NASA TechRise Student Challenge is an exciting STEM competition organized by NASA in collaboration with Future Engineers. It gives students in grades 6 through 12 a unique opportunity to design, build, and test their own scientific or technological experiments aboard NASA-sponsored commercial balloon and suborbital flights.
This initiative encourages young innovators to think creatively, work collaboratively, and gain hands-on experience in real-world engineering, electronics, and data collection. By participating, students not only learn about space exploration and scientific discovery but also develop problem-solving and teamwork skills essential for future careers in STEM.
Challenge Benefits
NASA TechRise Student Challenge offers numerous benefits that support student learning and innovation:
- $1,500 in funding to design and build the team’s experiment payload.
- A starter kit, including the experiment flight box and essential components.
- An opportunity to fly the experiment on a NASA-sponsored flight.
- Technical mentorship and support from NASA and Future Engineers.
- A chance to collect real scientific data from near-space environments.
- Recognition and visibility, with NASA showcasing top-performing teams.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the NASA TechRise Student Challenge, teams must meet the following criteria:
- Participants must be students in grades 6–12 enrolled in a U.S. public, private, or charter school (including U.S. territories).
- Each team must include at least four students, with a teacher or school staff member acting as the official team lead.
- All experiments must align with NASA’s safety and design requirements.
- No prior experience in science or engineering is required — creativity and curiosity are the key.
Application Process
The application process for the NASA TechRise Student Challenge is designed to be simple and educational:
- Form a Team: Gather at least four student members and a teacher lead.
- Register Online: The team lead creates an account and registers the school’s team.
- Develop an Experiment Idea: Collaboratively design an innovative experiment that fits the challenge guidelines.
- Submit Proposal: Upload your team’s written proposal before the deadline.
- Proposal Review: NASA and Future Engineers evaluate all submissions.
- Selection and Announcement: Winning teams are announced and begin the build phase.
- Build and Launch: Teams build their payloads and launch them during the flight test campaign.
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Required Documents
Applicants must prepare and submit the following:
- A written experiment proposal following the official format.
- Basic team details, including names, grades, and school information.
- Design compliance confirmation to ensure adherence to NASA’s payload and safety requirements.
No personal essays or academic transcripts are required — selection is based purely on the strength and creativity of the experiment proposal.
Selection Process
NASA TechRise Student Challenge follows a competitive and transparent selection process:
- Eligibility Screening: Proposals are checked to ensure all team and submission requirements are met.
- Technical Evaluation: Judges assess the scientific merit, creativity, and feasibility of the proposed experiments.
- Innovation Assessment: Proposals are reviewed for originality and educational impact.
- Final Selection: Sixty teams are chosen to receive funding and build their experiments for flight testing.
Challenge Duration
Once selected, the challenge follows a structured timeline:
- January 2026: Winning teams are announced and begin the build phase.
- January – May 2026: Teams work on their experiments with guidance from mentors.
- Summer 2026: Experiments are launched aboard NASA’s balloon and suborbital flight platforms.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the NASA TechRise Student Challenge is November 3, 2025.
