winners announced
TechRise 2023-24: Expected To Launch August 2023
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Challenge Overview
Are you ready for this year’s NASA TechRise Student challenge? From environmental research to developing technologies near the edge of space, schools are invited to join NASA in its mission to advance space exploration and enhance our knowledge of Earth. If you are in sixth to 12th grade at a U.S. public, private, or charter school – including those in U.S. territories – your challenge is to team up with your schoolmates and develop an experiment idea for this year’s NASA TechRise flight vehicle – the high-altitude balloon!
The high-altitude balloon flight will offer more than four hours of flight time at 70,000 feet and provide exposure to Earth’s atmosphere plus views of our planet.
A total of 60 winning teams will be selected to build their proposed experiment. Each winning team will be awarded:
- $1,500 to build their experiment
- A flight box in which to build it
- An assigned spot to test their experiment on a NASA-sponsored balloon flight
Winning teams will also receive technical support during the experiment build phase from Future Engineers advisors, who will help students learn the skills they need to turn their experiment idea into reality. No experience is necessary to join the NASA TechRise Challenge! The steps below will help your team plan and submit your experiment idea.
Steps to Enter
Entries Due By: October 24, 2022 11:59 PM PT
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Step 1 - FORM A TEAM
Make a team with at least four students and one team lead (a teacher or school employee). All students must be in sixth through 12th grades and attend the same U.S. public, private, or charter school. Students can be from one grade or across multiple grades, and there is no maximum number of students per team.
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Step 2 - REVIEW THE PROPOSAL TEMPLATE AND DESIGN GUIDELINES
It's important to understand the requirements! Review the balloon guidelines to learn what can/cannot fly on the high-altitude balloon. Then review the proposal template, which you will use to submit your experiment idea.
NASA TECHRISE PROPOSAL TEMPLATE & GUIDE
BALLOON DESIGN GUIDELINES
EDUCATOR GUIDE
NASA TECHRISE PROPOSAL TEMPLATE & GUIDE
BALLOON DESIGN GUIDELINES
EDUCATOR GUIDE
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Step 3 - LEARN ABOUT BALLOONS
Watch the video below to learn about high-altitude balloon flights, the conditions in Earth’s atmosphere, and the types of data that can be collected at 70,000 feet. From climate research to near-space technology testing, there is much to see and learn in the stratosphere.
Balloon
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Step 4 - PLAN YOUR EXPERIMENT
BRAINSTORM
There are many experiment ideas to consider! The brainstorming topics below will help your team think about possible experiment ideas to test on a high-altitude balloon.
BALLOON BRAINSTORM WORKSHEET
BALLOON BRAINSTORM SLIDE DECK
BALLOON BRAINSTORM WORKSHEET
BALLOON BRAINSTORM SLIDE DECK
DESIGN
Now it's time to design your experiment! Think about what you would use to bring your experiment idea to life. From motors to sensors to microcontrollers, explore components for your design. You do NOT need to build your idea unless your team is selected as a winner.
EXPLORE COMPONENTS DESIGN WORKSHEET
PLAN YOUR EXPERIMENT DESIGN SLIDE DECK
EXPLORE COMPONENTS DESIGN WORKSHEET
PLAN YOUR EXPERIMENT DESIGN SLIDE DECK
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Step 5 - SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL
Write up the experiment idea using the NASA TECHRISE PROPOSAL TEMPLATE & GUIDE. After your team drafts the proposal, the teacher or school employee must submit the proposal on or before October 24, 2022, to enter the challenge. Educators/schools can submit an unlimited number of proposals for an unlimited number of teams, but each proposal should be unique.
Winners Announced
January 12, 2023
A total of 60 winning teams will receive a prize package that consists of: $1,500 to build your experiment, a flight box in which to build it, and an assigned spot for the winning experiment on a NASA-sponsored flight. The winning teams will also have access to technical support and office hours with Future Engineers experts during the experiment build period.
BUILD & LAUNCH YOUR EXPERIMENT
January 12, 2023 - Summer 2023
Winning teams will receive their prize package immediately after the winner’s announcement on January 12, 2023, and then can start building their experiment. Each team will meet regularly with the TechRise advisory team and learn (or improve) the skills needed to build their experiment. All experiments must be mailed to Future Engineers no later than May 6, 2023. The experiments will launch on the high-altitude balloon test flight in Summer 2023.
Prize Boxes
Sent
January 2023
Sent
January 2023
Experiment Build Begins
January 12, 2023
January 12, 2023
Winner
Showcase
May 5, 2023
Showcase
May 5, 2023
Send in Experiments
May 6, 2023
May 6, 2023
Experiments Launch
Summer 2023
Summer 2023
DATES / JUDGING CRITERIA / PRIZES
You have to play by the rules to win.
WHO CAN ENTER
The NASA TechRise Challenge is for SCHOOLS in U.S. states and territories. U.S. public, private, or charter schools that serve sixth to 12th grade students can assemble a team (or multiple teams) and enter. Minimum four students per team. No maximum number of students per team. Proposals must be submitted by a team lead that is a teacher or employee of the school. Homeschools are not eligible to participate unless they are affiliated with a public, private, or charter school that complies with the insurance requirements in the RULES.
GRADES 6-12
SCHOOL CLASSES
SCHOOL CLASSES
GRADES 6-12
SCHOOL CLUBS
SCHOOL CLUBS
GRADES 6-12
SCHOOL TEAMS
SCHOOL TEAMS
JUDGING CRITERIA
High-Altitude Balloon
High-Altitude Balloon
High-Altitude Balloon
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POINTS
Experiment’s impact on education and/or society
30
POINTS
Feasibility to build the experiment in approximately four months with a $1,500 budget
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POINTS
Originality of the flight experiment
20
POINTS
Clarity of the experiment design plan
10
POINTS
Point bonus awarded if school is Title I eligible
HOW TO ENTER
STUDENTS
Develop an experiment idea with your school team and fill out the Proposal Template. Give your completed proposal to your teacher.
TEACHERS/EDUCATORS
Coordinate with your students to submit their team proposal. Educators can submit an unlimited number of proposals, but please make sure each proposal is unique.
PROGRAM DATES
Contest
Opens
Opens
10
AUGUST
Educator Workshop
27
AUGUST
Student Virtual Field Trip
22
SEPTEMBER
Entries
Close
Close
24
OCTOBER
Winners Announced & Build Begins
12
JANUARY 2023
Experiment Showcase
5
MAY 2023
Balloon Launches
00
SUMMER 2023
Contest
Opens
Opens
10
AUGUST
Educator Workshop
27
AUGUST
Student Virtual Field Trip
22
SEPTEMBER
Entries
Close
Close
24
OCTOBER
Winners Announced & Build Begins
12
JANUARY 2023
Experiment Showcase
5
MAY 2023
Balloon Launches
00
SUMMER 2023
PRIZES
WINNERS
PRIZES:
- An assigned spot for your experiment on a NASA-sponsored flight and $1500 to develop your experiment
- Winner prize package including a flight box
Dive Into The Challenge
CLICK A TOPIC BELOW TO GET IDEAS FOR YOUR EXPERIMENT
Challenge Resources
Climate
Imaging & Sensing
Moon
Mars
Suborbital Vehicles
Digital Tools
Challenge Resources
>
Challenge Resources
Climate
Imaging & Sensing
Moon
Mars
Suborbital Vehicles
Digital Tools
LEARN ABOUT Challenge Resources
For your convenience we have aggregated links to the NASA TechRise education resources from the top of the web page below.
Links & Lessons
Videos
LEARN ABOUT Climate
Learn about climate change, global temperature trends, greenhouse gases, and more. What atmospheric research experiment could you design? What can your experiment sense to learn more about climate?
Links & Lessons
Could Tiny Sensors Keep Methane Out of Our Atmosphere - and our Homes?
NASA's Climate Resources for Educators
NASA Science: Climate and Earth Resources
NASA's Servir Program
NASA: A 'Pi in the Sky' Math Challenge
NASA: Lessons in Sea-Level Rise
NASA: Graphing Global Temperature Trends
Videos
NASA's Earth Minute: Why Does NASA Study Earth?
NASA's Earth Minute: My Name is Aerosol
NASA's Earth Minute: Cloudy Forecast
NASA's Earth Minute: Greenland Ice
NASA's Earth Minute: Sea Level Rise
NASA's Earth Minute: Dishing the Dirt
NASA's Earth Minute: Blowin' in the Wind
NASA's Earth Minute: Scale in the Sky
NASA's Earth Minute: Gas Problem
NASA's Earth Minute: Earth Has a Fever
NASA's Earth Minute: Usual Suspects
NASA's Earth Minute: Mission to Earth
LEARN ABOUT Imaging & Sensing
Understand the role remote imaging and sensing play in scientific discovery. Earth science data can be a critical part of your experiment design. Dig into data from weather stations, radar, satellites, and think about what kind of experiment data you will want to collect or use.
LEARN ABOUT Moon
Near-space research is the first step for many technologies headed to the Moon. Learn all about the Moon and NASA's Artemis program. Experience the lunar surface using NASA's Interactive Moon. Think about how a balloon-based experiment can help advance the future of lunar exploration.
Links & Lessons
NASA's Interactive Moon
Lunar Reconnaissance
Artemis Mission Page
What is the Artemis Program?
Orion Spacecraft
Space Launch System
Next Gen Spacesuits
Artemis Spacesuits Podcast
Videos
LEARN ABOUT Mars
Discover Mars and learn about NASA's Mars2020 Mission. Follow the Perseverance Rover on its quest to search for signs of ancient microbial life. Check out the technologies being used to explore Mars and think about how your high-altitude experiment could be the first step for a technology or research project headed to Mars.
Links & Lessons
Videos
LEARN ABOUT Suborbital Vehicles
Learn about NASA's Flight Opportunities program and discover how NASA-supported test flights advance space exploration. These curated links and lessons will help you learn more about the benefits of testing a little closer to Earth before launching a lot farther!
Links & Lessons
Digital Tools
Start tinkering with a microcontroller. Learn how to download Mu or Arduino IDE and dive in with coding tutorials.
CircuitPython Tutorials
Get started with CircuitPython as the introductory programming language for your microcontroller. Learn how write code on a FREE programming editor like Mu. Get tinkering with curated tutorials. Build a programming foundation for your TechRise experiment.
Arduino Tutorials
Use Arduino programming language to take your microcontroller skills to the next level. Download the FREE Arduino IDE and check out our curated Arduino programming lessons. Build a programming foundation for your TechRise experiment.Filter By Program
Videos / Resources
LAUNCHING THE INNOVATORS OF TOMORROW
NASA's Flight Opportunities Program is leading the NASA TechRise Challenge, which is administered by Future Engineers. Flight Opportunities rapidly demonstrates promising technologies for space exploration, discovery, and the expansion of space commerce through suborbital testing with industry flight providers. The program matures capabilities needed for NASA missions and commercial applications while strategically investing in the growth of the U.S. commercial spaceflight industry. These flight tests take technologies from ground-based laboratories into relevant environments to increase technology readiness and validate feasibility while reducing the costs and technical risks of future missions. NASA’s Flight Opportunities program is funded by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) and managed at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.
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