FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Two Q&A Sessions are scheduled for the 2027 Competition:
Session #1: October 29 2026 | 3:30 – 5:00 PM ET (Virtual)
Session #2: January 27, 2027 | 3:30 – 4:30 PM ET (Virtual)

** Questions for Q&A Session #1 will be accepted in advance through Nov. 18, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. Submit questions by clicking the button below.
Review the FAQs below prior to submitting to see if your question is answered on this page.

2026 Gateway to Blue Skies Q&A Session #1:

Q&A Session #1 for the 2026 Competition was held on November 20, 2025.

Please click on the buttons below to review files from that session.

2026 Gateways to Blue Skies Q&A Session #2 :

Q&A Session #2 for the 2026 Competition was held on January 27, 2026.

Please click on the buttons below to review files from the Q&A Session #2.

ELIGIBILITY

Can foreign nationals or foreign universities participate?

Foreign Nationals (FNs) attending the proposing U.S.-based university can participate on a Blue Skies Competition Team if they are enrolled full-time and live in the U.S., with notable exclusions. Due to NASA security restrictions and policies, FNs may not be able to attend culminating Blue Skies Forum events that take place on-site at a NASA Center. FNs ineligible for the internship prize. Additional restrictions apply. For full eligibility, see the Participation Agreement.

Can lawful permanent residents (LPRs) participate in the competition?

Lawful permanent residents (i.e., green card holders) may participate in the competition, however, they are ineligible for the NASA internship prize.

Can a team member participate who is less than 18 years old?

No, students must be18 years of age or older at time of proposal submission to participate.

Are military academies eligible to participate?

No. see the Participation Agreement for full eligibility requirements.

Are students doing federal work study eligible to participate in the competition?

Yes. Federal work study through, say, a Pell program or through FAFSA does not preclude you from participating in the competition.

ADVISORS

What is the role of the academic advisor?

Academic advisors are mentors, and if a team is selected as a finalist, help manage any monetary awards sent to the university, ensuring they are disbursed appropriately (according to your university’s protocols) to enable the team’s full participation in the culminating Gateways to Blue Skies Forum. The student team leader and advisor will also jointly receive email updates and reminders about the competition to distribute to the rest of the team.

Does the academic advisor have to be from our university?

Yes. The primary advisor must be from the the lead college/university and be able to handle financial awards on behalf of your team according to college/university protocols. The advisor will also sign the participation agreement on behalf of the team. However, teams may also have additional faculty serve as mentors from other colleges/universities.

Can teams have more than one advisor?

Yes.

Must the academic advisor be a U.S. citizen or can they be a lawful permanent resident?

An academic advisor may be a lawful permanent resident (i.e., Green Card holder). If they are a U.S. Citizen or a lawful permanent resident, we are allowed to send funds to the college/university on their behalf.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION PHASE 1

Can a team still participate if a Notice of Intent was not submitted?

Yes. Teams may still participate even if they did not submit a Notice of Intent (NOI). However, submitting an NOI as soon as possible is encouraged so we can keep your team informed of updates and resources and help NASA anticipate the number of proposals to be reviewed. NOIs are non-binding, and your team’s concept can change before the proposal submission deadline.

Who completes the W9 Form?

The W9/Vendor Form must be filled out by the lead college/university. Typically, it is done through the college/university finance department. Your advisor should be able to help you navigate conversations with your college/university to ensure the W9 is filled correctly, by the appropriate personnel. Students and Students Clubs cannot fill out the W9 or vendor form.

NOTE: A completed IRS Form W9 is an acceptable substitution.

How should sources be formatted?

There is no preference in citation formatting, but references must be formatted uniformly and correctly. Just linking sources is not acceptable.

Do citations count toward the page limit?

No.

FINALISTS & PHASE 2

Is onsite forum participation mandatory?

Yes. If selected as a finalist, at least two U.S. citizen or LPR student team members must attend the GBS Forum and present their work during their scheduled presentation time slot and during their poster session. Attending team members are expected to participate in all Forum events.

At least one faculty advisor is highly encouraged to attend the Forum with each team. Team-affiliated industry advisors may also attend the Forum.

Can a team submit their research as an abstract to other conferences before or after the Forum?

You can absolutely submit your research as an abstract to other conferences.

It’s also OK to present the work at your university (to other students/faculty/internal school events) before the Blue Skies Forum.

PRIZES

Does NASA have a policy prohibiting institutional overhead from being charged to the prize funds?

Neither NASA nor NIA can place restrictions on the use of prize funds; however, many universities are willing to waive any overhead so that the full amount can be awarded for the team’s use.

What are the NASA prize internships offered?

NASA internships offered as the Blue Skies prize are most likely to occur at an Aeronautics Center: Ames Research Center (CA), Armstrong Research Center (CA), Glenn Research Center (OH), or Langley Research Center (VA). However, they may be located across the country at any NASA Center, depending on various factors that will be determined directly with winning team members.