NASA has officially opened registration for the 2026-2027 Dream with Us High School Engineering Challenge, titled “Fueling Flight Design Challenge: New Energy Systems.” The competition invites students to explore the integration of liquefied natural gas (LNG) into the aviation industry, a move intended to address the growing need for alternative fuels and increased efficiency within the U.S. National Airspace System.
Participants are tasked with designing a concept cargo aircraft that utilizes LNG. Because LNG requires different storage methods than traditional jet fuel, NASA expects students to propose innovative aerodynamic designs that accommodate these fuel requirements while meeting specific performance metrics. These requirements include a 3,000-nautical-mile range, a cruise speed of Mach 0.8, and the capacity to transport 125,000 pounds of cargo.
The challenge is open to students in grades 9 through 12 across the United States, including those in public, private, and home-school settings, as well as children of U.S. military personnel stationed abroad. A separate module is available for middle school students. NASA has explicitly prohibited the use of artificial intelligence tools, requiring that all engineering notebooks and project materials be created solely by team members.
The competition timeline begins with the official launch on September 25, 2026. Teams must register by December 8, 2026, and submit their final Engineering Design Notebooks by January 25, 2027. Following a multi-level judging process by industry experts, finalists will be announced on March 19, 2027, with virtual presentations scheduled for early April.
Source: NASA
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