Science grant funding continues to fall in 2026

Grant funding across the sciences continues to fall in 2026, as noted by several in the scientific community.

On August 31, AAS reported "a 57% reduction in the number of awards between FY25 and FY26. This reduction in awards in the astronomical sciences is even more severe than the overall 30% decrease in FY26 awards at NSF reported by Nature."

Photo: AAS

Read the AAS full report at https://aas.org/posts/news/2026/08/nsf-astronomical-sciences-grants-reduced-over-50-fiscal-year-2026.

The NSF did publish five new NSF MPS funding opportunities for core research programs, initiating a new rolling admission period, ending the third Monday in November. A full description of these funding opportunities can be found at https://www.nsf.gov/mps/updates/new-nsf-mps-funding-opportunities-core-research-programs.

Casey Dreier, Chief of Space Policy at The Planetary Society, wrote this week that NASA "is on track to award the fewest scientific grants in 15 years. With only two weeks to go in the U.S. government’s fiscal year, NASA has awarded ​​1,188 new grants for basic scientific research. That’s roughly 15% fewer than the historic baseline, and almost exactly equal to 2025."

Read Dreier's full letter in the September edition of The Space Advocate at https://www.planetary.org/space-advocate/space-advocate-september-2026-2.

The AAS policy team encourages all members to "contact your members of Congress today and urge them to exercise their oversight authority and support robust funding levels for NSF, in addition to the NASA Science Mission Directorate and the US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science."

Transitioning From Astronomy to the Space Industry

By Therese Jones

I am often sent students who want to transition into the space industry, having converted from an astronomy Ph.D. program (Berkeley), to a policy Ph.D. program with a focus on space (RAND, a non-partisan think tank), then becoming Senior Director of Policy at the Satellite Industry Association.  As a crash course in how to get started, I compiled this “Guide to the Space Life” to get students/young professionals up to speed on what it took me five years to figure out on my own!  This post summarizes a few of the highlights of the document, but please see the full guide for more information.

Making the decision to transition out of astronomy was very hard, especially because I loved the people in the field.  It turns out that people in the space industry are incredibly friendly and willing to go out of their way to support young professionals; many of the organizations and conferences listed provide great inroads into the industry.  No experience in the space world?  Not a problem—the Space Generation Advisory Council is an international organization of young professionals under 35 that hosts events in the US and abroad, sends out regular opportunities, and has working groups that you can join to work on different space issues.  The Students for the Exploration and Development Space has chapters at colleges and even high schools, and supports a number of activities including rocket teams, satellite design projects, has an annual student-run conference, and is very well-connected to companies in the industry.  No chapter at your school?  You can also become an individual member or start your own chapter; they are great at supporting new chapters that are trying to get started!