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Is Your Innovation Challenge-Ready?

The Space Tech Challenge Awards are rigorous but built to surface practical, impactful solutions. Use this self-assessment to determine if your innovation aligns with program criteria.

Readiness Checklist

☐ Solution Alignment: Does your innovation address specific NASA-identified capability gaps in lunar operations, autonomous systems, resource utilization, communications, or space safety?

☐ Evidence of Progress: Can you demonstrate working prototypes, test results, customer validation, or technical milestones achieved between January 2024 and December 2025?

☐ Implementation Readiness: Do you have a clear, realistic path from current development state to operational deployment?

☐ Market Validation: Can you show customer interest, partnership letters, pilot programs, or other evidence of market need?

Who Should Apply

Aerospace Companies 
Solving manufacturing, supply chain, and operational challenges for space missions

Cross-Industry Innovators 
Adapting proven technologies from automotive, energy, medical, or advanced manufacturing to space applications

Startups 
With validated breakthrough concepts and working prototypes addressing critical capability gaps

Technology Providers 
Offering industrial software, manufacturing systems, mission support infrastructure, or enabling technologies

Universities and Research Institutions 
With evidence-backed solutions moving from lab to implementation 

How Applications Are Evaluated

Problem-Solution Fit — 20%
How directly does your innovation address a critical capability gap?

Implementation Potential — 40%
How realistic is the path from current state to operational deployment?

Innovation Merit — 30%
What makes your solution novel or significantly superior to existing approaches?

Market Validation — 10%
What evidence demonstrates that customers recognize the value and actively need your solution?