NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Their core work

NASA is the United States' primary space and aeronautics agency, conducting research across astrophysics, planetary science, Earth observation, and fundamental physics. In H2020, NASA participated exclusively as a third-party contributor, lending its world-class facilities, datasets, and scientific expertise to European-led research initiatives. Their contributions span gravitational wave detection, high-energy astrophysics, atmospheric aerosol characterization, asteroid dynamics, and planetary geology — areas where NASA's satellite missions, ground observatories, and deep-space data are irreplaceable resources.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

NASA's early H2020 involvement (2017-2018) centred on fundamental physics and astrophysics — gravitational waves, gamma-ray astronomy, particle physics anomalies, and detector technologies like crystal calorimeters and superconducting magnets. Their more recent work (2022 onward) shifted toward applied planetary and Earth sciences, including rock magnetism on Mars, impact crater geology, and aerosol vertical profiling. This suggests a move from pure observational astrophysics toward geoscience and atmospheric research with direct planetary exploration relevance.

NASA's H2020 trajectory points toward increased engagement in Mars-relevant geoscience and Earth-analogue studies, making them a strong partner for upcoming planetary exploration missions and related EU programmes.

How they like to work

NASA participated in all five projects exclusively as a third party — never as coordinator or formal consortium partner — reflecting its status as a non-EU entity contributing expertise and infrastructure to European-led research. With 71 unique consortium partners across 22 countries, NASA connects to a remarkably broad network relative to its small project count, indicating that each collaboration involves large, international consortia. Working with NASA means accessing unmatched space science infrastructure, but expect them in a supporting expert role rather than as a project driver.

Despite only five projects, NASA connected with 71 unique partners across 22 countries, reflecting participation in large international consortia. This gives NASA an exceptionally wide European network spanning most major research nations.

What sets them apart

NASA is one of very few non-European entities contributing to H2020 as a third party, bringing access to satellite missions, deep-space data, and research infrastructure that no European partner can replicate. Their involvement signals that a project has genuinely global scientific ambition and access to unique US space assets. For consortium builders, adding NASA elevates a proposal's credibility and provides access to datasets (atmospheric, planetary, astrophysical) that are otherwise difficult to obtain.

Highlights from their portfolio

• NEWS
  Rare trilateral EU-US-Japan collaboration spanning gravitational waves to particle physics, demonstrating NASA's breadth across fundamental physics disciplines.
• THIRST-MARS
  Their most recent project (2022-2024) and a clear signal of NASA's growing focus on Mars geoscience — directly relevant to ESA-NASA Mars exploration cooperation.
• GRASP-ACE
  Bridges NASA's Earth observation satellite capabilities with European atmospheric science, showing NASA's value in remote sensing and climate-relevant aerosol research.