On Tuesday, December 10, the Space Technology Payload Challenge launched. Between December 10, 2024 and March 4, 2025, you are invited to learn about the challenge and register.
Before submitting an application, participants must complete registration no later than 5:00 PM Eastern on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
Applications will be accepted from registered participants for 12 business days after registration has closed. Applications are due no later than 5:00 PM Eastern on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
Over a period of a few weeks, the NASA TechLeap Prize team will review each application to ensure that it complies with the application requirements and rules.
During this period, the Evaluation Panel will score and comment on their assigned applications using the scoring rubric.
Informed by the Evaluation Panel results, the Selection Committee will choose up to nine winners who will receive an initial $200,000 each to build their flight-ready payloads.
During Payload Build Round 1, Field Judges will conduct site visits in November 2025 where winners will have the opportunity to win an additional award of $200,000 each.
Upon successful completion of Payload Build Round 1, Field Judges will conduct site visits in April 2026 for Payload Build Round 2 where winners will have the chance to win an additional award of $100,000 each.
Payload Build Round 2 winners will have the opportunity to flight test their technology and integrate their payloads onto a flight vehicle assigned by NASA.
