Forum Information

Blue Skies Forum Info

Check back later for information about the 2026 GBS Forum!
The 2025 Gateways to Blue Skies Forum will be held May 20-21, 2025 in Palmdale, CA. Attendance at the Forum is restricted to competition participants, but the public is invited to view the team presentations via Livestream.  PLEASE NOTE:
  • The Online Registration deadline is 11:59 PM ET on April 17, 2025. Late registrations cannot be accepted or accommodated. No exceptions.
  • The Hotel Reservation deadline is 11:59 PM ET April 20, 2025. After this time, the group rate will no longer be valid.
Visit the Competition Details Page

View the 2026 Forum Agenda.

View the 2026 Forum Program Book.

View the 2026 Forum Menu.

View the 2026 Forum FAQs.

The public is invited to view the annual Gateways to Blue Skies Forum via Livestream!

Note: Only team presentations will be broadcast. Questions may be posed via the Livestream broadcast, and will be asked if time allows during each team’s Q&A.


NASA Langley Research Center

Forum Registration is open through April 17th for the 2026 Gateways to Blue Skies Forum, which will be held May 18-19, 2026 at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va.

Each attendee must register for the competition, including faculty advisors.

Due to NASA security restrictions and policies, it is unlikely that Foreign Nationals will be able to attend the NASA Langley Tour on May 19. 

A registration fee will be charged upon completion of the form. Group payments can be made; select “to be paid by group payment” at the end of the individual registration form. Follow the link provided after the form is submitted to make a group payment. When completing the Group Payment Form, include all names of individuals the group payment will cover to ensure payment is applied appropriately to those individuals.

Direct questions about registration to the Gateways to Blue Skies Program Manager at blueskies@nianet.org.


Embassy Suites by Hilton Hampton Convention Center
1700 Coliseum Drive
Hampton, VA, 23666

It is highly encouraged that Gateways to Blue Skies Forum attendees stay in the Forum Host Hotel, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Hampton Convention Center. Forum guests staying at the Embassy Suites will enjoy free breakfast at the hotel, simply by using the reservation link below. The hotel also includes an indoor pool.

  • Hotel rooms can be booked at the Blue Skies group rate of $110/night plus tax (approximately $18.50), using the online Blue Skies hotel reservation link by the deadline of April 16. The group rate expires at noon EST Thursday, April 16, 2026.  
    • Suite capacity: 
      • Queen Suites have a max guest capacity of 6 guests (2 queens and a Sleeper Sofa) 
      • King Suites have a max guest capacity of 4 guests (1 King and a Sleeper sofa)
  • Rate Increase for more than 2 guests per room: The hotel reserves the right to charge $10 more onto any rate for any additional guests past 2.  
  • IMPORTANT! Once in the reservation link, please click “Edit Stay” at the top of the page to update the actual number of guests staying in each room, so that you will receive the appropriate number of hotel breakfast vouchers for everyone on your team. 

Arrive By: Please plan to arrive by 7 PM Eastern Time on May 17, 2026, so that you can register your team.

Depart On: Please plan to depart on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.

Local Airports: 

  • Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF) – Approximately 18 mins from the Embassy Suites.
  • Norfolk International Airport (ORF) – Approximately 42 minutes from the Embassy Suites.
  • Richmond International Airport (RIC) – Approximately 1 hr. 13 minutes minutes from the Embassy Suites.

Ground Transportation:

  • We highly recommend that teams get a rental car for transportation to/and from the airport/hotel, as well as for the awards ceremony on Tuesday