NASA has announced the 2027 edition of its Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts – Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) competition, calling on U.S.-based collegiate teams to propose bold, original ideas for aerospace innovation that could shape a future on the Moon.

The challenge centers on new operational paradigms and technologies needed to support sustained activities in the lunar South Pole region. Since 2002, the annual competition has connected universities, NASA, and industry to foster aerospace concepts, technology, and prototyping.

“This competition showcases the technical excellence and creativity of the next generation of explorers and innovators,” said Chris Jones, chief technologist for the Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. “The concepts students develop through RASC-AL demonstrate exceptional talent and contribute to the body of work that advances NASA’s missions.”

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This year’s themes include enabling extreme exploration, transit pathway construction, lunar resource exploration, and smart and resilient lunar habitat. Proposals must demonstrate innovative solutions backed by original engineering and analysis.

“NASA’s RASC-AL competition connects top university researchers with the agency’s technology and engineering challenges,” said Gabe Merrill, acting cross-program integration lead for the Advanced Research and Technology Division in NASA’s Research and Technology Mission Directorate. “By asking student innovators to design concepts for what our future on the Moon might look like, this competition accelerates the technology we need to explore the Moon and provides a development opportunity for future aerospace innovators and leaders.”

Teams must submit a non-binding notice of intent by Tuesday, Oct. 13, and are invited to a Q&A session with NASA experts on Oct. 27. Full proposals and video submissions are due Feb. 24, 2027.

Up to 14 teams will be selected for the final phase, which includes developing concepts further, writing a technical paper, and creating a technical poster. Each finalist team will receive a $7,500 award. Finalists will present their work to a panel of NASA and industry experts at the 2027 RASC-AL Forum in Cocoa Beach, Florida, from June 7 to 10, 2027. The top two overall teams will receive an additional monetary award and an invitation to present at an aerospace conference later that year.

Interested teams are encouraged to visit the official RASC-AL website for detailed guidelines and eligibility requirements. The competition is administered by the National Institute of Aerospace on behalf of NASA’s Advanced Research and Technology Division, with management support from NASA’s Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation.

Source: NASA