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Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Artist](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/liveenable-im3-sustainabilitylogistics-withastros-1.png?w=2048\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nArtist\u2019s rendering depicting lunar surface operations at a future base in the lunar South Pole. <\/div>\nNASA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNASA is asking U.S.-based collegiate teams to\u00a0submit\u00a0bold, original concepts to the 2027 edition of a student challenge focused on aerospace innovation that could\u00a0help the agency envision\u00a0a future on the Moon shaped by\u00a0new technology.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The latest NASA Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts \u2013 Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) competition\u00a0invites\u00a0student teams to explore new\u00a0operations paradigms\u00a0and advance the technologies needed to support sustained operations\u00a0in\u00a0the lunar South Pole\u00a0region.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis competition showcases the technical excellence and creativity of the next generation of explorers and innovators,\u201d said Chris Jones,\u00a0chief\u00a0technologist,\u00a0Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate,\u00a0NASA\u2019s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. \u201cThe concepts students develop through RASC-AL demonstrate exceptional talent and contribute to the body of work that advances NASA\u2019s missions.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Since 2002, the annual\u00a0RASC-AL<\/a>\u00a0competition has helped foster aerospace\u00a0concepts, technology, and\u00a0prototyping by\u00a0making connections among universities,\u00a0NASA,\u00a0and industry. This year\u2019s competition\u00a0includes\u00a0themes ranging\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0development of\u00a0concepts\u00a0to\u00a0support prospecting\u00a0in\u00a0the permanently shadowed regions of lunar craters to\u00a0the advancement of\u00a0critical and expandable infrastructure for future astronauts.\u00a0<\/p>\n\u201cNASA\u2019s\u00a0RASC-AL competition connects top university researchers with the agency\u2019s technology and engineering challenges,\u201d said Gabe Merrill, acting\u00a0cross-program\u00a0integration lead for the Advanced Research and Technology Division in NASA\u2019s Research and Technology Mission Directorate. \u201cBy asking student innovators to design concepts for what our future on the Moon might look like, this competition accelerates the technology we need to explore the Moon and provides a development opportunity for future aerospace innovators and leaders.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Teams\u00a0interested in\u00a0participating are\u00a0required\u00a0to\u00a0submit\u00a0a non-binding notice of intent by Tuesday, Oct. 13, and\u00a0will be invited to a Q&A session with NASA experts on Oct. 27.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Challenge proposals and\u00a0accompanying\u00a0video submissions are due Feb. 24, 2027. Proposals should\u00a0demonstrate\u00a0innovative solutions\u00a0supported by original engineering and analysis\u00a0in response to one of the four 2027 RASC-AL themes:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n- Enabling\u00a0extreme\u00a0exploration\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Transit\u00a0pathway\u00a0construction\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Lunar\u00a0resource\u00a0exploration\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Smart\u00a0and resilient\u00a0lunar\u00a0habitat\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The competition will select as many as 14 teams to advance to its final phase, which involves further developing their concepts,\u00a0writing\u00a0a technical paper, and creating a technical poster. Each finalist team will receive a $7,500\u00a0award\u00a0to\u00a0facilitate\u00a0its full participation. Finalists will present their concepts to a panel of NASA and industry experts at the 2027 RASC-AL Forum in Cocoa Beach, Florida, June 7 to 10, 2027.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The top two overall teams will receive an\u00a0additional\u00a0monetary award and an invitation to attend and present their concept at an aerospace conference later in 2027.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Interested student teams are encouraged to visit the official RASC-AL\u00a0competition website<\/a>\u00a0for detailed guidelines and eligibility requirements.\u00a0<\/p>\nThe 2027 NASA RASC-AL Competition is administered by the National Institute of Aerospace on behalf of NASA\u2019s Advanced Research and Technology Division within the Research and Technology Mission Directorate. NASA\u2019s Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation, part of the Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing Program within the Research and Technology Mission Directorate, manages the challenge contract.<\/p>\n
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![\"Artist](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/liveenable-im3-sustainabilitylogistics-withastros-1.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>NASA is asking U.S.-based collegiate teams to\u00a0submit\u00a0bold, original concepts to the 2027 edition of a student challenge focused on aerospace innovation that could\u00a0help the agency envision\u00a0a future on the Moon shaped by\u00a0new technology.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The latest NASA Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts \u2013 Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) competition\u00a0invites\u00a0student teams to explore new\u00a0operations paradigms\u00a0and advance the technologies needed to support sustained operations\u00a0in\u00a0the lunar South Pole\u00a0region.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis competition showcases the technical excellence and creativity of the next generation of explorers and innovators,\u201d said Chris Jones,\u00a0chief\u00a0technologist,\u00a0Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate,\u00a0NASA\u2019s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. \u201cThe concepts students develop through RASC-AL demonstrate exceptional talent and contribute to the body of work that advances NASA\u2019s missions.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Since 2002, the annual\u00a0RASC-AL<\/a>\u00a0competition has helped foster aerospace\u00a0concepts, technology, and\u00a0prototyping by\u00a0making connections among universities,\u00a0NASA,\u00a0and industry. This year\u2019s competition\u00a0includes\u00a0themes ranging\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0development of\u00a0concepts\u00a0to\u00a0support prospecting\u00a0in\u00a0the permanently shadowed regions of lunar craters to\u00a0the advancement of\u00a0critical and expandable infrastructure for future astronauts.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cNASA\u2019s\u00a0RASC-AL competition connects top university researchers with the agency\u2019s technology and engineering challenges,\u201d said Gabe Merrill, acting\u00a0cross-program\u00a0integration lead for the Advanced Research and Technology Division in NASA\u2019s Research and Technology Mission Directorate. \u201cBy asking student innovators to design concepts for what our future on the Moon might look like, this competition accelerates the technology we need to explore the Moon and provides a development opportunity for future aerospace innovators and leaders.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Teams\u00a0interested in\u00a0participating are\u00a0required\u00a0to\u00a0submit\u00a0a non-binding notice of intent by Tuesday, Oct. 13, and\u00a0will be invited to a Q&A session with NASA experts on Oct. 27.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Challenge proposals and\u00a0accompanying\u00a0video submissions are due Feb. 24, 2027. Proposals should\u00a0demonstrate\u00a0innovative solutions\u00a0supported by original engineering and analysis\u00a0in response to one of the four 2027 RASC-AL themes:\u00a0<\/p>\n The competition will select as many as 14 teams to advance to its final phase, which involves further developing their concepts,\u00a0writing\u00a0a technical paper, and creating a technical poster. Each finalist team will receive a $7,500\u00a0award\u00a0to\u00a0facilitate\u00a0its full participation. Finalists will present their concepts to a panel of NASA and industry experts at the 2027 RASC-AL Forum in Cocoa Beach, Florida, June 7 to 10, 2027.\u00a0<\/p>\n The top two overall teams will receive an\u00a0additional\u00a0monetary award and an invitation to attend and present their concept at an aerospace conference later in 2027.\u00a0<\/p>\n Interested student teams are encouraged to visit the official RASC-AL\u00a0competition website<\/a>\u00a0for detailed guidelines and eligibility requirements.\u00a0<\/p>\n The 2027 NASA RASC-AL Competition is administered by the National Institute of Aerospace on behalf of NASA\u2019s Advanced Research and Technology Division within the Research and Technology Mission Directorate. NASA\u2019s Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation, part of the Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing Program within the Research and Technology Mission Directorate, manages the challenge contract.<\/p>\n\n
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