Evaluation

Evaluation

Receive feedback from experts.

Evaluation Panel

The Evaluation Panel judges have been carefully chosen for their knowledge and experience. Each judge scores and comments on the submissions assigned to them. Potential biases in Evaluation Panel review are addressed through our judge training, which includes unconscious bias training for each member of the Evaluation Panel. Each valid submission will receive five sets of reviews that have been statistically normalized to ensure fairness for everyone.

Senior Project Leader, System Formulation & Implementation Directorate, The Aerospace Corporation

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineer, NASA JPL

Flight Campaign Manager, NASA Flight Opportunities

Campaign Manager, NASA Flight Opportunities

Chief Technologist, Small Spacecraft Technology Program, NASA Ames Research Center

Space Technology Senior Policy Analyst, NASA

Sr. Project Leader, The Aerospace Corporation

Michael Johansen

Flight Demonstrations Lead, NASA Game Changing Development

Deputy Chief of Space Projects & Partnerships, Armstrong Flight Research Center

Operations Engineer, AFRC

Danielle McCulloch

Program Manager, NASA Flight Opportunities

Space Technology Mission Directorate’s Small Satellite Technology & Flight Opportunities Portfolio Manager, NASA

Senior Engineer, The Aerospace Corporation

Project Scientist, Advisor, Biological SmallSats, Ames Research Center

SPLICE Deputy Project Manager EG6 - Autonomous GNC, NASA Johnson Space Center

Deputy Program Manager (Acting), NASA Flight Opportunities

Project Engineer, Ames Research Center

Robert Plunkett

Senior Project Engineer, The Aerospace Corporation

Nettie Roozeboom

Technologist, NASA Flight Opportunities

Chief Technologist, NASA Balloon Program Office

Simulation Hardware Engineer, Armstrong Flight Research Center

Arianna Sanchez

Systems Engineer, Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative (LSII), NASA HQ

Space Systems Engineer, The Aerospace Corporation

Senior Project Leader, The Aerospace Corporation

Sr. Mission Manager, NASA Technology Demonstration Missions (TDM)

Flight Systems Engineer, Ames Research Center

Alexander Van Dijk

Technologist, NASA Flight Opportunities

Wallops Chief Technologist, NASA GSFC Wallops Flight Facility

Spacecraft Systems Engineer, NASA Flight Opportunities

Selection Committee

The Selection Committee judges will review the top-scoring submissions and select up to three Winners based on the resulting rank order from the Evaluation Panel, the scoring rubric, and the diversity of solutions. Winners will receive an initial award of $200,000, with the chance to win up to a total of $650,000 each and the opportunity to flight test their technology. 

Field Judges

During System Build Round 1 and System Build Round 2, Winners will each have the opportunity to win additional awards of $200,000 and $100,000, respectively. Field Judges will conduct on-site visits in October 2024 and March 2025 to score the progress each Winner has made.

To win an additional award of $150,000 during the Performance Incentive Phase, a Winner must meet or exceed targets outlined in the Technical Guidelines and integrate a payload into a flight vehicle – both of which will be assigned by NASA – within a five-month timeframe.

Are you ready to advance space technology through flight testing?

Join us in advancing payload integration.

Register Now

When you accept, you agree to store cookies to help give you the best experience on our site. See Preferences to change preferences at any time, Read our Cookie Policy for more details.

Accept Cookies Preferences