NASA seeks student ideas for 2027 Human Lander Challenge

NASA's 2027 Human Lander Challenge is seeking ideas from United States-based collegiate teams and faculty advisers. The challenge asks for resilient communications concepts that would link astronauts, rovers, habitats, landers, and Earth-based mission support teams.

The challenge is seeking ideas and invites United States-based collegiate teams and faculty advisers.

NASA is preparing for a long-term human presence on the Moon.

The challenge seeks a resilient communications system to connect astronauts, rovers, habitats, landers, and Earth-based mission support teams. Reliable communications is described as essential for safety, operations, and decision-making.

The challenge lists 2027-03-04 for proposal packages, and the listed package includes a five- to seven-page proposal and a two-minute video.

NASA lists three main categories, but teams may propose solutions outside the focus areas.

Phase 1 will select up to 12 finalist teams, and finalist teams will receive 9000 USD.

Phase 2 includes a final design review in Huntsville, Alabama, on 2027-06-21 and 2027-06-24. Huntsville is the home of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.

The top three teams will receive 18000 USD. The Human Lander Challenge is administered by the National Institute of Aerospace and sponsored by the Human Landing System Program Office of NASA's Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate.

The challenge targets communications that would link astronauts, rovers, habitats, landers, and Earth-based mission support teams. The facts state reliable communications is essential for safety, operations, and decision-making.

NASA is preparing for a long-term human presence on the Moon, and Artemis will send astronauts to explore the Moon. The facts also describe Artemis as building the foundation for first crewed missions to Mars and link Moon Base programs to long-term human presence on the Moon.

The challenge lists 2027-03-04 for proposal packages, which include a five- to seven-page proposal and a two-minute video.

Phase 1 will select up to 12 finalist teams, and finalist teams will receive 9000 USD. Phase 2 will include a final design review in Huntsville, Alabama, on 2027-06-21 and 2027-06-24, and the top three teams will receive 18000 USD.