The NASA TechRise Student Challenge 2025 is a high-profile STEM competition designed for U.S. middle and high school students, offering hands-on opportunities to develop and launch real experiments aboard NASA-sponsored flight vehicles. This guide covers all essential details to help applicants prepare a successful submission and understand scholarship benefits.
Basic Scholarship Information
The NASA TechRise Student Challenge is open to students in grades 6–12 from U.S. public, private, or charter schools, including eligible homeschools in U.S. territories. Every team must have at least four students and be guided by a teacher or school staff member. The application deadline for the 2025–2026 cycle is November 3, 2025.
- Suborbital-Spaceship with approximately 3 minutes of microgravity.
- High-Altitude Balloon with approximately 4 to 8 hours of flight time at 70,000 to 95,000 feet and exposure to Earth’s atmosphere, high-altitude radiation, and perspective views of our planet.
University/Institution Details
NASA administers the TechRise Challenge in partnership with Future Engineers. While not linked to a specific university, participating students work under their school’s sponsorship. The challenge offers unique engagement with NASA’s facilities and connects schools across the country in a prestigious science and engineering competition.
Study Areas (Available Program Names)
The NASA TechRise Challenge focuses on projects in:
- Climate science
- Remote sensing
- Microgravity experiments
- Aerospace engineering
- Electronics and computing
Teams can select experiments for suborbital spacecraft or high-altitude balloon flights, encouraging creative applications of STEM concepts.
NASA TechRise Student Challenge Benefits
Winning teams receive:
- $1,500 in funding to build their experiment
- A starter kit, including a flight box in which to build their experiment
- An assigned spot to test their experiment on a NASA-sponsored flight
- Technical support during the experiment build phase from Future Engineers advisors, who will help students learn the skills they need to turn their experiment idea into reality
- National recognition and exposure to NASA’s cutting-edge science
A total of 60 teams are selected nationwide.
Benefits Not Included
- The award does not cover tuition, long-term research funding, or provide stipends for personal expenses outside the experiment build.
- No monthly living stipend is given for the participating students, nor does it cover travel/housing costs for launch events (if applicable).
- Participants do not receive academic credits, university placement, or employment guarantees from NASA.
Eligibility Criteria for NASA TechRise Student Challenge
- This international student challenge is for schools in U.S. states and territories.
- Teams must consist of at least four students from grades 6–12 at an eligible U.S. school.
- No experience is necessary to participate in the NASA TechRise Challenge!
- A teacher or school employee must serve as team lead.
- Homeschool teams must be affiliated with a recognized school and meet insurance requirements.
- U.S. citizenship or school residency is mandatory—international students outside the U.S. are not eligible.
Required Documents for Application
- Completed proposal in the official NASA TechRise template (PDF)
- Team information section including all student names and grades
- School and team lead (teacher/staff) details
- Signed liability and publicity releases from parents/guardians for all participants, if selected for experiment build
- Proof of affiliation with a U.S. school or recognized home school network
NASA TechRise Student Challenge Application Process (Step-by-Step Guide)
- Form Your Team: Gather a minimum of four students and a teacher/staff member as team lead.
- Review Proposal Guidelines: Download and study the official template and educator guide via Future Engineers.
- Develop Experiment Idea: Brainstorm and outline a science or technology project for either a suborbital rocket or high-altitude balloon.
- Prepare Proposal: Fill out the proposal template, detailing experiment objectives, feasibility, hypothesis, and NASA mission connection.
- Register Online: The team lead (educator) creates an account on the Future Engineers platform.
- Submit Proposal: Upload the proposal as a PDF before the November 3, 2025 deadline.
- Await Results: The judging panel evaluates proposals by educational impact, NASA mission relevance, hypothesis alignment, and design feasibility.
- Winning Teams Announced: Recipients notified in January 2026; build phase and flight opportunities follow.
Tips for a Successful Application
- Start early and involve every team member in brainstorming and drafting the proposal.
- Attend educator workshops and virtual field trips offered by NASA and Future Engineers for insights and networking.
- Ensure the experiment idea is creative, feasible, and aligns with NASA’s mission.
- Carefully follow proposal guidelines and ensure all sections are complete.
- Highlight educational impact and relevance to current space or scientific challenges.
- Prepare documents meticulously and have mentors review before submission.
Monthly Living Expenses for International Students (USD)
Although TechRise does not cover living expenses, typical costs for international students in the U.S. (for context) are:
| Expense | Estimated Monthly Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | $300–$600 |
| Food and Groceries | $400–$600 |
| Transportation | $40–$100 |
| Health Insurance | $100–$200 |
| Personal/Other | $50–$150 |
| Total average: $900–$1,650 per month. |
Why Choose This Scholarship? (5 Key Reasons)
- Prestige: Connects students directly with NASA, adding a significant boost to academic profiles.
- Hands-On Experience: Participants develop real experiments for actual NASA missions.
- Skill Development: Builds expertise in engineering, electronics, computing, teamwork, and leadership.
- Mentorship: Access to NASA staff and Future Engineers for technical advice and career guidance.
- No Fees/Barriers: No cost to enter; financial support for experiment build; no prior experience needed, making it highly inclusive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply?
- Teams of students in grades 6–12, attending a U.S. school (public, private, charter, or eligible homeschool).
What is the deadline for 2025?
Are international students eligible?
Can a school submit multiple proposals?
Is prior experience required?
What kind of support do winning teams receive?
What flights are available?
How are proposals judged?
Do winners get additional scholarships or jobs?
Official Link:
NASA TechRise Student Challenge 2025 is a unique, fully funded STEM opportunity, providing hands-on learning, national exposure, and a prestigious launchpad into science, technology, and engineering careers.