NASA Space to Soil Challenge

Support NASA's small satellite (smallsat) missions with hardware, software, or hybrid AI-driven solutions.

NASA’s Space to Soil Challenge seeks intelligent small satellite mission concepts that support regenerative agriculture, sustainable forestry, and resilient land management. The goal is to advance onboard autonomy that enables near-real-time response to changing surface conditions. We invite researchers, students, startups, and small businesses to propose hardware, software, or hybrid AI-driven solutions for Earth-focused smallsat missions.

Key information
Sponsoring agency	National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Earth Science Technology Office
Start date	01/30/2026 12:00 PM ET
End date	05/04/2026 8:00 PM ET
Challenge type	Analytics, visualization, and algorithm Software and application development Technology demonstration and hardware
Prizes	Total cash prizes: $400,000 Non-monetary prizes: Education, training, mentorship, and etworking opportunity Invitation to publicly present the solution Public recognition through communications channels like NASA press release, website, social media, and more
Contact	info@NASA-Space-to-Soil.org

Apply for the NASA Space to Soil Challenge

These federal prize competitions are conducted pursuant to the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, as amended by the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act of 2017. For complete rules, eligibility requirements, and terms and conditions, please visit the hosting agency's competition page.

LAST UPDATED: March 5, 2026

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