Sponsored research programs prepare for the next generation of missions through both theoretical research and applied technology investigations. They also use data from current missions and use suborbital science investigations to advance NASA science goals.
Suborbital missions are an integral part of the R&A program, including sounding rocket and balloon campaigns which provide ancillary measurements, demonstrate measurement technologies, and train future mission PIs and students.
For the current status of the Astrophysics research competitions, click here: ROSES tracking 2015.2.4 Web
Sponsored fellowships are also an important part of the Astrophysics Research program. There are four fellowship programs including: