NASA has opened registration for the 2026-27 season of its ORBIT student challenge, a competition for college and university teams focused on technology ideas for Earth-based needs and deep-space exploration.
Registration is open through Monday, Nov. 16, 2026, through NASA STEM Gateway. NASA says the expanded second season offers up to $500,000 in total prize funding.
ORBIT, short for Opportunities in Research, Business, Innovation, and Technology, asks participating teams to conduct targeted research, develop early concepts and complete feasibility analyses as they refine their proposals. Top-performing teams will advance to an in-person Pitch Showcase, where they will present to expert judges and take part in question-and-answer sessions.
The challenge includes two tracks. In ORBIT Earth, teams choose a NASA-owned patent and develop a potential commercial or nonprofit use that addresses a terrestrial problem. NASA cited quieter drones and improved medical technology as examples of possible public-benefit applications.
The ORBIT Space track centers on next-generation space exploration technology.
