NASA Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts – Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) Competition

The 2026 NASA Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts – Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) Competition is an annual opportunity managed by the National Institute of Aerospace on behalf of NASA. It is jointly sponsored by the Strategy and Architecture Office within the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, the Space Technology Mission Directorate, and the Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate at NASA Langley Research Center. Designed to foster innovation in space systems design, the competition connects university-level students with real-world aerospace challenges. It provides an avenue for undergraduate and graduate students in fields such as engineering and science to design novel aerospace systems, perform original engineering analysis, and present their findings to NASA experts. The competition invites U.S.-based college and university teams to propose concepts aligned with one of four specific themes. These 2026 themes include: Communications, Position, Navigation, and Timing (CPNT) architectures for Mars surface operations; lunar surface power and Power Management and Distribution (PMAD) systems; lunar sample return operations; and lunar technology demonstrations that leverage shared infrastructure. Each theme challenges students to integrate systems engineering with innovative technology applications, emphasizing deployability, cost realism, environmental survivability, and alignment with NASA’s Moon to Mars objectives. Teams must provide robust architectural solutions supported by original technical analysis, with proposals expected to demonstrate feasibility, extensibility, and technical maturity. The RASC-AL Competition follows a two-phase process. In Phase 1, teams must submit a Notice of Intent by October 13, 2025, and a complete Proposal Package—including a 7–9 page proposal, a two-minute video, and a concept graphic—by February 23, 2026. The proposal should present a comprehensive concept, address all theme-specific criteria, and include budget assessments and engineering trade analysis. Up to 14 finalist teams will be selected and notified by March 20, 2026. These teams will each receive a $7,000 stipend to support travel and participation in Phase 2. Finalist teams advance to Phase 2, where they must submit a 15-page technical paper by May 14, 2026, along with a digital poster and presentation chart deck by May 28, 2026. The RASC-AL Forum, held June 2–4, 2026, in Cocoa Beach, Florida, serves as the final venue for presentations and poster sessions. During the Forum, teams present their work in a live session, answer questions from judges, and engage with other participants. Teams are encouraged to bring or showcase functional or visual prototypes during this phase, with bonus points awarded for prototype quality and demonstration capability. The competition is open to teams from accredited U.S.-based colleges and universities. Teams must include at least one faculty advisor and two students. International students may participate only as collaborators with U.S.-led teams. The majority of the technical work, analysis, and presentation must be performed by student members. Advisors and non-student participants may provide guidance but cannot contribute core content. Teams must also submit a signed participation agreement and faculty advisor attestation to be eligible. Evaluation is based on technical merit, innovation, feasibility, cost and schedule realism, and adherence to theme requirements. Winning teams receive additional stipends and an invitation to present their work at a major aerospace conference. The top two overall teams are awarded an additional $7,000 in support of that opportunity. All deliverables must be original, free of third-party authorship or generative AI content, and follow strict formatting and submission rules. Questions can be directed to the RASC-AL Program Team at [email protected], and the full program guidelines are publicly accessible online via the official website.

Justify assumptions clearly and balance innovation with rigorous analysis. Visual clarity and adherence to guidelines are critical.