NASA is inviting U.S.-based university teams to submit bold, original concepts for the 2027 NASA Revolutionary Aerospace System Concepts – Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) competition. The student challenge will help NASA explore innovative technologies and operational strategies for a sustainable future on the Moon.
The 2027 NASA RASC-AL competition encourages students to develop advanced aerospace concepts that support long-term operations in the lunar south polar region. Teams will explore new approaches to lunar exploration, infrastructure, resource utilization, transportation, and astronaut habitats.
“This competition showcases the exceptional skills and creativity of the next generation of explorers and innovators,” said Chris Jones, chief engineer in the Systems Analysis and Concepts Division at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. “The concepts students develop through RASC-AL demonstrate extraordinary talent and contribute to a body of research that advances NASA’s mission.”
Established in 2002, the annual RASC-AL competition connects university students and researchers with NASA and aerospace industry experts. The program helps advance aerospace technology, engineering concepts, and prototype development while giving students hands-on experience addressing real-world space exploration challenges.
The 2027 competition features themes ranging from exploration of the permanently shadowed regions inside lunar craters to the development of scalable infrastructure for future astronauts living and working on the Moon.
“NASA’s RASC-AL competition connects top university researchers with NASA’s technology and engineering challenges,” said Gabe Merrill, acting cross-program integration leader for the Advanced Research and Technology Directorate within NASA’s Research and Technology Mission Directorate. “By asking student innovators to design concepts for humanity’s future on the Moon, this competition will accelerate the technologies needed for lunar exploration and provide valuable development opportunities for future aerospace innovators and leaders.”
University teams interested in participating must submit a non-binding letter of intent by Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Participating teams will also be invited to attend a question-and-answer session with NASA experts on October 27, 2026.
The deadline for submitting project proposals and accompanying videos is February 24, 2027. Each proposal must address one of the four official 2027 NASA RASC-AL themes and demonstrate an innovative solution supported by original engineering research and analysis.
- Enabling extreme exploration
- Construction of transportation routes
- Lunar resource exploration
- A smart and resilient lunar habitat
NASA will select up to 14 finalist teams to further develop their concepts, prepare a technical paper, and create a technical poster. Each finalist team will receive a $7,500 cash award to support full participation in the competition.
Finalists will present their lunar exploration concepts to a panel of NASA and industry experts during the 2027 RASC-AL Forum, scheduled for June 7–10, 2027, in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
The top two teams will receive additional cash prizes and an invitation to present their concepts at an aerospace conference in late 2027.
Student teams interested in competing can visit the official NASA RASC-AL competition website for complete guidelines, submission instructions, and eligibility requirements.
The 2027 NASA RASC-AL Competition is administered by the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space Research on behalf of the Advanced Research and Technology Directorate within NASA’s Research and Technology Mission Directorate. NASA’s Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation, part of the Awards, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing Program within the Research and Technology Mission Directorate, manages the challenge contracts.
Source: www.nasa.gov