NASA Lunabotics Challenge
Catalog organization: NASA
Compiled by: ExtracurricularHub Editorial Team — editorial policy
Last updated
What Is NASA Lunabotics Challenge?
Lunabotics is an annual, two-semester engineering competition for teams at U.S.-located institutions of higher learning, including vocational/technical and trade schools, community colleges, and two- or four-year colleges and universities. It is not a standard grades 9-12 opportunity. Teams apply NASA systems-engineering practices to design, build, document, and demonstrate a prototype robot capable of off-world construction operations with lunar-regolith simulant. Deliverables include project planning, design review, systems-engineering and robot-data reports, a proof-of-life video, career-engagement work, presentations, and a functional robot.
For 2026-2027, NASA plans to release the guidebook September 3, 2026; requires the Project Management Plan by noon Eastern on September 30; announces selected teams December 14; and runs later technical milestones through April. Practice at Kennedy Space Center is May 20-21, and competition is May 24-27, 2027. NASA intends a design-review down-select to 40-50 teams, but if arena construction slips, a later reduction to 20 may occur. Submission details are not available until September.
NASA Lunabotics Challenge Key Facts: Cost, Deadline, and Eligibility
| Format | In person |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Grades 9–12 |
| Listing last updated | August 30, 2026 |
Program details shown here reflect the current catalog record.
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