NASA · · Instrument: Prize
NASA ORBIT Challenge
NASA's ORBIT (Opportunities in Research, Business, Innovation, and Technology for the Workforce) Challenge is a multi-phase innovation competition for university and community college student teams, administered through a contract for NASA's Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation. Teams enter ORBIT Earth, which turns NASA patents into commercial applications, ORBIT Space, which designs technologies for space exploration, or both with the optional Integration Bonus. Prizes total up to $500,000: up to 10 finalist teams per track receive $15,000 each in Phase 2, and the Phase 3 purse is $200,000. The team lead registers through NASA STEM Gateway between 14 September and 16 November 2026. The culminating showcase is planned for summer 2027 at Space Center Houston.
Who can apply
- Eligibility
No separate eligibility field is recorded. Check the program summary and the funder's terms.
- Location
No separate location field is recorded. Check the program summary and the funder's terms.
- Funding
Funding classification
- Instrument
No separate instrument field is recorded. Check the program summary and the funder's terms.
- Capital form
No separate capital form field is recorded. Check the program summary and the funder's terms.
- Allocation method
No separate allocation method field is recorded. Check the program summary and the funder's terms.
- Selection
No separate selection field is recorded. Check the program summary and the funder's terms.
Round history
| Round | Window | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 challenge registration | September 14, 2026 to November 16, 2026Deadline ahead | Up to $500,000 in prizes | nasaorbit.org |
Past rounds stay on the page, so you can see how often this program opens.
Funding evidence
Detailed funding records are not yet recorded for this program.
Read the program’s recorded facts and sourcesSources
Awards
none linkedNo award records linked to this profile yet.