About the competition
About the Challenge
The Mission
The Fly Foundational Robots (FFR) Mission is putting a 7-Degree-of-Freedom robotic arm into low Earth orbit. NASA is opening access to that arm to a select group of U.S. researchers — principal investigators, post-doctoral researchers, professors, and highly qualified graduate students — who have a compelling experiment and the capability to execute it.
This is not merely a simulation or a concept study. Selected participants will have the opportunity to run pre-approved experiments on an active robotic system operating in microgravity.
What You're Competing For
🛰️
Up to 15 Winners
Phase 2 Invitation — Simulation Testing at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Selected teams gain access to simulation and validation facilities at Goddard Space Flight Center, working directly with NASA engineers on your experiment design.
🤖
Up to 15 Winners
Offer of On-Orbit Experiment Time
Teams that pass validation will receive an offer of on-orbit experiment time on the FFR Mission, positioning your research at the frontier of In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM).
REGISTRATION CLOSES SEPTEMBER 23rd, 2026. Final submissions are due October 2, 2026.
Process
How It Works
As a federally administered competition under the America COMPETES Act, all participants must submit eligibility documentation at registration. Once your eligibility is reviewed and confirmed, you will receive access to the Phase 1 submission portal.
Phase 0 — Eligibility Registration
Begin by completing your eligibility registration. Submission documentation is required at this stage as part of federal competition requirements. Registration closes September 23, 2026 at 11:59 PM CT.
Phase 1 — White Paper Submission
Submit a white paper proposing a short, focused experiment using the FFR robotic arm. Up to 15 teams advance to Phase 2. Submission closes October 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM CT.
Phase 2 — Simulation & Validation
Invited participants conduct simulation and validation testing, including visits to Goddard Space Flight Center. Those who pass validation may receive an offer of on-orbit experiment time.
The Mission
The Fly Foundational Robots (FFR) Mission is putting a 7-Degree-of-Freedom robotic arm into low Earth orbit. NASA is opening access to that arm to a select group of U.S. researchers — principal investigators, post-doctoral researchers, professors, and highly qualified graduate students — who have a compelling experiment and the capability to execute it.
This is not merely a simulation or a concept study. Selected participants will have the opportunity to run pre-approved experiments on an active robotic system operating in microgravity.
What You're Competing For
🛰️
Up to 15 Winners
Phase 2 Invitation — Simulation Testing at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Selected teams gain access to simulation and validation facilities at Goddard Space Flight Center, working directly with NASA engineers on your experiment design.
🤖
Up to 15 Winners
Offer of On-Orbit Experiment Time
Teams that pass validation will receive an offer of on-orbit experiment time on the FFR Mission, positioning your research at the frontier of In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM).
REGISTRATION CLOSES SEPTEMBER 23rd, 2026. Final submissions are due October 2, 2026.
Process
How It Works
As a federally administered competition under the America COMPETES Act, all participants must submit eligibility documentation at registration. Once your eligibility is reviewed and confirmed, you will receive access to the Phase 1 submission portal.
Phase 0 — Eligibility Registration
Begin by completing your eligibility registration. Submission documentation is required at this stage as part of federal competition requirements. Registration closes September 23, 2026 at 11:59 PM CT.
Phase 1 — White Paper Submission
Submit a white paper proposing a short, focused experiment using the FFR robotic arm. Up to 15 teams advance to Phase 2. Submission closes October 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM CT.
Phase 2 — Simulation & Validation
Invited participants conduct simulation and validation testing, including visits to Goddard Space Flight Center. Those who pass validation may receive an offer of on-orbit experiment time.
Prize
Mixed/Other
Offer of on orbit experiment time on a real spacecraft in low-Earth orbit.
Deadline
October 02, 2026
1 month from now
Eligibility
Master, PhD
Open worldwide unless noted.
