Application

Describe your solution to address NASA’s technology shortfalls.
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Photo Credit: NASA / Matthew Kuhns

Thank you for participating in the NASA TechLeap Prize.

Read all requirements for this application before you begin and review the rules, technical guidelines, and scoring rubric that will be used to assess all valid applications.  

Your entire application will be shared with the NASA TechLeap Prize team, Evaluation Panel judges, and the Selection Committee during the evaluation process. As you respond to this application, please include as much information as possible for the Evaluation Panel to score and evaluate your proposed technology. While the NASA TechLeap Prize team and evaluators have nondisclosure agreements in place, you may avoid the inclusion of any confidential and/or sensitive information.

The following portions of winning applications may be published online and may be shared with the general public to promote your proposal or to highlight results: Lead Organization, Technology Title, and Technology Overview. Winners will work with the NASA TechLeap Team to confirm any additional sharing of information.  

Applications must be submitted in English. This provides consistency across all entries during our review process and reduces the risk of misinterpretation or translation error. It is fine to leave the video in another language if it is subtitled in English, and to leave organization names and other items in the original language if they have no direct translation to English.

The application saves automatically, and the status of your application is available to view on your dashboard. You have the option to request an automated confirmation email after clicking “submit” – be sure to click the checkbox opting into this email when the confirmation message appears.

Prior to submission, confirm the information provided on the Registration Form is correct. Be sure to review your application as it will appear after it has been submitted (click the preview button next to Submit). When you have completed all requirements, you will be able to submit the application form. Once you have submitted, you will no longer be able to make changes. 

You must submit your application no later than 5:00 PM Eastern Time on Thursday, March 20, 2025. Review our FAQ if you have questions and email us for technical support. If you require accommodations to fully engage in this application process, contact us. The NASA TechLeap Prize is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible environment for all participants.

A. INTRODUCTION

Offer a brief and compelling overview of your proposed solution. In this section, avoid using first-person language, jargon, or complex language that may be difficult for the general public to comprehend. Your responses to this Introduction section may be shared publicly if selected as a winner of this challenge.

TECHNOLOGY TITLE (10 words)

Provide a title for your proposed solution. Choose a name that easily identifies your solution and distinguishes it from any other technology.  

TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW (75 words)

Provide a short description of your proposed solution, including how this solution will address the identified shortfalls.

SOLUTION SHORTFALL - PRIMARY

Identify one of the selected shortfalls for this challenge that most closely aligns with your proposed technology. This should match the primary shortfall selected on your registration form. If this has changed, select Registration Form from the Submissions menu to update the shortfall selection to the one selected below.

SOLUTION SHORTFALL – SECONDARY

We understand many solutions could address more than one shortfall. You may select another shortfall from the list below that most closely aligns with your proposed technology. If you are not addressing more than the primary shortfall selected above, select “Not Applicable” below.

SOLUTION SHORTFALL – OTHER

You may select one more additional shortfall that most closely aligns with your proposed technology. If you are not addressing another shortfall, select “Not Applicable” below.

B. VIDEO PITCH

Submit a video that showcases your solution in a succinct format. This is an opportunity to share your vision and approach in a way that is different from the written proposal format. You may include screen shots, walk-throughs, or other visuals of your solution if you wish. This DOES NOT need to be a professionally produced video – a video shot on a smartphone is acceptable.

To complete this requirement, upload a digital film using YouTube. Video submissions should follow these guidelines or it will render the application ineligible:

  • Ninety (90) seconds in length maximum. 
  • Must be in English, or if in another language, subtitled in English. 
  • Must be captioned. See instructions on how to caption YouTube videos here. 
  • Excludes images of identifiable children (under age 18) without express parental consent. 
  • Excludes copyrighted material (including, but not limited to, music) for which you do not have a license. 
  • Privacy Settings on your video set to Public or Unlisted – do not set them to Private. When setting as Unlisted, only those with the YouTube URL will be able to access and view the video, including the NASA TechLeap Team, Evaluation Panel, and Selection Committee.
  • Check to make sure embedding is turned on. 

Here are general suggestions for delivering a high-quality video pitch:

  • Introduce yourself and your organization and/or team.
  • Briefly describe your technology, including what is unique about it.  
  • Explain how you will know that you’ve achieved success.
  • Make an effort to connect with your audience of Evaluation Panel judges.

C. THE TECHNOLOGY

Here is your opportunity to provide details of your proposed solution for the NASA TechLeap Prize. Be sure to emphasize how your ideas align with the four criteria that will be used to assess each valid submission.

TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION (350 words)

This challenge invites individuals, teams, and organizations to submit applications for systems that advance solutions to address one or more of NASA’s technology shortfalls. The selected shortfalls identify technology areas where further technology development is required to meet future exploration, science, and other mission needs. In addition, technologies to address these select shortfalls are also potentially well suited for a suborbital or hosted orbital flight demonstration. NASA intends to provide winners with the opportunity for a no-cost flight test aboard a suborbital vehicle, rocket-powered lander, high-altitude balloon, aircraft following a reduced gravity profile (i.e., parabolic flight), or orbital vehicle that can host payloads (see our contracted flight providers). Specifically, NASA is seeking technologies that meet or exceed the specifications described in the Technical Guidelines. NOTE: As applicable throughout this application, proposers should focus on flight test requirements and not a specific vehicle.

Describe the proposed solution, overall concept of the proposed technology, and its purpose. Include your strategy and the technologies needed to address this challenge. Provide a statement of technology relevance, current state of the art, and how the proposed technology will advance the state of the art with consideration of the scoring rubric.

VISUAL REPRESENTATION

Upload one PDF file that includes photos, illustrations, schematics, charts, graphs, and any other visual representations of your technology. The PDF should not exceed 10MB and a total of five pages. It should not be used to include text to circumvent word counts in this application. Some brief labels and/or basic text descriptions are permitted with a minimum 10-point font size. NOTE: Gantt charts, schedules, budgets, and other similar content are not acceptable – please use responses in this application form to provide this information. Pages beyond the five-page limit and unrelated content will render the submission ineligible.  

TECHNOLOGY READINESS LEVEL – CURRENT 

Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) are a type of measurement system used to assess the maturity level of a particular technology. Provide the estimated technology readiness level for the technology you are proposing. We anticipate that most of the proposals submitted will be at TRL 2 to 4.

  • TRL 9 – Actual system “flight proven” through successful mission operations 
  • TRL 8 – Actual system completed and “flight qualified” through test and demonstration (ground or space)  
  • TRL 7 – System prototype demonstration in a space environment  
  • TRL 6 – System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment (ground or space)  
  • TRL 5 – Component and/or breadboard validation in relevant environment  
  • TRL 4 – Component and/or breadboard validation in laboratory environment  
  • TRL 3 – Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof-of-concept  
  • TRL 2 – Technology concept and/or application formulated  
  • TRL 1 – Basic principles observed and reported 

TECHNOLOGY READINESS LEVEL – COMPLETION 

If selected as a winner, provide the anticipated TRL following completion of the flight test.  

TECHNOLOGY BENEFITS & IMPACT (250 words)

Detail the primary benefits of your technology, including how the technology can be used and infused into future missions or commercialization. Illustrate your technology’s relevance to one or more shortfalls, its impact on users and markets, and any secondary or tertiary benefits for our consideration. Include likely users and applications of the proposed technology.

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT STATUS (200 words)  

Describe the current status of your proposed technology, including the rationale behind your current TRL selection status above, and how the technology would benefit from a flight test as a winner of this challenge.  You may cite test results or other evidence by providing URLs. NOTE: If you choose to provide links, they cannot be password protected. Judges are not required to click and review the content from these links, but any links you include could be reviewed for due diligence on your technology.  

PAYLOAD DEVELOPMENT & RISK MITIGATION (300 words)

Describe plans to develop and prepare your technology for the flight test phase. Include how you intend to meet requirements as outlined in the Technical Guidelines, scoring rubric, and scoring criteria for Payload Build Round 1 and Round 2. Share evidence that your technology could be made ready for a flight test in up to eight months from the date of notification of an award. Identify any potential risks associated with your development plan and how you plan to mitigate these risks.  

NOTE: NASA intends to offer the opportunity for a flight test aboard a suborbital or hosted orbital vehicle at no additional cost to each of the winners of Payload Build Round 2. Learn more about our contracted flight providers.  

FLIGHT TEST READINESS (250 words)

Describe your desired flight test profile including any special requirements or preferences for integration and flight of your payload. Outline the overall flight test plan and identify the types of flight vehicles preferred and/or required. Define the specific technical objectives for the flight as well as any special flight requirements. Include consideration of mass, volume, power, and data handling to ensure your system can effectively operate during a flight test. NOTE: Proposers should focus on flight test requirements and not a specific vehicle.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (200 words)

Explain who owns the intellectual property of your proposed technology. If you are building on existing or off-the-shelf technology, detail the permissions you have to use that technology. If you are part of a team, indicate which team members own the intellectual property. If applicable, include information on the process for others to utilize your technology after the challenge is completed.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS (150 words)

This is your opportunity to describe any outstanding issues that you could not explain in any other sections. If your technology does not meet some of the requirements in the Technical Guidelines, describe why you have made the choices you did in proposing your technology. Your explanation may include how your technology better meets the overall objectives of the challenge, how your technology exceeds what the Technical Guidelines specify, or how aspects of your technology may need to be adjusted to be flight ready.  

D. THE TEAM

Introduce the leadership, structure, and capabilities of those working on this solution. Should you receive funding, you must designate a lead organization or individual responsible for taking accountability for those award funds, as well as providing project direction, control, and supervision. Your lead was identified during registration. If this has changed, please select Registration Form from the Submissions menu to update Legal Name and any other registration information.

CAPABILITIES (250 words)

Describe the skills, capacity, and experience of you/your team to execute your plans to deliver a solution that meets the Technical Guidelines of this challenge. Be sure to include core competencies and how they apply to your ideas for the challenge, any relevant past projects or experience, and any other additional details that support your ability to develop a flight-ready system that meets the Technical Guidelines within a timeframe of up to eight months.  

TEAM SIZE

Indicate the number of people who will serve on the team to develop the proposed technology. Select one.

  • Less than 10
  • 11-20
  • 20+  

PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP, PERMANENT RESIDENCY, OR PRIMARY PLACE OF BUSINESS

To be eligible for an award, the lead individual or team of individuals must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States and be 18 years of age or older, and lead organizations must be an entity incorporated in and maintaining a primary place of business in the United States.

If you are selected as a potential winner and you are an organization, you will be asked to provide proof of the location of your primary place of business. If you are selected as a potential winner and you are an individual, you will be asked to provide proof of citizenship or permanent residency.

Confirm that you will be able to provide one of the options below:

  • My organization can provide proof that the location of our primary place of business is in the United States.
  • I can provide proof of citizenship or permanent residency.

PROOF OF LIABILITY INSURANCE

To participate in the NASA TechLeap Prize, you must demonstrate that you have at least $250,000 liability insurance coverage. You will be asked to provide proof of your insurance coverage or otherwise demonstrate financial responsibility for that amount at the time you are selected as a potential winner. See the Insurance Guidelines for additional details about this requirement.

Do you have and are you able to provide proof of at least $250,000 liability insurance coverage or demonstrate financial responsibility at that amount?  

  • Yes

E. PROJECT PLAN & BUDGET

If named a winner, you will have up to eight months to build a flight-ready payload. Use this section to describe your plan for successfully developing your technology in that timeframe.

PROJECT PLAN (200 words)

In chronological order, describe your project plan and the schedule / timeline needed to prepare your flight-ready payload in up to eight months.  

TOTAL COST  

Enter the total cost to build and prepare your flight-ready payload. NOTE: Winners could win up to $500,000 and the opportunity for a NASA-sponsored flight to test the technology, so exclude NASA’s cost for flight in this total cost number. Although the award is up to $500,000, the total cost listed below may be more than, less than, or equal to that value.  

BUDGET

It is up to each applicant to determine an appropriate budget for the proposed solution. Winners will receive up to $500,000 as part of this challenge, and prize funds may be used however the winners see fit.  

Provide specific line items based on the plans above. You may include any cost categories, including any estimated costs to participate in a flight test (i.e., your team’s travel expenses) and contingencies for risk mitigation, that support the development and testing of your technology. You are welcome to organize this by phases and include costs after the challenge is complete. The inclusion of the budget in the proposal is to help determine if the proposed project plan and budget are reasonable.

NOTE: NASA intends to provide an opportunity to flight test at no additional cost to winners, so the budget below should exclude NASA’s costs for flight test. Although the award amount is up to $500,000, the total amount on this table may be more than, less than, or equal to that value.  

BUDGET NARRATIVE (200 words)

If needed, you may further describe your budget here. If your total cost to develop and test your technology exceeds $500,000, explain how you plan to fund the remaining costs. If your total cost does not exceed $500,000 and/or you have no further information to share about your budget, you may enter “Not Applicable.”  

USE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS

If you or your employer is receiving Government funding for similar projects in which you are developing a flight-ready payload addressing your selected shortfall(s), you or your employer are not eligible for award under this Challenge. Confirm below that you have not received Government funding for the aspects of the proposed technology you aim to develop as part of this Challenge.

  • Yes

F. INFORMATION FOR WINNERS

If you are identified as a potential Winner, you will be asked to provide the following prior to any award:

  • If you are an individual: Proof of citizenship or permanent residency.
  • If you are an organization: Proof that your location of business is in the United States.
  • Proof of $250,000 liability insurance or otherwise demonstrate financial responsibility for that amount. (See the Insurance Guidelines for additional details about this requirement.)
  • Details of any other funding for which this technology or a closely related technology is being considered.
  • A signed Payment Form, Space Act Agreement, and any other required documentation.

Once your eligibility has been verified and you have been named a Winner, please note the following:

  • You will be invited to develop your flight-ready payload according to this application within eight months.  
  • You will receive an initial award of $200,000.  
  • During Payload Build Round 1, Winners will have the opportunity to compete for an additional award of $200,000 each. Field Judges will conduct site visits in Fall 2025 to score the progress each Winner has made.
  • During Payload Build Round 2, Winners will have the opportunity to compete for an additional award of $100,000 each. Field Judges will conduct site visits in Spring 2026 to score the progress each Winner has made.
  • NASA intends to offer the opportunity for a flight test aboard a suborbital or hosted orbital vehicle at no additional cost to each of the Winners of Payload Build Round 2. Learn more about our contracted flight providers. NOTE: During the application phase, proposers should focus on flight test requirements and not a specific vehicle.
  • A timeline with due dates will be provided to each Winner prior to the start of the Payload Build Rounds.
  • Once the flight test has completed, each Winner will submit a final report, discussing results, lessons learned, and future plans for the technology.

Are you ready to advance space technology through flight testing?

Join us in addressing shortfalls and meeting the needs of future missions.
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Photo Credit: Zero Gravity Corp