NASA Space Robotics Challenge

The Fly Foundational Robots (FFR) mission will launch a robotic arm with seven degrees of freedom into low Earth orbit. NASA will open access to the device to a select group of U.S. researchers, including principal investigators, postdoctoral researchers, professors, and highly qualified graduate students with a compelling experiment and the technical capacity to carry it out.

All participants must submit eligibility documentation at the time of registration. Once the documentation has been reviewed and confirmed, participants will receive access to the Phase 1 submission portal.

Phase 0: Eligibility Registration

The first step is to complete the eligibility registration. At this stage, documentation must be submitted in accordance with federal competition requirements.

Registration closes on September 23, 2026, at 12:59 p.m. ET / 11:59 a.m. CT.

Phase 1: White Paper Submission

Participants must submit a brief technical paper proposing a focused experiment using the FFR robotic arm. Up to 15 teams will advance to Phase 2.

Submissions close on October 2, 2026, at 12:59 p.m. ET / 11:59 a.m. CT.

Phase 2: Simulation and Validation

Invited teams will conduct simulation and validation testing. This phase will include visits to the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Prize

Teams that pass the validation phase will receive an offer of on-orbit experiment time during the FFR mission.

Registration opens: May 20, 2026
Registration closes: September 23, 2026

More information: spaceroboticistchallenge.com