Key Takeaways
- The Foundational Artificial Intelligence for the Moon and Mars (FAIMM) program is a new initiative that enables individual researchers to participate in designing science and exploration applications for large AI models
- The program is open to researchers with no prior AI/ML experience and seeks to expand the personnel, skills, and expertise contributing to large AI models
- Proposals for the program are due by April 28, 2026, and questions can be directed to Rebekah Dawson-Rigas at [email protected]
- The program is part of the NASA Research Announcement "Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2025"
- The goal of the program is to harness large datasets to transform science and exploration on the Moon and Mars using Foundation Models (FMs)
Introduction to FAIMM
The Foundational Artificial Intelligence for the Moon and Mars (FAIMM) program is a new initiative launched by NASA, aimed at enabling individual researchers to participate in designing science and exploration applications for large, general artificial intelligence (AI) models known as Foundation Models (FMs) for the Moon and Mars. As stated in the program announcement, "C.12 Foundational Artificial Intelligence for the Moon and Mars (FAIMM) is intended to enable individual researchers to participate as members of teams who are designing science and exploration applications for large, general artificial intelligence (AI) models known as Foundation Models (FMs) for the Moon and Mars." This program seeks to leverage the power of AI and Machine Learning (ML) to transform science and exploration on the Moon and Mars, and is open to researchers from a wide range of disciplines.
Program Objectives and Eligibility
The FAIMM program is a collaborative and interdisciplinary effort, where selected participants will work with each other, existing project team members, and AI researchers and engineers. According to the program announcement, "This program seeks to expand the personnel, skills and expertise, datasets, and science and exploration disciplines contributing to large AI models, and no prior AI/ML experience is required." This means that researchers from various backgrounds and expertise can participate in the program, making it an exciting opportunity for those interested in AI and space exploration. The program aims to harness large datasets to transform science and exploration on the Moon and Mars, and can be applied to a range of AI and ML tasks.
Program Details and Timeline
The FAIMM program is part of the NASA Research Announcement "Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2025", and is presented as a new program element in ROSES-2025. As stated in the program announcement, "ROSES-2025 Amendment 37 presents C.12 FAIMM as a new program element in ROSES-2025." Proposals for the program are due by April 28, 2026, and interested researchers can submit their proposals through the NASA research opportunity homepage at https://solicitation.nasaprs.com/ROSES2025. The program announcement will be posted on the NASA research opportunity homepage on or about January 13, 2025, and questions concerning C.12 FAIMM can be directed to Rebekah Dawson-Rigas at [email protected].
Conclusion and Future Directions
The FAIMM program is an exciting initiative that has the potential to transform science and exploration on the Moon and Mars using AI and ML. By leveraging large datasets and collaborative efforts, the program aims to expand our understanding of the Moon and Mars, and to develop new technologies and applications that can benefit humanity. As NASA continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, programs like FAIMM will play a crucial role in shaping the future of space research and development. As the program announcement states, "Keep Exploring, Discover More Topics From NASA", highlighting the agency’s commitment to advancing our knowledge of the universe and inspiring future generations of scientists and engineers. With the FAIMM program, NASA is taking a significant step towards harnessing the power of AI and ML to explore the Moon and Mars, and to push the boundaries of human knowledge and understanding.
https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/solicitations/roses-2025/amendment-37-new-opportunity-c-12-foundational-artificial-intelligence-for-the-moon-and-mars/

