NASA is inviting U.S.-based collegiate teams to submit engineering concepts for the 2027 Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts – Academic Linkage competition, known as RASC-AL. The agency announced that the challenge seeks original concepts to support sustained operations in the lunar South Pole region.
Proposals must address one of four operational themes: enabling extreme exploration, transit pathway construction, lunar resource exploration, or smart and resilient lunar habitats. Submissions require original engineering, analysis, and an accompanying video demonstration.
Participating teams must submit a non-binding notice of intent by Tuesday, Oct. 13, ahead of an agency question-and-answer session on Oct. 27. Full challenge proposals and video packages are due Feb. 24, 2027.
Reviewers will select up to 14 finalist teams to advance to the final stage, which requires completing a technical paper and poster presentation. NASA will provide each finalist team with a $7,500 award to support participation. Finalists will present their work to agency and industry panels at the 2027 RASC-AL Forum in Cocoa Beach, Florida, scheduled for June 7 to 10, 2027. The top two overall teams will receive additional monetary awards and invitations to present at an aerospace conference later in 2027.
Chris Jones, chief technologist for the Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate at NASA’s Langley Research Center, said the competition showcases student talent while directly contributing to agency missions. Gabe Merrill, acting cross-program integration lead in NASA's Research and Technology Mission Directorate, noted that the challenge accelerates exploration technology while creating development opportunities for future aerospace leaders.
The National Institute of Aerospace administers the 2027 competition on behalf of the Advanced Research and Technology Division within NASA's Research and Technology Mission Directorate. Contract management is handled by NASA’s Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation under the Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing Program.
