NASA Opens Applications for Second Season of ORBIT Student Challenge With $500,000 in Prizes

NASA has opened applications for the second season of the ORBIT (Opportunities in Research, Business, Innovation, and Technology) Student Challenge, which runs through Monday, Nov. 16, 2026. Registration is available via the NASA STEM Gateway, and the expanded program offers up to $500,000 in total prize funding. Participating student teams conduct targeted research, build early models, and perform feasibility analyses, with top performers advancing to an in-person Pitch Showcase evaluated by expert judges.

The competition features two primary tracks: the ORBIT Earth track, where participants use NASA-owned patents to create commercial or nonprofit solutions for terrestrial problems, and the ORBIT Space track, focused on technologies supporting NASA’s Artemis program and future exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Projects combining goals from both tracks can qualify for an Integration Bonus, while the second season also introduces the Faculty Advisors’ Choice Award and the Next Steps Award.

The challenge aims to provide students with agency mentors, immersive mission experience, and industry-ready skills. Complete rules and details can be found at https://nasaorbit.org/.