Through the 2023 Blue Skies Competition, teams of 2 to 6 students will conceptualize the source-to-flight lifecycle of one potential, primary clean aviation energy source of the future. In the push towards climate-friendly aviation and emerging aviation markets, this challenge seeks to investigate alternate energy sources that, if developed further, could be a solution to major climate impacts due to aviation. Teams will develop a proposal that will be the basis for selecting competition finalists, who will write a final research paper, develop an infographic, and present at the 2023 Blue Skies Forum in Cleveland, OH. Finalists receive a funding stipend to facilitate full competition participation. Competition winners earn internships within NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate.

1. Thoroughly review the Competition Guidelines document on the Blue Skies Competition website.
2. Find a qualified advisor and a team of students with diverse knowledge, skills, and abilities relevant to the theme.
3. Ensure that your team meets the eligibility requirements.
4. Submit a Notice of Intent to stay informed of competition updates.
5. Attend one or both Q&A sessions with the competition judges.
6. Develop and submit a Proposal and 2-minute Video by 11:59 PM ET on February 28, 2023.
   1. Proposals are reviewed and evaluated by the Blue Skies judges.
   2. Based on a review of the proposals, up to 8 teams will advance to the next phase of the competition – more fully developing their concept into a technical paper and infographic and presenting their concepts in a face-to-face review during the Blue Skies Forum taking place June 1-2, 2023.
   3. Winning team members receive NASA internship offers.

Proposals are evaluated by the Blue Skies Steering Committee based on the following criteria:

• Technical Merit & Rationale: Sound justification of assumptions for the selected energy source and its source-to-flight lifecycle.
• Impact Assessment: Sound technical/scientific/engineering analysis, evaluation, and rationale of the climate impact attributable to the selected energy source and its source-to-flight lifecycle, indicating thorough and proper research conducted or to be conducted.
• Landscape Assessment: Understanding the key technical, social, political, financial, and environmental factors.
• Innovation: Of energy source, concept, or technology to the aviation industry.
• Theme Adherence: Adherence to competition thematic components as stated in the Overview and Competition Theme Description.
• Composition/Grammar/Cohesion: Paper utilizes excellence in the English language, grammar, and composition to effectively convey concepts.

Videos are evaluated by the Blue Skies Steering Committee based on the following criteria:

• Relevance to Proposed Concept: Video enhances/highlights aspects of the team’s concept(s) and/or increases understanding of chosen energy source’s source-to-flight lifecycle.
• Overall Impression: Video content is aesthetic, organized, and flows. Viewers can easily follow the material.

Website: https://blueskies.nianet.org/

Managing Organization: National Institute of Aerospace (NIA)

Contact:

blueskies@nianet.org

Eligibility:
The Gateway to Blue Skies Competition is open to full-time or part-time undergraduate and graduate students at an accredited U.S.-based community college, college, or university. Teams may include senior capstone students, clubs, multi-university teams, and/or multi-disciplinary teams. <ul> <li>An individual may join more than one team.</li> <li>A faculty advisor may advise more than one team.</li> <li>A university may submit more than one proposal.</li> <li>Team members may not be a federal employee acting with the scope of employment (this includes co-op students with civil servant status).</li> <li>The expectations is that Blue Skies projects are student-led initiatives (i.e., students are doing the work).</li> <li>Faculty take on the role as mentors, and if a team is selected as a finalist, help manage any monetary awards sent to the university.</li> </ul> Foreign Nationals (FNs) attending the proposing U.S.-based university can participate on a Blue Skies Competition Team, with one notable exclusion. Due to the prohibitive restrictions and ever-changing NASA security regulations, foreign nationals will not be able to attend culminating Blue Skies Forum events that take place on-site at a NASA Center (including tours). Because this is a NASA-sponsored competition, eligibility is limited to universities in the United States. Foreign universities are not eligible to participate in the Blue Skies Competition.

Registration Opens: July 26, 2022

Registration Closes: March 1, 2023

Through the 2023 Blue Skies Competition, teams of 2 to 6 students will conceptualize the source-to-flight lifecycle of one potential, primary clean aviation energy source of the future. In the push towards climate-friendly aviation and emerging aviation markets, this challenge seeks to investigate alternate energy sources that, if developed further, could be a solution to major climate impacts due to aviation. Teams will develop a proposal that will be the basis for selecting competition finalists, who will write a final research paper, develop an infographic, and present at the 2023 Blue Skies Forum in Cleveland, OH. Finalists receive a funding stipend to facilitate full competition participation. Competition winners earn internships within NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate.

1. Thoroughly review the Competition Guidelines document on the Blue Skies Competition website.
2. Find a qualified advisor and a team of students with diverse knowledge, skills, and abilities relevant to the theme.
3. Ensure that your team meets the eligibility requirements.
4. Submit a Notice of Intent to stay informed of competition updates.
5. Attend one or both Q&A sessions with the competition judges.
6. Develop and submit a Proposal and 2-minute Video by 11:59 PM ET on February 28, 2023.
   1. Proposals are reviewed and evaluated by the Blue Skies judges.
   2. Based on a review of the proposals, up to 8 teams will advance to the next phase of the competition – more fully developing their concept into a technical paper and infographic and presenting their concepts in a face-to-face review during the Blue Skies Forum taking place June 1-2, 2023.
   3. Winning team members receive NASA internship offers.

Proposals are evaluated by the Blue Skies Steering Committee based on the following criteria:

• Technical Merit & Rationale: Sound justification of assumptions for the selected energy source and its source-to-flight lifecycle.
• Impact Assessment: Sound technical/scientific/engineering analysis, evaluation, and rationale of the climate impact attributable to the selected energy source and its source-to-flight lifecycle, indicating thorough and proper research conducted or to be conducted.
• Landscape Assessment: Understanding the key technical, social, political, financial, and environmental factors.
• Innovation: Of energy source, concept, or technology to the aviation industry.
• Theme Adherence: Adherence to competition thematic components as stated in the Overview and Competition Theme Description.
• Composition/Grammar/Cohesion: Paper utilizes excellence in the English language, grammar, and composition to effectively convey concepts.

Videos are evaluated by the Blue Skies Steering Committee based on the following criteria:

• Relevance to Proposed Concept: Video enhances/highlights aspects of the team’s concept(s) and/or increases understanding of chosen energy source’s source-to-flight lifecycle.
• Overall Impression: Video content is aesthetic, organized, and flows. Viewers can easily follow the material.

Website: https://blueskies.nianet.org/

Managing Organization: National Institute of Aerospace (NIA)

Contact:

blueskies@nianet.org

Entry Fee:

Eligibility:
The Gateway to Blue Skies Competition is open to full-time or part-time undergraduate and graduate students at an accredited U.S.-based community college, college, or university. Teams may include senior capstone students, clubs, multi-university teams, and/or multi-disciplinary teams. <ul> <li>An individual may join more than one team.</li> <li>A faculty advisor may advise more than one team.</li> <li>A university may submit more than one proposal.</li> <li>Team members may not be a federal employee acting with the scope of employment (this includes co-op students with civil servant status).</li> <li>The expectations is that Blue Skies projects are student-led initiatives (i.e., students are doing the work).</li> <li>Faculty take on the role as mentors, and if a team is selected as a finalist, help manage any monetary awards sent to the university.</li> </ul> Foreign Nationals (FNs) attending the proposing U.S.-based university can participate on a Blue Skies Competition Team, with one notable exclusion. Due to the prohibitive restrictions and ever-changing NASA security regulations, foreign nationals will not be able to attend culminating Blue Skies Forum events that take place on-site at a NASA Center (including tours). Because this is a NASA-sponsored competition, eligibility is limited to universities in the United States. Foreign universities are not eligible to participate in the Blue Skies Competition.

Registration Opens: July 26, 2022

Registration Closes: March 1, 2023