Planetary Society STEP Grants
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Quick Answer
Member-funded grants of about US$50,000 each (about ₹47.5 lakh) for planetary science and space technology projects; the 2026 round has closed and a new one is expected roughly every two years.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Grant
- Provider
- The Planetary Society
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- International
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 23 January 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by The Planetary Society. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this grant
The 2026 round of the Planetary Society STEP Grants is closed: pre-proposals were due on 22 January 2026, and the winners were announced on 21 September 2026. The Planetary Society says it expects to accept and select new proposals roughly every two years, but it has not announced a date for the next call. STEP stands for Science and Technology Empowered by the Public, and the competition is open and international, so teams in India can apply when it returns. This page is a guide to preparing for that next round.
What the program offers
For the 2026 round the Society's request for proposals set a nominal expectation of two awards at about US$50,000 each (about ₹47.5 lakh), while saying the number and size could change with the proposals received and the funding available. A grant can pay for hardware, labour or both, for example building or upgrading an instrument or renting telescope time. It can fund a whole project or one part of a larger effort. Indirect costs (overhead) are not allowed in the budget; only direct costs count.
Beyond the money, awardees get the backing of the Society's community of about 50,000 members, who help publicise the work. In return, winners are expected to send short written progress updates at least every six months and to help with member communications such as interviews.
Who can apply
The competition is open to universities (public or private), non-profit organisations, for-profit companies and individuals. Each principal investigator may submit one pre-proposal. The project must relate directly to the Society's core aims: exploring other worlds, finding life (including exoplanets that could support it), or defending Earth from dangerous asteroids and comets. Near-Earth object observation proposals that fit the separate Shoemaker NEO Grants are not eligible here.
The Society's employees, board and advisory council members, their immediate family, and entities mostly owned or controlled by them cannot apply. Some activities or people may be ineligible because of US government rules on space technology export or sanctions.
STEP Grants suit a university lab, a space start-up or an independent researcher with a credible, specific project and a clear budget. They do not suit general company funding, overhead-heavy proposals or an idea without a testable plan.
How to apply
The first step is a pre-proposal submitted online on the Society's submissions page. It includes the project details, a budget in US dollars and a project description PDF of two pages of body text. A small number of pre-proposers are then invited to send a full proposal, with at least 60 days to prepare it, including a detailed budget of direct costs. The grants are chosen from the full proposals. Watch planetary.org/stepgrants for the next request for proposals.
A practical tip: show how your project might involve or excite Society members and the public, because that is one of the things the Society looks for.
How applications are judged and what happens next
The Society describes STEP Grants as competitively awarded through an open, international process. It seeks credible and significant research or hardware development efforts that do at least one of these: provide seed funding that helps win other funding later, fill a niche others have not filled, develop innovative technology that could spread, involve or inspire members and the public, take advantage of a timely opportunity, or need funding that is hard to get elsewhere. Proposals are judged on relevance to the core aims, scientific and technical value and realism, appeal to members and donors, and budget.
The 2026 winners include projects to study trans-Neptunian objects through stellar occultations, to build an instrument that uses polarised light to size near-Earth asteroids, and to build a system to store, analyse and coordinate asteroid observations worldwide. Earlier winners were announced on 16 March 2022 and 31 May 2023.
About The Planetary Society
The Planetary Society was founded in 1980 and describes itself as the world's largest independent space organisation. Its mission is to empower the world's citizens to advance space science and exploration. It is a US 501(c)(3) non-profit. The STEP Grants programme is supported by the Halıcıoğlu Family Foundation, and the Society's other programmes include the Shoemaker Near-Earth Object Grants, LightSail and PlanetVac.
Things to check before you apply
- Budgets are in US dollars and must exclude overhead.
- The amount can change from one round to the next.
- Check US export-control and sanctions rules for your type of space technology.
- Plan for the two-step process, since the full proposal needs substantial work.
- If you receive foreign money, an Indian organisation should check the tax and foreign-contribution rules with an adviser.
Eligibility
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Grant providers
Benefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Grant
What You Get
For the 2026 round The Planetary Society expected two awards of about US$50,000 each (about ₹47.5 lakh), with the amount and number able to change. Grants can cover hardware, labour, upgrades or expenses such as telescope time, but not overheads. Winners also get the backing of the Society's 50,000-member community to tell the world about their work.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
A small number of pre-proposers are invited to send full proposals, from which the grants are chosen. Proposals are judged on relevance to the Society's core aims, scientific and technical value and realism, appeal to members and donors, and budget.
Application Process
- 1
Pre-proposal
Submit a short online pre-proposal and two-page description.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Planetary Society STEP Grant open now?
No. 2026 pre-proposals closed on 22 January 2026, and the winners were announced on 21 September 2026. The Society expects to accept new proposals roughly every two years but has not announced a date.
Can an Indian company or researcher apply for STEP Grants?
Yes. The competition is open and international and accepts universities, non-profits, for-profit companies and individuals. People affected by US export or sanctions rules and the Society's own staff and families cannot apply.
How much is a STEP Grant?
For the 2026 round the Society expected two awards of about US$50,000 each (about ₹47.5 lakh). It said this could change depending on the proposals and the funding available.
What can the grant money be used for?
It can pay for hardware, labour or both, such as building or upgrading an instrument or renting telescope time. It can fund a whole project or part of a larger one, but overhead is not allowed.
What topics does STEP fund?
Projects must relate to exploring other worlds, finding life or defending Earth from dangerous asteroids. Near-Earth object observation proposals that fit the Shoemaker NEO Grants are not eligible.
What documents do I need to apply?
The first step is an online pre-proposal with project details, a budget in US dollars and a two-page project description as a PDF. Invited applicants then submit a full proposal with a detailed direct-cost budget.
How does the selection work?
Pre-proposals are screened and a small number of teams are invited to submit full proposals. The grants are then chosen from the full proposals, judged on relevance, technical value and realism, appeal to members and donors, and budget.
Do I have to travel or do anything after winning?
The pages do not mention travel. Winners are expected to send short written updates at least every six months and to help with member communications such as interviews.
Is it free to apply, and is it a grant or equity?
The pages state no application fee. STEP Grants are grants funded by the Society's members and donors, and nothing on the pages mentions equity.
When will the next round open?
The Society only says it expects new proposals roughly every two years. No date for the next request for proposals has been announced, so watch planetary.org/stepgrants.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
