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Leaders In Innovative Aerospace Research, Exemplary Education, and Inspirational Outreach

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Innovative
Research

Lead and conduct synergistic
research with government,
academia and industry partners
to stimulate creativity 

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Graduate Education

Deliver unique, collaborative and
comprehensive graduate and
continuing education in science
and engineering

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K-20 Educational
Outreach

Deliver signature programs to
advance STEM literacy and inspire
the next generation of scientists
and engineers

MEDIA COMMUNICATION GROUP (MCG)

Media Communications Group (MCG)

Produce media campaigns and
outreach products that build
excitement and engage the public

Announcing the 2024 RASC-AL Competition is Now Open for Proposals
The 2024 RASC-AL Competition is seeking new concepts that leverage innovation to improve our ability to operate on the Moon, Mars and beyond. Collegiate-level teams and their faculty advisors are invited to propose innovative solutions in response to one of the following four themes: Long Duration Mars Simulation at the Moon, Sustained Lunar Evolution, AI-Powered Self-Replicating Probes – an Evolutionary Approach, and Large-Scale Lunar Crater Prospector.
See the NASA Feature Story
Open for Proposals: Advancing Aviation for Natural Disasters (2024 Blue Skies)
The 2024 Gateways to Blue Skies Competition is seeking proposals for aviation-related systems that can aid in natural disaster management. Up to eight finalist university teams will receive $8,000 to continue their research and present at the Gateways to Blue Skies Forum in May 2024 at NASA's Ames Research Center. Forum winners will receive an opportunity to intern with NASA Aeronautics in the academic year following the event.
See the NASA Feature Story
Georgia Institute of Technology Team Named Overall Winner of 2023 FAA Data Challenge
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced the winning teams for the 2023 FAA Data Challenge. The challenge focused on the use of Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning and advanced analytics to explore aviation-related problems and opportunities. The finalist university teams competed in a two-day forum on June 21-22 in McLean, Virginia.
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NIA 2022 Annual Report
In our 2022 Annual Report, you’ll find select examples of how NIA collaborates with NASA, other government agencies and laboratories, universities, and industry to conduct leading-edge research and technology development in aeronautics, atmospheric science and space exploration. The report also highlights our broad, multi-university graduate education program as well as our award-winning educational and public outreach initiatives.
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2023 Humans to Mars Summit (H2M)
Enjoy replays of the livestream broadcast of the 2023 Humans to Mars Summit, originally streamed live, May 16-18, from the National Academy of Sciences Building in Washington, D.C.Speakers included senior NASA leadership, international innovators, policy experts, elected officials, STEM educators and more.
See the Videos
FAA TFM-AID Challenge Announces Finalists
The FAA Traffic Flow Management - Application Integration Design Challenge (FAA TFM-AID) has announced five finalist teams: Brigham Young University, California State University - East Bay, San José State University, the University of Miami, and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. These teams continue to work and will present their designs for judges as they compete for a top prize of $25,000 at the onsite FAA TFM-AID Forum at MITRE in Mclean, Virginia, June 28-29, 2023.
Get the Details
NASA Announces Human Lander Challenge (HuLC)
U.S. college and university students are invited to unleash their creativity to tackle the challenge of managing lunar dust during moon landings. The Human Lander Challenge (HuLC) aims to address hazards posed by dust clouds and pave the way for safe, sustainable exploration. Up to 12 teams will compete in the 2024 HuLC Forum in Huntsville, Alabama with the top three winners sharing an $18,000 prize purse.
See the NASA Announcement
University Teams Forge Forward in NASA Moon Metal Production Challenge
Seven university teams have been selected to develop concepts supporting metal production on the Moon in NASA’s 2023 annual Breakthrough, Innovative and Game-Changing (BIG) Idea Challenge: Lunar Forge. Finding and using naturally existing lunar resources for metal infrastructure materials will save weight and costs to benefit future long-duration human missions to the Moon.
See the Awardees
Finalist University Teams Selected for NASA Balloon Challenge
Six finalist university teams are advancing to the next phase of NASA’s Formulate, Lift, Observe, And Testing; Data Recovery And Guided On-board Node (FLOATing DRAGON) balloon challenge. Over the next few months, the teams will work hand-in-hand with engineers at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility to design, prototype and refine ideas for guided data vault recovery systems that allow for the safe release and retrieval of crucial data collected during planned scientific balloon missions.
See the Announcement
NASA Graphic Novel Honored With Two Webby Awards
NASA’s first digital, interactive graphic novel, “First Woman: NASA’s Promise for Humanity,” has won two 26th Annual Webby Awards. The National Institute of Aerospace leads the project for NASA to inspire the next generation of explorers, the Artemis Generation.
See the Announcement
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NIA Media Production Spotlight

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SWIM | Sensing with Independent Micro-swimmers

Researchers are working on a mission concept that could change the way we explore alien ocean worlds like Europa, Enceladus, and Titan and answer the question: Are we alone in the universe? NASA 360 takes a look at the NASA Innovative Advanced Concept (NIAC) called SWIM, a revolutionary idea for exploring ocean worlds.

To learn more visit: https://go.nasa.gov/3JtXJck & https://go.nasa.gov/3NxiSpI

Explore NIA's Outreach Services
The NonProfit Times has ranked the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) as the Best NonProfit to Work For in the Nation among mid- and large-sized companies.

The NonProfit Times Magazine has ranked the National Institute of Aerospace #1 “Best Place to Work” in the U.S. among mid- and large-sized organizations.

Learn more about how the National Institute of Aerospace can help your business grow with innovative and reliable solutions that suit your needs.
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