FAQ
Eligibility
Teams must be led by a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), Tribal College or University (TCU), or Eligible Institution of Higher Education (EIHE) listed as eligible on the U.S. Department of Education’s FY 2026 Eligibility Matrix.
- All institutions listed on the HBCU tab of the FY 2026 Eligibility Matrix are eligible.
- All institutions listed on the TCCU tab of the FY 2026 Eligibility Matrix are eligible.
- Institutions labeled as “Eligible” under column G of the SIP tab are eligible.
- Institutions labeled as “Ineligible” under column G of the SIP tab are not eligible.
Students on the team can come from any U.S. accredited college or university, but at least 60% of the team must be enrolled at the Lead Institution. All student participants must be 18 or older and enrolled full-time or part-time at a U.S.-based institution.
Eligible institutions are listed as eligible on the U.S. Department of Education’s FY 2026 Eligibility Matrix. This list determines Lead Institution eligibility.
- All institutions listed on the HBCU tab of the FY 2026 Eligibility Matrix are eligible.
- All institutions listed on the TCCU tab of the FY 2026 Eligibility Matrix are eligible.
- Institutions labeled as “Eligible” under column G of the SIP tab are eligible.
- Institutions labeled as “Ineligible” under column G of the SIP tab are not eligible.
Yes. Students from any accredited U.S. institution may join a team, as long as the Lead Institution is an HBCU/TCU/Eligible Institution of Higher Education and at least 60% of team members are enrolled there.
At least 60% of the team must be enrolled at the same Lead Institution, which must be an eligible HBCU, TCU, or Eligible Institution of Higher Education.
Yes. All student participants must be 18 years old at the time of registration. Students who turn 18 after registration during the competition cycle are not eligible. Unfortunately, there are no exceptions to this requirement.
Yes. Eligibility is based on enrollment status at the time of registration, not graduation date.
Yes, if they meet all eligibility requirements listed in the Official Rules, including being a full-time student at an eligible U.S. institution and residing in the U.S. Foreign citizens may have restrictions on attending onsite NASA events.
There is no limit. Multiple teams may come from the same lead institution, as long as each has a faculty advisor.
Eligible institutions are listed on the NASA MSI Exchange. This list determines Lead Institution eligibility.
Yes. Students from any accredited U.S. institution may join a team, as long as the Lead Institution is an eligible MSI/HBCU/TCU and at least 60% of team members are enrolled there.
At least 60% of the team must be enrolled at the same Lead Institution, which must be an eligible MSI, HBCU, or TCU.
Teams may have up to six student members, plus at least one faculty advisor from the Lead Institution. Students may only participate on one team.
Teams are limited to a maximum of six student members. Groups with more than six students should break into two or more teams.
Yes. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for verifying student eligibility.
Teams do not need to be finalized before attending an Open Information Webinar or exploring the resources, but every team member must be registered in STEM Gateway before the registration deadline. A complete team is required to submit Phase 1 deliverables, and teams often include students from a variety of majors and class years.
No. All team members must complete registration by the deadline to be eligible.
No. Teams form and register first. Your initial concept is submitted during Phase 1 (Ideation), and it can evolve significantly throughout the competition.
No. ORBIT encourages participation from students of all majors and backgrounds. Strong teams often include students from engineering, business, design, computing, science, and communication fields working together.
Registration
If there are issues accepting the invitation, team members should complete their own application independently and list the same team name. Their registration will still be considered valid.
No. Only student participants need to create a STEM Gateway account.
No. Only student participants complete the application. Faculty advisors will be listed by the student team members within the application.
Yes. Faculty advisors will receive access to the ICS LMS after registration closes.
No. The project summary within the NASA ORBIT application is not a required field and can be bypassed. The Phase 1 project proposal is submitted later in Canvas.
No. Your pathway selection in Phase 1 determines the direction of your project and your required deliverables for the rest of the challenge. Teams should review resources carefully before choosing their track.
Submissions
All deliverables for Phases 1-3 are submitted through the Institute of Competition Sciences Learning Management System. Teams must first register through NASA STEM Gateway to receive access.
Only one submission per team should be added to Canvas. The Team Leader typically submits on behalf of the team.
Time commitments vary by team, but most teams dedicate a few hours each week during Phase 1 and increase their involvement during Phases 2 and 3 as they develop and refine their concepts. In Phase 4, teams can take part in a series of mentorship and Accelerator sessions, with some offerings open to all participants and others tailored specifically for finalists.
No. Physical prototypes are not required. Teams may use models, simulations, mockups, or design concepts in Phases 2 and 3.
However, If desired, Finalist teams may bring a physical project exhibit item to the in-person Pitch Showcase event.
- Bringing a physical project exhibit item is completely optional and is not required to be competitive for awards or recognition.
- Teams will be evaluated solely on the Phase 3 rubric. The presence or absence of a physical project exhibit item will not affect scoring.
- Any item brought to the event must be able to fit reasonably on a standard 24-inch cocktail table.
- Items may be displayed for viewing and discussion purposes only.
- Items may not be powered on, activated, operated, demonstrated, tested, or connected to any power source inside the event venue.
- Teams are responsible for transporting, setting up, and removing their own items.
Yes, but projects must first and foremost identify a Civil Space Shortfall to address. Teams are free to choose how they address that shortfall and may incorporate NASA-patented technologies if they are used in a new and innovative way. Simply proposing to use a NASA patent for its original, intended purpose does not demonstrate sufficient innovation and would not score well.
ORBIT Earth teams must identify one primary NASA patent that serves as the main focus of their proposal and evaluation. Teams may also reference or incorporate additional NASA patents as supplemental technologies, provided the primary patent remains central to the concept and assessment.
A list of NASA patents is available through the Patent Portfolio within the NASA Technology Transfer Program.
A list of NASA software is available through the NASA Software Catalog.
A list of Civil Space Shortfalls is available on NASA’s Space Technology Priorities page.
Other
The NASA ORBIT Challenge does not provide separate travel support for the Phase 3 in-person demonstration event. However, teams are encouraged to review the Prize Structure outlined on our Prize page: https://nasaorbit.org/prizes/.
Teams that are selected as Finalists at the end of Phase 2 receive a $15,000 prize. As noted in the rules, prize payments are made to the Lead Institution, and the distribution and use of those funds are at the discretion of the institution and faculty advisor. Depending on institutional policies, teams may choose to allocate a portion of those funds to support travel and related expenses.
We recommend discussing this early with your faculty advisor and institution so your team has a clear understanding of financial responsibilities and options should you advance to Phase 3.
No. There is no stipend provided for faculty advisors.
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