COMPETES Act Requirements Progress

NASA’s TechRise is a student design challenge that invites teams of students (Grades 6-12) to design, build, and launch 2U science and technology experiments on commercial suborbital flights. From researching Earth’s environment to designing experiments for lunar and planetary exploration, schools are invited to join NASA in its mission to inspire the world through discovery. TechRise experiments have included research about Earth, space, and planetary and lunar exploration. Flight opportunities have included suborbital rockets, sounding rockets, rocket-powered landers, and high-altitude balloons. Winners of up to 60 teams are chosen to build their payloads and receive a $1,500 stipend, mentorship, and an assigned spot on a NASA-sponsored commercial suborbital flight.​

NASA’s Robotics Alliance Project (RAP) is dedicated to increasing interest in engineering, technology, science, and mathematics disciplines among youth in the United States. RAP’s goal is to create an inspired, experienced, technical workforce for the aerospace community. RAP’s activities and events expose students to challenging applications of engineering and science. The RAP supports national robotics competitions in which high school students team with engineering and technical professionals from government, industry, and universities to gain hands-on experience and mentoring. In fiscal year 2022, RAP sponsored 308 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition (FRC) teams (approximately 8,000 students), 50 VEX robotics teams (approximately 500 students), and sponsored and/or supported 15 FIRST Robotics Competition events (affecting approximately 50,000 students).

The GLOBE Program is a worldwide science and education program that provides opportunities to better understand, sustain, and improve Earth’s environment at local, regional, and global scales. GLOBE provides opportunities for students, educators, scientists, members of the public, and partners to participate in data collection and the scientific process. Through activities such as measurement campaigns using GLOBE’s 40+ scientific protocols, GLOBE participants contribute to our understanding of the Earth system and the global environment. The GLOBE Program provides support for data storage and visualization, as well as curated educational materials in multiple languages. The program also dedicates resources for student research symposia, meetings, and learning expeditions, all of which enable the exchange of ideas, collaboration, and mutual understanding and appreciation among participants in 125+ GLOBE countries around the world.

Through MUREP activities, NASA supports Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPI), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU), and other minority serving institutions, through multi-year research grants. Additionally, MUREP provides internships, scholarships, fellowships, mentoring, and tutoring for underserved and underrepresented learners in K-12, informal, and higher education settings.  

Next Gen STEM is a project of NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement whose mission is to spark and sustain interest in STEM in students in grades K-12, by connecting students and their formal and informal educators to NASA’s endeavors in exploration and discovery. Next Gen STEM creates, delivers and curates NASA STEM products and experiences that make connections to NASA and fuel STEM learning and identity.

The Science Activation (SciAct) program provides opportunities for diverse learners of all ages across the Nation to engage in authentic science experiences using NASA Science content, supported by NASA science experts, and offered through community-based learning providers. SciAct’s main program objectives include enabling STEM education, improving U.S. scientific literacy, advancing national education goals, and leveraging efforts through partnerships, each of which is supported by a set of mid-level objectives developed in response to guidance from a rigorous National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) assessment of the SciAct program in 2019.

Space Grant is a national network of colleges and universities. These institutions are working to expand opportunities for Americans to understand and participate in NASA’s aeronautics and space projects by supporting and enhancing science and engineering education, research, and public outreach efforts. The Space Grant national network includes over 1000 affiliates from universities, colleges, industry, museums, science centers, and state and local agencies. The 52 consortia fund fellowships and scholarships for students pursuing careers in STEM, as well as curriculum enhancement and faculty development. Member colleges and universities also administer precollege and public service education projects in their states.