NEW CHALLENGE NOW OPEN!
Managed by NASA’s Flight Opportunities program, the TechLeap Prize seeks to rapidly identify and develop space technologies through a series of challenges that address specific technology needs for NASA and the nation. TechLeap is open to qualified commercial businesses, academic institutions, entrepreneurs, and other innovators. In addition to a cash prize, winners have an opportunity to receive access to a suborbital or hosted orbital flight opportunity on a commercial flight vehicle.
Current Challenge | Current Challenge Webinar | Prior and Ongoing Challenges |
Other TechLeap-Related Webinars | News
Current Challenge
Orbital Clarity Challenge
NASA has launched the Orbital Clarity Challenge, the sixth in the NASA TechLeap Prize series. A collaborative effort between NASA’s Heliophysics Division and Flight Opportunities program, this challenge seeks to advance orbital drag measurement for more predictable satellite flight paths. Applicants are invited to propose low-cost, scalable approaches that enable proliferated measurements of density, pressure, or drag in low Earth orbit.
Up to four winners will each receive up to $500,000 across three prize phases to develop a flight-ready solution within 12 months. In addition, NASA intends to provide an opportunity for the winning team(s) to demonstrate their solution in orbit, at no cost.
To enter the Orbital Clarity Challenge, applicants must register by Oct. 28, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Phase 1 submissions are due by Nov. 11, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Subscribe to the Flight Opportunities newsletter to receive news and special announcements about the challenge and other Flight Opportunities activities and opportunities. Sign up for the virtual information session to be held Sept. 22. More details below.
Orbital Clarity Challenge Webinar
Virtual Information Session: Sept. 22, 2026 at 1pm ET
Prior and Ongoing Challenges
Robotically Manipulated Payload Challenge
Space Technology Payload Challenge
Universal Payload Interface Challenge
Nighttime Precision Landing Challenge
Autonomous Observation Challenge
View Past Webinars Related to TechLeap
These webinars discussed researcher experiences and provided useful insights related to NASA TechLeap Prize challenges.
Virtual Information Session for the Robotically Manipulated Payload Challenge
Robotically Manipulated Payload Challenge Webinar
Presents key details of the new challenge, provides an overview of ISAM and FFR, and offers tips for preparing an application. A Q&A session is included at the end.
TechLeap Universal Payload Interface Challenge: Spotlight on Winning Solutions
The three winning teams talk about the solutions they developed as part of the NASA TechLeap Prize Universal Payload Interface Challenge.
Pre-Registration Q&A Webinar February 12
Watch the recording of the informational webinar we hosted on February 12 to learn more about participating in the Space Technology Payload Challenge.
Space Technology Payload Challenge: Jan. 8, 2025 webinar
Speakers covered key details of the challenge, tips for preparing an application, and context to the technology areas the challenge aims to address.
Pre-Launch Q&A: Space Technology Payload Challenge
Before this challenge launched on December 10, 2024, Flight Opportunities hosted a Q&A webinar to help researchers learn more about this TechLeap opportunity.
NASA TechLeap Universal Payload Interface Challenge
This webinar discusses the NASA TechLeap Universal Payload Interface Challenge that is seeking a flight-ready universal payload interface.
Practicing Fly-Fix-Fly: Re-flight Opportunity Through NASA TechLeap Prize
At this webinar, presenters explore the “fly-fix-fly” ethos of the Flight Opportunities program and highlight best practices for quickly advancing space technologies.
The Pace of Space: What's New in Suborbital Flight
This webinar discusses a number of new activities across NASA that influence the suborbital flight community, including TechLeap.
NASA’s TechLeap Prize: Advancing Space Technologies and Innovative Teams
This webinar highlights the unique support that TechLeap provides by offering first-hand insight from winners of the inaugural TechLeap Prize: Autonomous Observation Challenge No. 1.
NASA TechLeap News
Small Companies Win Big in NASA’s TechLeap Challenge
NASA Opportunities Fuel Growth and Entrepreneurship for Bronco Space Club Students
NASA Seeks Development of Universal Payload Interface
NASA Offers Fly-Fix-Fly Testing for SmallSat Planetary Observation
NASA TechLeap Prize Winner Tests Quantum Earth Observation System
Winners of First NASA TechLeap Challenge Take Flight
NASA TechLeap Winners Advance Technology to Aid Lunar Landings
NASA TechLeap Challenge Winners Advance to Next Round
