NASA’s Gateways to Blue Skies Competition (Sneak Peek)

SNEAK PEEK of NASA's 2026
Gateways to Blues Skies Theme
RepAir: Advancing Aircraft Maintenance

Full Challenge Details will be Available Mid-September

Some details may be subject to change.

NASA’s 2026 Gateways to Blue Skies (GBS) competition asks collegiate student teams to conceptualize innovative systems and practices that would advance current commercial aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul operations with a goal to enhance resilience, safety, and efficiency by 2035. Concepts should address pressing industry challenges and opportunities—such as aging aircraft, increasing operations, costs, and staffing shortages, while integrating novel technologies and solutions.

Proposed concepts should focus primarily on the aviation maintenance area being addressed (e.g., predictive maintenance, advanced monitoring, compliance checks, etc.). Solutions may leverage automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, augmented/virtual reality, or other emerging technologies, and should clearly demonstrate end-user applications, system operations, and potential integration with or replacement of existing systems.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility is limited to teams of students at accredited U.S. colleges and universities. Community colleges, technical colleges, and multidisciplinary teams are encouraged to apply! Full eligibility guidelines will be available on the website in mid-September.

PRIZES

In Phase 1, up to 8 teams will receive $9,000 each and advance to Phase 2.

In Phase 2, members of the winning team will be offered NASA internships! (Additional eligibility requirements apply).

Dates and Deadlines

Phase 1
DateDescription
November 4, 2025Notifications of Intent (NOI) Submission Deadline
November 20, 2025
3:30 - 5:00 PM Eastern		Q&A Session #1 for Interested Teams
January 23, 2026
3:30-4:30 PM Eastern		Q&A Session #2 for Interested Teams
February 16, 2026
Deadline to Submit Proposals and Videos

Phase 2

DateDescription
May 3, 2026Deadline to Submit Final Paper and Infographic
May 15, 2026Deadline to Submit Presentation Files
May 18-20, 2026Tentative Date for 2026 GBS Forum at NASA Langley

Through GBS, NASA hopes to reach as many college students as possible, including students from technical schools. Submissions from ALL academic levels (i.e., freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, and graduate) and ALL majors are highly encouraged to participate.

QUESTIONS? Contact the GBS Program Team at blueskies@nianet.org

NASA’s Gateways to Blue Skies is administered by the National Institute of Aerospace on behalf of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). GBS is sponsored by the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate’s (ARMD’s) University Innovatio Project.