NASA TechRise Student Challenge

NASA TechRise gives U.S. student teams a chance to design an experiment for a commercial suborbital flight. Teams in grades 6–12 develop and submit an experiment concept with an educator; 60 winning teams receive $1,500 to build the payload, technical support from Future Engineers, and a reserved spot on a NASA-sponsored flight. Winners spend the spring semester building and testing with professional guidance. The 2026–27 challenge is expected to open in September 2026 and will use a high-altitude balloon as its suborbital vehicle.