASA sponsors JPL as the Agency’s sole FFRDC, and JPL is not an eligible applicant to receive a NASA-funded grant or cooperative agreement as a recipient or subrecipient3 .
What the money can and cannot pay for
Although NASA’s statutory authority extends beyond research awards, the Agency primarily issues grants and cooperative agreements to support research and research-related activities. Such activities include, but are not limited to, education, travel, conferences, and training. Information on both active and closed NASA grants and cooperative agreements is publicly available at USAspending.gov. Applicants and recipients must refer to the applicable Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and award terms and conditions for program-specific requirements and additional details.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. A cost-sharing percentage is displayed to satisfy a system requirement that necessitates selection of a value. Cost-sharing requirements, including any applicable percentages, may apply under this listing and, if applicable, will be specified in the NOFO. Applicants should refer to the NOFO for detailed cost-sharing requirements.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
For the latest opportunities to work with STMD, see our current and upcoming solicitations. Review individual solicitations for specific deadlines.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Total individual award sizes will vary based on scope from tens of thousands to millions of dollars per award.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: STMD Funded Project Information is available at https://techport.nasa.gov/; NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts NIAC Funded Studies - https://www.nasa.gov/niac-funded-studies/NASA; Space Technology Research Grants Space Technology Research Grants - https://www.nasa.gov/space-technology-mission-directorate/space-technology-research-grants/NASA; Flight Opportunities Flight Opportunities https://www.nasa.gov/stmd-flight-opportunities/; NASA Small Spacecraft Technologies SST Partnerships https://www.nasa.gov/smallspacecraft/sst-partnerships/.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Space Technology (43.012) awarded$327 million across 939 grant awards, an average of $347,956 per award.
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 39% of the money, state and local governments 27% and colleges and universities 24%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 345 | $127 million | 39% |
| State and local governments | 257 | $87.7 million | 27% |
| Colleges and universities | 223 | $79.6 million | 24% |
| Other | 25 | $12.5 million | 3.8% |
| Businesses | 25 | $10.7 million | 3.3% |
| Small businesses | 64 | $9.6 million | 2.9% |
By state
33 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California | 169 | $56.1 million |
| Texas | 76 | $30.4 million |
| Colorado | 58 | $27.1 million |
| Georgia | 43 | $26.1 million |
| Massachusetts | 72 | $22.9 million |
| Pennsylvania | 36 | $21.1 million |
| Indiana | 38 | $17.0 million |
| Florida | 54 | $13.6 million |
| Michigan | 38 | $12.8 million |
| Illinois | 47 | $11.6 million |
| New York | 45 | $10.5 million |
| Ohio | 21 | $7.0 million |
| District of Columbia | 7 | $6.9 million |
| Alabama | 24 | $6.8 million |
| Maryland | 26 | $6.6 million |
| Arizona | 21 | $5.9 million |
| Washington | 18 | $5.7 million |
| Missouri | 12 | $4.8 million |
| Wisconsin | 12 | $3.6 million |
| Tennessee | 9 | $3.4 million |
| Minnesota | 13 | $2.6 million |
| Utah | 10 | $2.2 million |
| Kentucky | 7 | $2.2 million |
| New Jersey | 9 | $2.2 million |
| Virginia | 5 | $1.7 million |
| Iowa | 4 | $1.7 million |
| New Mexico | 5 | $1.5 million |
| Kansas | 2 | $1.4 million |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $1.3 million |
| West Virginia | 2 | $1.2 million |
| New Hampshire | 4 | $1.2 million |
| Connecticut | 9 | $1.1 million |
| Oregon | 4 | $1.0 million |
| Delaware | 6 | $804,957 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $645,489 |
| Montana | 3 | $559,252 |
| Arkansas | 2 | $524,999 |
| North Carolina | 4 | $516,398 |
| Vermont | 3 | $479,455 |
| Mississippi | 2 | $403,997 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $349,744 |
| South Carolina | 4 | $322,603 |
| Hawaii | 2 | $242,092 |
| Louisiana | 1 | $224,003 |
| Alaska | 1 | $199,108 |
| Nevada | 2 | $149,296 |
| Maine | 1 | $101,297 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $81,722 |