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FAQs

Who can participate in the NASA SpaceTech Catalyst Prize?

The NASA SpaceTech Catalyst Prize is open to all and invites individuals and organizations that contribute to the growth and development of underrepresented and diverse innovators, researchers, technologists, and entrepreneurs in the space technology sector.

What are the judging criteria for the challenge?

The NASA SpaceTech Catalyst Prize is open to all and invites individuals and organizations that contribute to the growth and development of underrepresented and diverse innovators, researchers, technologists, and entrepreneurs in the space technology sector.

How do I know if my area of research is considered “space technology?”

The NASA SpaceTech Catalyst Prize is open to all and invites individuals and organizations that contribute to the growth and development of underrepresented and diverse innovators, researchers, technologists, and entrepreneurs in the space technology sector.

What is needed for video submissions?

The NASA SpaceTech Catalyst Prize is open to all and invites individuals and organizations that contribute to the growth and development of underrepresented and diverse innovators, researchers, technologists, and entrepreneurs in the space technology sector.

How do I submit my entry to the challenge?

The NASA SpaceTech Catalyst Prize is open to all and invites individuals and organizations that contribute to the growth and development of underrepresented and diverse innovators, researchers, technologists, and entrepreneurs in the space technology sector.

What are the prizes for the NASA SpaceTech Catalyst Prize?

The NASA SpaceTech Catalyst Prize is open to all and invites individuals and organizations that contribute to the growth and development of underrepresented and diverse innovators, researchers, technologists, and entrepreneurs in the space technology sector.

What are the prizes for the NASA SpaceTech Catalyst Prize?

The NASA SpaceTech Catalyst Prize is open to all and invites individuals and organizations that contribute to the growth and development of underrepresented and diverse innovators, researchers, technologists, and entrepreneurs in the space technology sector.

Will there be a travel stipend provided for travel to the in-person convening event?

The NASA SpaceTech Catalyst Prize is open to all and invites individuals and organizations that contribute to the growth and development of underrepresented and diverse innovators, researchers, technologists, and entrepreneurs in the space technology sector.

01. Who can participate in the NASA Space Tech Catalyst Prize?

The NASA Space Tech Catalyst Prize invites individuals and organizations that contribute to the growth and development of underrepresented and diverse innovators, researchers, technologists, and entrepreneurs in the space technology sector. Nominations may include teachers, mentors, and other individuals. Universities, non-profits, businesses, and other organizations are also encouraged to participate.

Individuals must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States and be 18 years of age or older. Organizations must be an entity incorporated in and maintaining a primary place of business in the United States. Teams must be comprised of otherwise eligible individuals or organizations and led by a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident of the United States who is 18 years of age or older. U.S. government employees may participate as long as they are not acting within the scope of their position and do not rely on any facilities, access, personnel, knowledge, or other resources available to them as a result of their employment, except for those resources made available to all other participants on an equal basis.

02. What are the judging criteria for the challenge?

Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of  expert judges. They will review, discuss, evaluate, and rank the submissions. Judges will assess submissions on the criteria described below and score submissions on a 20 point scale using a Likert-scale scoring model. Each Likert-scale question item is on a five point scale with a highest possible score of 5 and lowest possible score of 1 for each question.

Judging Criteria:

  • Effective Engagement: To what extent does the submission effectively engage underrepresented communities to pursue space technology opportunities? (Possible Points: 1-5)
  • Impact on Communities: To what extent does the submission contribute to capacity building efforts delivering impact to the community pursuing space technology funding opportunities? (Possible Points: 1-5)
  • Cultural Awareness: How well does the submission adapt and remain relevant within the unique cultural context of the community? (Possible Points: 1-5)
  • Future Impact Potential: Does the application demonstrate the potential to positively empower underrepresented individuals and communities in the space technology sector in the future? (Possible Points: 1-5)

These criteria will be used to evaluate and rank the submissions, with a total possible score of 20 points for each submission.

03. How do I know if my area of research is considered “space technology?”

To determine if your area of research aligns with the NASA Space Tech Catalyst Prize competition please review the ESIP Technology Areas of Interest

Review the technology areas mentioned in the ESIP framework under "GO! Rapid, Safe, and Efficient Space Transportation," "LAND! Expanded Access to Diverse Surface Destinations," "LIVE! Sustainable Living and Working Farther from Earth," and "EXPLORE! Transformative Missions and Discoveries." Ensure that your research relates to any of these technology categories.

04. What is needed for video submissions?

For the video submission, you need to provide a shareable YouTube or Vimeo link that can be accessible to Judges and should be a simple screen recording video lasting no more than 2 minutes where you describe your work to enhance the capacity for underserved and underrepresented communities in the space technology sector without overly editing or producing the video.

05. How do I submit my entry to the challenge?

To submit your entry to the NASA Space Tech Catalyst Prize Challenge, first register on the official competition website by February 8th, 2024, attend an optional informational webinar, and then submit your competition entry by February 23rd, 2024, following the specified guidelines and requirements.

06. What are the prizes for the NASA Space Tech Catalyst Prize?

We are proud to offer a total prize pool of $500,000, with equal prizes of $25,000 for the top 20 individuals and/or teams. In addition to the financial rewards, winners will have the opportunity to participate in an invite-only, in-person event at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

07. Will there be a travel stipend provided for travel to the in-person convening event?

Yes!  Each awardee will receive a travel stipend to cover the cost associated with lodging, food, and transportation.

08. Is this challenge focused on technology development?

No, this challenge is focused on community building and sharing effective best practices for supporting underrepresented and diverse space technology innovators, researchers, technologists, and entrepreneurs. We are not seeking technological solutions.

09. Where can I view similar challenges or competitions run by the US Government?

You can view similar challenges or competitions run by the US Government on challenge.gov.

10. If we submitted our application early and wish to amend our submission, is this possible?

 To amend your application, please submit another submission form. We will judge the latest version of the application that is received.

11. Can I nominate someone besides myself and how do I do that?

 Yes! You can nominate the individual by entering their email on the “Invite a Mentor” section on the homepage of our official website: spacetechcatalystprize.org. Our team will reach out to the individual and invite them to enter the competition.