NASA is interested in learning about the state of the art in three main areas and several specific sub-areas. The three main areas are: 

NASA is looking for a review of current and emerging technologies, companies, universities, and existing publications relevant to the topics above. Your task is to identify this information and provide a thorough description of the source. 

To enter the Challenge, you must identify some relevant information, complete the Submission Form with all the required information, and upload a PDF image of the Form to the Challenge Page. To learn more about what NASA is looking for in each area, please read through the Background Information section below. Also, read How to Enter and Submit your solution and be sure you understand the Rules of the Challenge. 

The work you identify may or may not be in aerospace but it must apply to one of these three areas of interest. 

The following is some background about each of the areas of interest. 

AAMs are a new type of aircraft that run on electric power and use vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities. NASA wants to improve the safety of pilots and passengers in these new and emerging aircraft designs. NASA is also looking for technologies that monitor and ensure the health of the aircraft and the people inside. The ideal innovations would use novel technologies, human-computer teamwork, and health monitoring systems NASA doesn't have yet.

Specific subtopics of interest include, but are not limited to:

Galactic cosmic rays, particles from solar flares, and those trapped in Earth's magnetic field pose significant challenges including potential health risks, such as cancer and degenerative diseases. Space travel is rapidly progressing to include traveling to Mars or establishing habitats on the Moon, the need for lightweight, effective protection against these cosmic rays becomes paramount. We're in search of solutions that not only shield against these rays but also address the challenges of long-duration space travel and extraterrestrial stays.

As NASA looks toward the future of space travel, people will be traveling longer distances and staying in space longer. Radiation poses a major health risk to astronauts, including risks of cancer and other diseases. The radiation in space comes from galactic cosmic rays, particles from solar flares, and radiation trapped in Earth's magnetic field. To help protect the astronauts, NASA is looking for lightweight radiation shields that block the harmful rays that can impact an astronaut’s health.

Specific subtopics of interest include, but are not limited to protection in the following situations:

NASA is looking for cutting-edge sensors that can elevate our understanding of the universe. Whether it's on Earth or distant planets, atmospheric characterization is crucial. NASA is interested in sensor technologies that harness the power of quantum sensing, metamaterials, freeform optics, and advanced detector technologies. 

NASA wants to develop new and better sensors to study the atmospheres of Earth and other planets. By using cutting-edge technologies such as quantum sensing, advanced materials, improved optics, and better detectors NASA hopes to revolutionize their ability to characterize atmospheres everywhere. Sensors that combine some of these technologies in new ways could give NASA a much deeper understanding of atmospheres and their gases, temperature, moisture, and other qualities. This would lead to major discoveries about atmospheres on our planet and others.

Specific subtopics of interest include, but are not limited to:

You may submit as many entries as you want. However, each one must provide unique information (e.g., unique organization or unique product). Incomplete entries or entries that do not meet the eligibility requirements will be disqualified.

Submissions must be uploaded to the Challenge page before the deadline, December 8, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. ET. No late submissions will be accepted.

All submissions must be in PDF format, in English, and machine-readable (not handwritten).

For a submission to be considered it must be:

Your submission may include one uploaded file summarizing your submission if you need additional space beyond the 50-100 words. The file must be saved as a PDF and may not contain any links not provided elsewhere. 

Submission will not be considered if:

To check if your source has already been identified, please use the URL Checker - https://app.box.com/s/etpiqp0cbav2ej3vyo4lgehttnyg43xs. We aim to keep the information up to date, but we cannot guarantee the results. 

Here is an example of a submission that is completed correctly and with useful information. 

Topic: Innovative Lightweight Protection against Galactic Cosmic Rays

Subtopic: Long-term habitats on Mars

Description: This paper describes how a space shield might protect astronauts, inhabitants of Mars or the moon, or spacecraft from cosmic rays. The paper discusses the theoretical creation of an artificial ozone layer in the stratosphere using powerful microwaves. 

Type of website: Published paper

URL:  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222720798_Artificial_ozone_layer

Title of the Paper: Artificial ozone layer

Abstract: The possibility of artificial ozone layer creation in the stratosphere by powerful microwaves is discussed theoretically. Numerical calculations and analytical results for a simple oxygen model are presented.

Citation: Gurevich, A.V. & Borisov, Nikolay & Montecinos, Sonia & Hartogs, P.. (1995). Artificial ozone layer. Physics Letters A. 207. 281-288. 10.1016/0375-9601(95)00690-5.

The first 100 submissions that meet all the criteria and provide valuable information to help with the research project with be awarded $15. Once we have either reached the deadline of December 8, 2023, or received 100 submissions that meet the criteria, whichever comes first, the challenge will close. 

Rules:

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