Centennial Challenges

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    Regolith Excavation

    In this challenge, teams design and build robotic machines to excavate simulated lunar soil (regolith).

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    Green Flight

    Previously named the Personal Air Vehicle Challenge and the General Aviation Technology Challenge, teams demonstrate light aircraft that incorporate improvements to maximize fuel efficiency, reduce noise and improve safety.

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    Lunar Lander

    The Lunar Lander Challenge involves building and flying a rocket-powered vehicle that simulates the flight of a vehicle on the Moon.

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    Power Beaming

    This challenge is a practical demonstration of wireless power transmission. Teams build mechanical devices (climbers) that can propel themselves up a vertical cable.

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    Tether

    This is a challenge in materials engineering in which the tether provided by each team is subjected to a pull test.

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    Astronaut Glove

    The Astronaut Glove Challenge seeks improvements to glove design that reduce the effort needed to perform tasks in space and improve the durability of the glove.

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    Send Your Ideas

    The IPP Office is seeking new prize concept ideas from private industry and the public.

Mission Overview

    The Centennial Challenges seek to:
    • Drive progress in aerospace technology of value to NASA's missions
    • Encourage the participation of independent teams, individual inventors, student groups and private companies of all sizes in aerospace research and development
    • Find the most innovative solutions to technical challenges through competition and cooperation