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<\/a><\/figure>NASA is calling on the next generation of collegiate innovators to imagine bold new concepts l pushing the boundaries of human exploration on the Moon, Mars, and beyond through the agency\u2019s 2026 NASA Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts \u2013 Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) competition. \u00a0<\/p>\n
The RASC-AL challenge fuels innovation for aerospace systems concepts, analogs, and technology prototyping by bridging gaps through university engagement with NASA and industry. The competition is seeking U.S.-based undergraduate and graduate-level teams and their faculty advisors to develop new concepts to improve our ability to operate on the Moon and Mars. This year\u2019s themes range from developing systems and technologies to support exploration of the lunar surface, to enhancing humanity\u2019s ability to operate and return data from the surface of Mars. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis competition is a unique opportunity for university students to play a role in the future of space innovation,\u201d said Dan Mazanek, assistant branch head of NASA\u2019s Exploration Space Mission Analysis Branch at NASA\u2019s Langley Research Center in Hampton Virginia. \u201cThe RASC-AL challenge fuels creativity and empowers students to explore what\u2019s possible. We\u2019re excited for another year of RASC-AL and fresh ideas coming our way.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n
Interested and eligible teams are invited to propose groundbreaking solutions and systems approaches that redefine how humans live and explore in deep space with relation to one of the following themes:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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- Communications, Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Architectures for Mars Surface Operations\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Lunar Surface Power and Power Management and Distribution Architectures\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Lunar Sample Return Concept\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Lunar Technology Demonstrations Leveraging Common Infrastructure\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Teams should express their intent to participate by submitting a non-binding notice of intent<\/a> by Monday Oct. 13. Teams who submit a notice will be invited to a question-and-answer session with NASA subject matter experts on Monday Oct. 27. \u00a0<\/p>\n
The proposals, due Monday Feb. 23, 2026, are required to be seven-to-nine pages with an accompanying two-to-three-minute video. Proposals should demonstrate innovative solutions with original engineering and analysis\u202fin response to one of the four 2026 RASC-AL themes. Each team\u2019s response should address novel and robust technologies, capabilities, and operational models that support expanding human\u2019s ability to thrive beyond Earth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Based on review of the team proposal and video submissions, in March, up to 14 teams will be selected to advance to the final phase of the competition \u2013 writing a technical paper, creating a technical poster, and presenting their concepts to a panel of NASA and industry experts in a competitive design review at the 2026 RASC-AL Forum in Cocoa Beach, Florida, beginning Monday June 1, 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe RASC-AL challenge enables students to think like NASA engineers\u2014and in doing so, they often become the engineers who will carry NASA forward,\u201d said Dr. Christopher Jones, RASC-AL program sponsor and Chief Technologist for the Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate at NASA Langley. \u201cThe concepts they develop for this year\u2019s competition will help inform our future strategies.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Each finalist team will receive a $7,000 stipend to facilitate their full participation in the 2026 RASC-AL competition, and the top two overall winning teams will each be awarded an additional $7,000 cash prize as well as an invitation to attend and present their concept at an aerospace conference later in 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 2026 NASA RASC-AL competition is administered by the National Institute of Aerospace on behalf of NASA. The RASC-AL competition is sponsored by the agency\u2019s Strategy and Architecture Office in the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), and the Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate at NASA Langley. The NASA Tournament Lab, part of the Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing Program in STMD, manages the challenge.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For more information about the RASC-AL competition, including eligibility and submission guidelines, visit:\u202fhttps:\/\/rascal.nianet.org\/<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\nSarah Douglas <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NASA is calling on the next generation of collegiate innovators to imagine bold new concepts l pushing the boundaries of human exploration on the Moon, Mars, and beyond through the agency\u2019s 2026 NASA Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts \u2013 Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) competition. \u00a0 The RASC-AL challenge fuels innovation for aerospace systems concepts, analogs, and technology [\u2026] Continue reading
- Lunar Technology Demonstrations Leveraging Common Infrastructure\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Lunar Sample Return Concept\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Lunar Surface Power and Power Management and Distribution Architectures\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n