EARLY STAGE INNOVATIONS (ESI26) | NNH26ZTR001N 26ESI B2

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NASA Early Stage Innovations (ESI26)

1) What is the Early Stage Innovations (ESI26) opportunity?

Early Stage Innovations (ESI26) is an appendix under NASA's broader NASA Research Announcement (NRA) titled "Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion 2026 (SpaceTech REDDI 2026)." It is focused on funding innovative, early-stage research that supports NASA's high-priority space technologies, particularly at low Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs).

2) Which NASA organization is offering and funding ESI26?

ESI26 is offered by NASA Headquarters through the Research and Technology Mission Directorate (RTMD) and is run and financially supported by NASA's Space Technology Research Grants (STRG) Program within RTMD.

3) What kinds of projects is ESI26 trying to fund?

ESI26 is looking for innovative, early-stage research efforts that can meaningfully advance space technologies NASA considers high priority. The solicitation emphasizes low-TRL work and research that is clearly tied to NASA-relevant civil space needs and use cases.

4) Are projects that focus mainly on terrestrial applications a good fit?

No. The opportunity explicitly states that proposals must be aimed at civil space needs and NASA-relevant use cases. Projects that are primarily terrestrial or oriented toward non-civil-space applications are not what this solicitation is seeking to support.

5) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to U.S. institutions of higher education (both public/state and private universities). The program is structured to fund university-led research efforts.

6) What are the Principal Investigator (PI) eligibility requirements?

The Principal Investigator must be a tenured faculty member or an untenured faculty member on the tenure track at the proposing institution.

7) Are collaborations or teaming arrangements allowed?

Yes, collaboration and teaming are allowed, but applicants must follow the restrictions and participation rules described in the solicitation.

8) How do we submit a proposal?

Proposals must be submitted electronically through NASA's NSPIRES system. Submission must be completed by an authorized organizational representative, so institutions should plan for internal approvals and ensure NSPIRES registrations are in place well before the deadlines.

9) Is there a required submission process or is it single-step?

There is a mandatory two-step submission process. Applicants must submit a preliminary proposal first, and only applicants who receive an invitation from NASA may submit a full proposal.

10) What is the deadline for the preliminary proposal?

The preliminary proposal deadline is August 13, 2026 at 5:00 pm Eastern.

11) What is the deadline for the full proposal?

The target deadline for invited full proposals is December 16, 2026 at 5:00 pm Eastern. Only teams invited by NASA may submit a full proposal.

12) When are awards expected to start?

Awards are planned to begin in June 2027. This implies a timeline where selections, negotiations, and the project start occur well after the 2026 submission cycle.

13) How much funding is available per award?

NASA indicates an award ceiling of $750,000 per award for ESI26.

14) How many awards does NASA expect to make?

NASA anticipates making about 24 awards, assuming a sufficient number of high-quality proposals are received and funding is available.

15) Can NASA decide to make fewer awards, or none?

Yes. NASA notes it may choose to make fewer awards, or none at all, depending on merit and available resources.

16) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

ESI26 is described as a discretionary grant opportunity with CFDA 43.012.

17) Do proposals have to match a specific set of topics?

Yes. NASA is only accepting proposals that clearly align with one of eight defined technical topics. Proposals should be tightly scoped to one of these areas rather than broadly "space related."

18) What are the eight technical topics under ESI26?

1. Accelerating computational fluid dynamics for high-enthalpy hypersonic flows using advanced numerics and machine learning
2. Autonomous maintenance and manufacturing technologies for lunar and Martian environments
3. Computational design and characterization methods for oxidation-resistant refractory alloys for aerospace
4. Entry-induced fracture modeling of thermal protection materials
5. Experimental characterization of supersonic retropropulsion flows at subscale
6. Innovative and adaptive filtering methods for onboard autonomous spacecraft navigation
7. Large surface area electrospray thrusters
8. Robotic construction and outfitting approaches for surface power grids on the Moon and Mars

19) How narrowly should a proposal be aligned to a topic?

Based on the solicitation description, proposals should be tightly scoped to one of the eight topics, with a clear connection between the proposed research tasks and the NASA problem implied by the topic statement.

20) Where can we find the official solicitation text?

You can find the solicitation in NSPIRES by searching for "Early Stage Innovations (ESI26)" under open solicitations. A direct link is also provided: https://solicitation.nasaprs.com/NNH26ZTR001N-26ESIB2.

21) Who should we contact for technical and programmatic questions?

Technical and programmatic questions should be directed to the Space Technology Research Grants Program Executive at hq-esi-call@mail.nasa.gov.

22) Will NASA publish answers to submitted questions?

NASA may post answers in the FAQ associated with the NSPIRES solicitation page, and it notes that anonymity of those who submit questions will be preserved.

23) Why does NASA emphasize NSPIRES preparation and internal approvals?

The solicitation notes that submissions must be made through NSPIRES by an authorized organizational representative, and that organizational approvals can take time. Applicants are strongly encouraged to get familiar with NSPIRES early and avoid last-minute submission issues.