Competitions & Challenges
Competitions and Challenges for Students
Don’t miss out on student competition opportunities available from NASA. Check this page often for new additions.
SPECIAL STATEMENT:
NASA has been closely monitoring developments of the COVID-19 outbreak. We are aware that many of the student teams participating in the Artemis Student Challenges must cope with limited or suspended physical access to campuses, travel restrictions or other impediments that may affect their ability to participate in the challenges as proposed.
Due to these hurdles we continue to face, and out of an abundance of caution for the teams and our workforce, activities for each of these events may look different than originally planned. It should be noted that the technical work completed by each team will not go unnoticed. Challenge managers for each activity will be in contact with participants on specifics and changes to the challenges, if any. We will continue to monitor the situation, and remain flexible and adapt as it evolves. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
NASA 2021 BIG Idea Challenge: Call for Proposals
NASA is seeking robust proposals from universities affiliated with their state’s Space Grant Consortium (or partnered with an affiliated school) to design, build, and test novel dust mitigation (or dust tolerant) technologies for lunar applications. This is an open innovation challenge with minimal constraints so that proposing teams can genuinely create and develop out-of-the-box solutions.
For the 2021 BIG Idea Challenge, NASA solicits team proposals from Space Grant affiliated universities and colleges for a wide range of unique lunar dust mitigation (or dust tolerant) solutions supported by solid engineering rigor in response to one of the following categories:
- Landing Dust Prevention and Mitigation
- Spacesuit Dust Tolerance and Mitigation
- Exterior Dust Prevention, Tolerance, and Mitigation
- Cabin Dust Tolerance and Mitigation
Up to 10 teams will be selected to build their proposed technology for dust mitigation, and will be responsible for setting up and executing their own high-fidelity verification testing, based on what was described in the proposal. Teams are encouraged to be creative and design their own accurate and realistically simulated testing scenarios.
A wide range of award sizes is expected (in the range of $50,000 – $180,000), depending on the scope of the work proposed. It is anticipated that several larger-scope awards (typically $125,000 – $180,000) and several smaller-scope awards (typically $50,000 – $124,000) will receive funding. Proposers are encouraged to request what is actually needed to conduct the proposed work.
Interested and eligible teams of students and their faculty advisors should submit an online Notice of Intent by September 25, 2020. Written and video proposals are due on December 13, 2020. Minority Serving Institutions are encouraged to apply.
For full competition details, including eligibility requirements, design constraints, and submission guidelines, please visit the BIG Idea Website
If you have any questions, please contact the BIG Idea team: BigIdea@nianet.org
2021 Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts – Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) Competition – Call for Proposals
The 2021 Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts – Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) Competition is seeking proposals for new concepts that leverage innovation to improve our ability to operate in space and on distant bodies as we extend humanity’s presence further into the solar system.
Open to both undergraduate and graduate students studying fields with applications to human space exploration, NASA’s RASC-AL Competition is an engineering design challenge that allows students to incorporate their coursework into real aerospace design concepts and work together in a team environment.
Interested student teams and their faculty advisors are invited to submit an online Notice of Intent (NOI) by October 15, 2020 and their Proposal Submission by March 4, 2021.
For full competition details, including complete theme and submission guidelines, please visit the RASC-AL Website: http://rascal.nianet.org
Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Innovation and Tech Transfer Idea Competition (MITTIC)
Are you interested in learning more about NASA’s Technology Transfer program? Do you have an entrepreneurial mindset? Visit our website to see how you could qualify to apply for the Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Innovation and Tech Transfer Idea Competition (MITTIC). Through collaboration with NASA L’SPACE Academy, MITTIC is offering a “concept to commercialization” training opportunity. Learn to effectively write a concept paper that turns innovative ideas into reality!
Go to go.nasa.gov/nasamittic for more information and to see if your institution qualifies. Don’t miss this chance, come up with an idea to spinoff NASA Intellectual Property (IP) and work with a NASA researcher. During MITTIC you will:
- Upon completion of the L’SPACE Academy, teams composed of four (4) to five (5) students must choose one NASA Intellectual Property (IP) from the provided list, and submit a concept paper explaining the commercial viability of the proposed concept using MITTIC challenge guidelines .*Priority is given to teams partnering with a NASA Small Business Company (SBC).
- Up to eight (8) qualifying teams are selected to participate in an online collaboration tool and funded to travel to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The onsite immersion experience will occur in April 2021. Each team is REQUIRED to submit:
- Certificate of completion from a least one team member who completed one of the L’SPACE academies
- Concept paper/business plan
- Explanation of team’s concept and business plan during a poster session
- An oral “lightning pitch” presentation, during Space Tank competition
The concept paper, poster session and oral presentation will be reviewed and evaluated by a committee using the criteria listed within this document.
The winning team of the Space Tank competition will receive travel funding for up to five (5) team members and one (1) principal investigator (PI) to visit, tour and present at NASA’s Ames Research Center and various tech companies in Silicon Valley, California. This experience provides the team with an exclusive look at facilities, laboratories, start-up companies and the opportunity to discuss further concept development.
Each qualifying team could receive incentives of up to $5,000, while the winning team is eligible to receive up to an additional $10,000. Internship opportunities are also available for qualified MITTIC participants.
The deadline to submit a letter of intent is August 18, 2020. The timeline to apply for MITTIC is January 4- February 16, 2020 at midnight CT.
Join the MITTIC team for an online information session to learn more about the activity.
Monday August 3, 2020 3:00pm-4:00pm CT
Wednesday August 12, 2020 12:00pm-1:00pm CT
Information Sessions link
Learn more at go.nasa.gov/nasamittic or email questions to HQ-MITTIC@mail.nasa.gov