NASA ORBIT Challenge offers $500,000 in prizes to US college teams

What happened

Undergraduate and graduate teams can develop NASA patents or mission concepts. Registration closes November 16, 2026, and Phase 1 entries are due December 14. Up to 20 finalists get $15,000 each.

Why it may matter

• This is time-bound — there is an application or deadline involved, so check the dates before they pass.
• Something has closed. If you were relying on it, you need an alternative.
• Useful if you are trying to find an internship or explore opportunities.