NASA TechLeap Prize: Orbital Clarity Challenge
NASA's Heliophysics Division, Flight Opportunities program, and the Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation are jointly presenting the Orbital Clarity Challenge, the sixth initiative in the NASA TechLeap Prize series. This challenge focuses on the study of space weather, specifically how intense solar activity heats and expands Earth's upper atmosphere, leading to orbital drag due to fluctuations in atmospheric density. The objective is to identify cost-effective methods for measuring thermospheric density, pressure, or drag in low Earth orbit. NASA is looking for innovative approaches that are not only inexpensive but also scalable for mass production and can be integrated as hosted payloads on commercial spacecraft. The challenge is structured in three phases, with the potential for up to four winning concepts to be developed into flight-ready solutions within a year. Upon completion, NASA plans to provide each winning team with a complimentary test flight opportunity.
Award: Up to four winners can receive prizes totaling $500,000 across the three phases.
Challenge Open Date: August 19, 2026
Phase 1 Registration Close Date: October 28, 2026
Phase 1 Submission Close: November 11, 2026
More Information: https://occ.nasatechleap.org/
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