# NASA TechRise Student Challenge

NASA's free flight-experiment challenge for school teams in grades 6-12: propose an experiment for a high-altitude balloon flight, and winning teams get $1,500 to build it plus an assigned spot on a NASA-sponsored flight test.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Organization | NASA / Future Engineers |
| Category | stem |
| Cost | Free |
| Deadline | Rolling / check official site |
| Eligibility | Grades 6–12 |
| Format | Online / virtual |
| Location | Various |
| Apply | https://www.futureengineers.org/nasatechrise |

## About this program

# NASA TechRise Student Challenge

The NASA TechRise Student Challenge, administered by Future Engineers for NASA's Flight Opportunities program, invites student teams to design, build, and launch science and technology experiments on commercial suborbital vehicles. For the 2026-27 challenge, the vehicle is a high-altitude balloon, which exposes payloads to conditions at the edge of the stratosphere. The challenge is expected to open in September 2026, and teachers can pre-register now to be notified.

## What You'll Do

- Team up with schoolmates and an educator to brainstorm a flight experiment idea
- Write and submit a proposal explaining your experiment and what you hope to learn
- If selected, receive $1,500 to build your payload, plus technical support from Future Engineers advisors
- See your experiment fly on a NASA-sponsored high-altitude balloon flight with an assigned flight spot

## Who Should Apply

Teams of sixth to 12th grade students at US public, private, and charter schools; a teacher or school staff member leads the entry. No flight hardware experience is required at the proposal stage, which makes TechRise unusually accessible for middle school teams with big ideas.

## Outcomes

Winning teams get real aerospace engineering experience - requirements, budgets, build, test, and flight - plus funding and a flown experiment few students can match. Entering is free, and even non-winning teams practice authentic NASA-style proposal writing.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does NASA TechRise Student Challenge cost?

NASA TechRise Student Challenge is completely free — there is no participation fee. Costs like travel or optional materials may still apply; check the official site for details.

### Who is eligible for NASA TechRise Student Challenge?

NASA TechRise Student Challenge is open to students in grades 6–12 (middle and high school). Some programs have additional requirements (GPA, coursework, essays, or recommendations) — the full criteria are on the official site.

### Is NASA TechRise Student Challenge online or in person?

NASA TechRise Student Challenge is fully online — students can participate from anywhere with an internet connection.

### How do I apply to NASA TechRise Student Challenge?

Apply directly through NASA / Future Engineers's official website. ExtracurricularHub links to the official application — we list and verify programs but don't process applications.

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Last updated: 2026-07-06.
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