STEM & Career Pathways: Two NASA Challenges for Students

Oct 13, 2026

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INFORMEDYOUTH · STEM & CAREER PATHWAYS | October 13, 2026

You do not need to wait until college to work on meaningful engineering and science problems. This edition features two NASA challenges with approaching deadlines, plus guidance for building a student research project.

NASA TechRise: design an experiment that could fly

NASA’s 2026–27 TechRise Student Challenge invites teams of students in grades 6–12 at eligible U.S. schools to design an experiment for a high-altitude balloon flight. The work is completed with guidance from an educator. Winning teams receive $1,500 to build their experiment and virtual technical mentorship.

Proposal deadline: November 2, 2026.
Who: Teams of grades 6–12 students from eligible U.S. public, private, or charter schools.
Project focus: An experiment that takes advantage of flight conditions and can be tested at high altitude.

Start by reading the requirements and proposal resources on NASA’s official TechRise page.

NASA Dream with Us: a high-school engineering challenge

NASA’s 2026–27 Dream with Us High School Engineering Challenge gives students an opportunity to tackle an aerospace design problem through research, creativity, and engineering. It has a longer preparation window than TechRise.

October 27, 2026: Virtual information session, scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern / 6 p.m. Central.
December 8, 2026: Registration deadline.
January 25, 2027: Submission deadline.

See NASA’s Dream with Us challenge page for competition materials and detailed participation requirements.

Local support: college and STEM guidance through UT San Antonio

UT San Antonio’s TRIO Talent Search San Antonio provides eligible participants from Rayburn Middle School, Ross Middle School, Holmes High School, and Jay High School with free college-preparation, career-exploration, and STEM-related resources. Eligibility is restricted, so students should check the school’s program contact before assuming they qualify.

Program information: TRIO Talent Search San Antonio.

How to turn an interest into a research project

Start with a question. Choose a real problem you want to understand, such as rainfall runoff, water quality, energy use, or a mechanical design challenge.
Define a measurable result. Think about what you can measure, how often you will collect data, and which variables may influence your results.
Build a small pilot. Try the simplest experiment first. Record errors, revise your design, and gradually expand.
Explain why it matters. Describe who could use the findings and what new questions the project raises.

Your first project does not have to be expensive or complicated. Consistent observation, careful data collection, and willingness to revise are valuable research habits.

This week’s action plan

Interested in either NASA challenge? Review the official rules today, identify a potential educator or faculty mentor, and work backward from the stated deadlines. For student programs, application eligibility and timing always take priority over promotional summaries.

InformedYouth editorial note: Dates and program details checked October 13, 2026 using NASA and UT San Antonio websites. Verify rules and availability directly with organizers.