NASA is looking to the next generation of engineers and scientists to facilitate tackle the complex challenges of deep space exploration. The agency recently announced 14 university teams as finalists in the 2026 Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts – Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) Competition, a program designed to foster innovation and collaboration in support of NASA’s ambitious goals for the Moon, Mars, and beyond. This year’s competition focused on critical areas like power systems, communications, and resource utilization – all essential for establishing a sustainable human presence off-Earth.
The RASC-AL competition isn’t just an academic exercise. It’s a vital link between the classroom and the cutting edge of aerospace engineering. As Daniel Mazanek, RASC-AL program sponsor and senior space systems engineer at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, explained, the teams demonstrated “not only creativity, but also the disciplined analysis and systems engineering required to develop credible solutions for space exploration challenges facing the agency.” The program aims to cultivate a skilled workforce prepared to address the hurdles of long-duration space missions.
Image Credit: National Institute of Aerospace
This year’s challenge invited teams to develop proposals centered around four key mission themes, all directly aligned with NASA’s Artemis program and future Mars exploration plans. These themes included designing robust Communications, Position, Navigation, and Time (CPNT) architectures for Mars surface operations; developing innovative Lunar Surface Power and Power Management and Distribution (PMAD) architectures; conceiving Lunar Sample Return concepts; and exploring Lunar Technology Demonstrations leveraging common infrastructure. These areas represent some of the most pressing technological needs for establishing a long-term presence on the Moon and eventually, Mars.
Teams Tackle Martian Communications and Lunar Power
Among the finalists, three teams focused on overcoming the unique communication challenges presented by the Martian environment. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) proposed “MELIORA: Mars Exploration Layered Infrastructure for Operations, Research, and Advancement,” while the University of Texas, Austin, developed “Project Pharos.” Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University presented “The Mars Pylon Network (MPN).” These projects likely address issues like signal delay, atmospheric interference, and the need for reliable communication relays across vast distances. NASA emphasizes the importance of reliable communication for robotic and human missions alike.
The need for sustainable power sources on the Moon was a central focus for another group of finalists. Dartmouth College’s “FLORA: Flywheel for Lunar Operations – Redundancy Architecture” explores the potential of flywheel energy storage. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, proposed “Project AUREVO: Advanced Utilization of Resources for Energy & Viability Off-Earth,” suggesting in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) for power generation. MIT also entered a second project, “Exploration-Class Lunar Integrated Power SystEm (ECLIPSE),” and the University of Hawaii, Manoa, in collaboration with the University of Hawaii, Hilo, presented “Project PETAL: Power Energy Transfer Architecture for the Lunar surface.” These projects are particularly relevant as NASA plans to establish a long-term base camp on the Moon as part of the Artemis program.
Lunar Resources and Innovative Infrastructure
Beyond power and communications, the competition also spurred innovative thinking around lunar resource utilization and infrastructure development. MIT’s “CHEESEBURGER: CLPS-enabled Highly-autonomous End-to-End isru-System Evaluations to Build Understanding and Resilient Growth by Experimenting with Regolith” focuses on utilizing lunar regolith – the loose surface material – for resource extraction. The University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, partnering with Ecole Supérieure d’Ingénieurs Léonard de Vinci, proposed “MATRIX: Mining and Advanced Transformation of Regolith for Infrastructure and eXpansion,” further exploring the potential of lunar resources. The University of Maryland’s “Project LILI: Lunar Infrastructure & Landing Innovation” and the University of Texas, Austin’s “Demonstration of Up-scalable Surface Treatment for Earth-Moon Economy (DUSTEE)” round out the finalists, tackling challenges related to landing infrastructure and surface treatment technologies.
Each team initially submitted a detailed proposal paper and a concise two-minute video presentation, which were rigorously evaluated by a panel of experts from NASA and the aerospace industry. This initial screening process narrowed down a larger pool of applicants to these 14 finalists, demonstrating the high caliber of submissions received this year.
What’s Next for the RASC-AL Finalists?
The finalists will now refine their concepts into comprehensive technical papers and prepare for oral presentations. The culmination of their efforts will be the 2026 RASC-AL Forum, taking place in Cocoa Beach, Florida, beginning on June 2. At the forum, students will have the opportunity to present their work directly to NASA leaders, industry professionals, and their fellow competitors, receiving valuable feedback and gaining practical experience in systems-level mission design. The top-performing teams will be recognized for their technical merit, innovation, and presentation skills.
The RASC-AL Competition is administered by the National Institute of Aerospace and sponsored by several NASA directorates, including the Strategy and Architecture Office, the Space Technology Mission Directorate, and the Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate at NASA Langley. The NASA Tournament Lab, within the Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing Program, manages the overall challenge. NASA’s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing Program is designed to engage the public in solving complex space exploration challenges.
The RASC-AL competition represents a significant investment in the future of space exploration, empowering students to contribute to NASA’s ambitious goals. The concepts developed through this program will undoubtedly inform and shape the agency’s plans for establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon and eventually, venturing further into the solar system. The next step for these teams is the forum in June, where their innovative ideas will be put to the test and the future of space exploration will be, in part, determined.
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