The National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) is administering three NASA collegiate competitions for 2026 – now open and ready for your student teams to join the mission!
Now open and ready for your student teams to join:
NASA Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts – Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) competition
For over 20 years, RASC-AL has challenged students to push the boundaries of innovation and engineering to develop bold concepts that advance humanity’s ability to live and work on the Moon, Mars, and beyond. For 2026, student teams are invited to tackle one of the following four themes: CPNT Architectures for Mars Surface Operations; Lunar Surface Power and PMAD Architectures; Lunar Sample Return Concept; and Lunar Technology Demonstrations Leveraging Common Infrastructure.
NOI Deadline: Oct. 13, 2025
Question Submission for Q&A: Oct. 17, 2025
Q&A Session: Oct. 27, 2025
Proposal Deadline: Feb. 23, 2026
Website | Flyer
Gateways to Blue Skies (GBS) Competition – “RepAir | Advancing Aircraft Maintenance”
GBS asks student teams to tackle critical challenges and opportunities within the aviation industry through a new project theme each year. The competition is guided by a push toward new technologies and fostering forward-looking, socially responsible aviation. For 2026, student teams are invited to conceptualize novel aviation maintenance advancements that can be implemented by 2035 or sooner with the goal of improving efficiency, safety, and/or costs for the industry.
NOI Deadline: Nov. 4, 2025
Q&A Sessions: Nov. 20, 2025 & Jan. 27, 2026
Proposal Deadline: Feb. 16, 2026
Website | Flyer
Human Lander Challenge (HuLC) – “Long Duration Spaceflight Environmental Control Life Support System”
Through HuLC, college students contribute to the advancements of human landing systems (HLS) technologies, concepts, and approaches. This year’s challenge invites student teams to develop innovative, systems-level solutions that improve critical aspects of Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) performance, in response to one of the following four subtopic areas: Noise Suppression and Control; Sensor Reduction in Hardware Health Monitoring Systems; Potable Water Dispenser; and Fluid Transfer Between Surface Assets on the Moon and Mars.
NOI Deadline: Oct. 20, 2025
Question Submission for Q&A: Oct. 24, 2025
Q&A Session: Nov. 4, 2025
Proposal Deadline: March 4, 2026
Website | Flyer