Mars to Table Challenge
A new NASA Deep Space Food Challenge seeking concepts for food systems that could be used on the surface of Mars and the Moon
About the Challenge
Astronauts on extended missions to the surface of Mars and the Moon will require food systems that are completely independent of Earth. To address this, NASA is running the new Deep Space Food Challenge: Mars to Table. This global competition asks participants to create a complete meal plan for a crew on Mars, along with concepts for food systems that use a variety of food sources and technologies to meet a crew’s nutritional needs. The challenge will officially conclude in September 2026 and has a total prize purse of $750,000.
CHALLENGE LEAD CENTER
Kennedy Space Center
Registration DEADLINe
July 31, 2026
Eligibility
Global citizens
Total prizes
$750,000
Get Inspired
Learn more about the story behind NASA’s next Deep Space Food Challenge: Mars to Table.
Keep WatchingAsk the Experts: Mid-Challenge Check-In
Hosted June 4, 2026 | 12 PM ET
This was our third informational webinar for the Deep Space Food Challenge: Mars to Table. During this webinar, attendees had the chance to hear subject-matter experts from NASA and the organization behind BioSim answer their pre-submitted questions related to the challenge and its expectations, rules, and deliverables.
Meals for Mars: Advancing the Future of Space Food Systems
Hosted April 16, 2026 | 11 AM – 12 PM ET
This was the second informational webinar for the Deep Space Food Challenge: Mars to Table. NASA experts, commercial industry, and academia discussed the past, present, and future of space food, the complexities of the systems involved, and how this competition contributes to the discourse.
Informational Webinar 1
Hosted February 26, 2026 | 1 – 2 PM ET
This webinar was intended for individuals and teams who are considering participation in NASA’s Deep Space Food Challenge: Mars to Table. NASA experts and collaborators discussed why we launched the challenge and shared more about the expectations, requirements, and evaluation criteria.
NASA Back for Seconds with New Food System Design Challenge
NASA is getting ready to send four astronauts around the Moon with Artemis II, laying the foundation for sustainable missions to the lunar surface and paving the way for human exploration on Mars. As the agency considers deep space endeavors that could last months or years, it must develop ways to feed astronauts beyond sending supplies from Earth.
Contact Us:
Challenge
Jennifer Edmunson (Acting Program Manager)
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
hq-stmd-centennialchallenges@mail.nasa.gov
Media Inquiries
Joel Wallace
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
joel.w.wallace@nasa.gov
