Space Technology Payload Challenge

To support future missions and reduce risk, NASA created the TechLeap Prize to rapidly identify, develop, and flight test technologies of significant interest through a series of challenges. Participants in these challenges submit an application to develop a specific technology, competing for awards to build a payload for flight. As an added incentive, NASA intends to provide a flight test to the winners of each challenge who successfully complete Payload Builds Round 1 and Round 2.

The Space Technology Payload Challenge is the fourth NASA TechLeap Prize competition.

This challenge is seeking solutions from eligible individuals, teams, and organizations who can develop a flight-ready payload that addresses one or more of NASA’s technology shortfalls.

In April 2024, NASA published a document describing 187 shortfalls — that is, technology areas requiring further development to meet future exploration, science, and other mission needs. NASA asked the aerospace community to rate their importance. The effort led by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) aims to better integrate the community’s most pervasive technical problems to help guide its space technology development and investments. The Space Technology Payload Challenge focuses on a selected set of shortfalls that have a high likelihood of a flight test accelerating their technology development.  

Refer to the Technical Guidelines for additional details on the selected shortfalls and topic areas for the Space Technology Payload Challenge.

Please email us your questions, and a member of the NASA TechLeap Prize team will respond as quickly as possible during regular business hours. Registrants can also post to Forums after logging in to the platform, and review recordings of past Q&A webinars available on News & Updates.

Once you have registered, we will send important notifications throughout the competition to the email address associated with your account, as well as the primary and secondary contacts listed on your registration form. There are three steps you can take to make sure these messages are received promptly:

1. Add our email address to your contacts.
2. Whitelist our email address. Here are instructions to add to your whitelist in most major email providers.
3. Update your registration form right away if one of your contacts changes. If you need to make a contact change after the application window has closed, please email us, and we will assist you.

You may also sign up for the Flight Opportunities newsletter to receive announcements and information on upcoming opportunities.

TechLeap is not offered on a specific schedule. You may look at previous TechLeap schedules to get an idea of rough cadence. Please note there is no guarantee for future timely opportunities.

The NASA TechLeap Prize challenges are open competitions designed to discover promising technologies for space exploration, discovery, and the expansion of space commerce. NASA encourages participation from individuals, teams, and organizations who may not have previously engaged in other NASA funding opportunities.

NASA welcomes applications from individuals, teams, and organizations or entities that have a recognized legal existence and structure under applicable law (state, federal, or country) and that are in good standing in the jurisdiction under which they are organized with the following restrictions:

1. Individuals must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States and be 18 years of age or older.
2. Organizations must be an entity incorporated in and maintaining a primary place of business in the United States.
3. Teams must be composed of otherwise eligible individuals or organizations and led by a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States who is 18 years of age or older.

For-profit and nonprofit organizations may apply provided that they meet eligibility requirements, including having a primary place of business in the U.S. Applicants may partner with other organizations on their application but all applicants must meet the eligibility rules.

Refer to the Rules for a complete set of eligibility requirements.