NASA'S Gateways to Blue Skies Competition

2026 Competition Details Coming Later This Summer!

The Gateways to Blue Skies Competition expands engagement between universities and NASA’s University Innovation Project, industry, and government partners by providing an opportunity for multidisciplinary teams of students from all academic levels (i.e., freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, and graduate) and majors to tackle significant climate-related challenges and opportunities that can be addressed by the aviation industry through a new project theme each year.

Competition News

2025 Blue Skies Winners Announced!

May 21, 2025 - The South Dakota State University team, with their project titled “Soil Testing and Plant Leaf Extraction Drone,” took first place at the fourth annual Gateways to Blue Skies Competition.

2025 Blue Skies Finalists Announced!

March 14, 2025 - Eight teams have been selected as finalists as part of the 2025 Gateways to Blue Skies Competition. Teams will present their design concepts to a panel of NASA & industry judges this May.

Announcing the 2025 Blue Skies Competition!

August 6, 2024 - The 2025 Gateways to Blue Skies Competition: AgAir (Aviation Solutions for Agriculture) is now open! Proposals should focus on ways new or improved aviation solutions could assist the agriculture industry.

GATEWAYS TO BLUE SKIES

Competition Overview

Blue Skies expands engagement between universities and NASA’s University Innovation Project, industry, and government partners by providing an opportunity for multidisciplinary teams of students from all academic levels (i.e., freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, and graduate) and majors to tackle significant challenges and opportunities for the aviation industry through a new project theme each year. The competition is guided by a push toward new technologies as well as environmentally and socially conscious aviation.

Initial participation involves a conceptual study, submission of a 5-7 page proposal and creation of a video summarizing the team’s proposal. Finalist teams (up to 8) write a final research paper, create an infographic summarizing concepts, and present in front of NASA and industry experts at a culminating forum held at a NASA Center at the end of May or early June. Internship opportunities with NASA’s ARMD serve as the competition prize for members of the winning team. 

Toggle the menu below for additional competition details. Visit the Competition Details page for more details about this year’s competition.