NASA has announced the selection of 12 research proposals aimed at supporting long-term human space exploration. The agency will distribute over $7 million in funding between fiscal years 2026 and 2030 to support studies focused on space agriculture and precision health.
Half of the selected investigations are dedicated to the agency’s Space Crops program. These projects aim to improve the ability to grow food in extraterrestrial environments. Research topics include the study of plant-microbe interactions in regolith, the genetic resilience of “resurrection plants” in arid conditions, and the adaptation of algal genes to spaceflight. These findings are intended to help integrate biological solutions into life-support systems for future missions to the Moon and Mars.
The remaining six projects fall under the Biological and Physical Sciences Division’s precision health initiative. These studies will examine how space travel impacts human physiology, including the effects of lunar dust on respiratory and immune systems, the impact of radiation on aging, and the identification of existing drugs that could mitigate health risks for crews. The research also seeks to develop early-warning systems to detect potential health concerns during missions.
The selected principal investigators represent 10 institutions across eight states, with nine of the recipients receiving funding from the Space Biology Program for the first time. The awards were granted following a competitive proposal process under the ROSES-2024 solicitation.
Source: NASA
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