As climate change increasingly influences the frequency and severity of natural disasters on a global scale, opportunities to contribute at the intersection of technological advancement, aviation, and natural disasters grow in both number and importance. NASA Aeronautics is dedicated to expanding its efforts to assist commercial, industry, and government partners in advancing aviation-related systems that could help prepare for natural disasters, lessen their impacts, and speed up recovery efforts.

In NASA’s 2024 Blue Skies Competition, collegiate student teams will conceptualize, in terms of feasibility and viability, aviation-related system(s) that can be applied by 2035 to one phase of management of a chosen type of natural disaster. Teams are encouraged to consider high-potential technologies and systems that aren’t currently mainstream or highly regarded as becoming mainstream in the future.

Initial participation includes developing a 5–7-page proposal and two-minute video for consideration by the judging panel. Based on a review of proposal and video submissions by a panel of NASA and industry subject matter experts, up to 8 finalist teams will be selected to receive an $8,000 stipend to facilitate full participation in the Gateways to Blue Skies Competition & Forum, held at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA in May 2024. Winners are offered internships within NASA Aeronautics during the academic year following the competition.

1. Get familiar with the Competition Guidelines: Thoroughly review the Competition Guidelines published on the Competition Website.
2. Form a Team: Find a qualified faculty advisor and a team of students with diverse knowledge, skills, and abilities relevant to the current theme.
3. Make sure your team is good to go: Ensure that all team members meet the eligibility requirements stated in the Competition Guidelines.
4. Submission: Notice of Intent: Submit a non-binding Notice of Intent (NOI) by the submission deadline to notify of your interest and receive competition updates.
5. Attend a Q&A Session with the Judges: Ask questions and interact with the Competition Co-Chairs prior to the Proposal Submission Deadline.
6. Submission: Proposal & 2-minute Video: Proposal and video submissions received by the deadline will be evaluated by competition judges.
7. Finalist Team Selections: Up to 8 teams will be selected to receive a stipend to further develop concepts into a technical paper, infographic, and presentation for the annual Forum.

Proposals are evaluated by the Gateways to Blue Skies Judging Panel based on the following criteria:

• Situation Assessment
• Concept of Operations Overview
• Implementation Analysis
• Innovation
• Proposal Compliance
• Composition/Grammar/Cohesion

Videos are evaluated by the Gateways to Blue Skies Judging Panel based on the following criteria:

• Relevance to Proposed Concept
• Value Proposition
• Overall Impression

For full evaluation criteria, view the Competition Guidelines on the Gateways to Blue Skies website.

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

Managing Organization: National Institute of Aerospace (NIA)

Contact:

blueskies@nianet.org

Eligibility:
The Gateways 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, and/or multi-university teams. Multi-disciplinary teams and teams from Minority Serving Institutions are highly encouraged to apply. Foreign Nationals (FNs) attending the proposing U.S.-based university can participate on a Blue Skies Competition Team, with notable exclusions. Due to NASA security restrictions and policies, FNs will not be able to attend culminating Blue Skies Forum events that take place on-site at a NASA Center (including tours). FNs are also ineligible for the internship prize. There will be no exceptions to this policy. FNs can, however, participate in any portions of the culminating Blue Skies Forum that take place off-Center. Foreign universities are not eligible to participate in the Blue Skies Competition. For full eligibility information, visit the Gateways to Blue Skies Competition Website.

Registration Opens: July 25, 2023

Registration Closes: February 28, 2024

As climate change increasingly influences the frequency and severity of natural disasters on a global scale, opportunities to contribute at the intersection of technological advancement, aviation, and natural disasters grow in both number and importance. NASA Aeronautics is dedicated to expanding its efforts to assist commercial, industry, and government partners in advancing aviation-related systems that could help prepare for natural disasters, lessen their impacts, and speed up recovery efforts.

In NASA’s 2024 Blue Skies Competition, collegiate student teams will conceptualize, in terms of feasibility and viability, aviation-related system(s) that can be applied by 2035 to one phase of management of a chosen type of natural disaster. Teams are encouraged to consider high-potential technologies and systems that aren’t currently mainstream or highly regarded as becoming mainstream in the future.

Initial participation includes developing a 5–7-page proposal and two-minute video for consideration by the judging panel. Based on a review of proposal and video submissions by a panel of NASA and industry subject matter experts, up to 8 finalist teams will be selected to receive an $8,000 stipend to facilitate full participation in the Gateways to Blue Skies Competition & Forum, held at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA in May 2024. Winners are offered internships within NASA Aeronautics during the academic year following the competition.

1. Get familiar with the Competition Guidelines: Thoroughly review the Competition Guidelines published on the Competition Website.
2. Form a Team: Find a qualified faculty advisor and a team of students with diverse knowledge, skills, and abilities relevant to the current theme.
3. Make sure your team is good to go: Ensure that all team members meet the eligibility requirements stated in the Competition Guidelines.
4. Submission: Notice of Intent: Submit a non-binding Notice of Intent (NOI) by the submission deadline to notify of your interest and receive competition updates.
5. Attend a Q&A Session with the Judges: Ask questions and interact with the Competition Co-Chairs prior to the Proposal Submission Deadline.
6. Submission: Proposal & 2-minute Video: Proposal and video submissions received by the deadline will be evaluated by competition judges.
7. Finalist Team Selections: Up to 8 teams will be selected to receive a stipend to further develop concepts into a technical paper, infographic, and presentation for the annual Forum.

Proposals are evaluated by the Gateways to Blue Skies Judging Panel based on the following criteria:

• Situation Assessment
• Concept of Operations Overview
• Implementation Analysis
• Innovation
• Proposal Compliance
• Composition/Grammar/Cohesion

Videos are evaluated by the Gateways to Blue Skies Judging Panel based on the following criteria:

• Relevance to Proposed Concept
• Value Proposition
• Overall Impression

For full evaluation criteria, view the Competition Guidelines on the Gateways to Blue Skies website.

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

Managing Organization: National Institute of Aerospace (NIA)

Contact:

blueskies@nianet.org

Eligibility:
The Gateways 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, and/or multi-university teams. Multi-disciplinary teams and teams from Minority Serving Institutions are highly encouraged to apply. Foreign Nationals (FNs) attending the proposing U.S.-based university can participate on a Blue Skies Competition Team, with notable exclusions. Due to NASA security restrictions and policies, FNs will not be able to attend culminating Blue Skies Forum events that take place on-site at a NASA Center (including tours). FNs are also ineligible for the internship prize. There will be no exceptions to this policy. FNs can, however, participate in any portions of the culminating Blue Skies Forum that take place off-Center. Foreign universities are not eligible to participate in the Blue Skies Competition. For full eligibility information, visit the Gateways to Blue Skies Competition Website.

Registration Opens: July 25, 2023

Registration Closes: February 28, 2024