NASA has opened the Space Roboticist Challenge to select U.S. researchers for an on-orbit experiment slot aboard the Fly Foundational Robots (FFR) Mission, a flight demonstration that will put an advanced robotic arm into low Earth orbit.

The FFR mission, led by Motiv Space Systems in partnership with NASA, is designed to validate autonomous robotic capabilities in microgravity as part of NASA’s In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) strategy. The mission will place a 7-degree-of-freedom articulated robotic arm into low Earth orbit aboard an Astro Digital spacecraft platform.

The prize for this competition is an experiment slot on the FFR robotic arm. The mission is scheduled to launch in Q4 2027, with experiments beginning no earlier than Q1 2028.

THE COMPETITION

The challenge runs in two phases.

In Phase 1, researchers submit a white paper proposing a short, focused experiment using the FFR robotic arm. Submissions are evaluated on three criteria: impact, feasibility for flight, and mission systems compatibility. Up to 15 teams will advance to Phase 2.

In Phase 2, selected participants access simulation environments and visit Goddard Space Flight Center for testing and validation. Teams that complete validation will be offered an experiment slot on the FFR robotic arm.

WHO SHOULD APPLY

The competition is open to principal investigators, post-doctoral researchers, professors, and highly qualified graduate students with institutional or faculty sponsorship from U.S. colleges, universities, and non-federally funded research labs, including non-profit institutions. Undergraduate students may participate as team members under a qualifying Team Lead. Researchers whose work touches robotic manipulation, autonomy, motion planning, or related ISAM research areas are encouraged to apply.

The competition is administered under the America COMPETES Act and is limited to U.S. participants.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Registration opens June 1, 2026, at SpaceRoboticistChallenge.com. Participants complete an eligibility registration and, upon confirmation, receive access to the Phase 1 submission portal, which opens June 9, 2026, during the 2026 COSMIC Virtual Convergence. The Phase 1 submission window closes October 2, 2026, with registration closing September 23, 2026.

Two webinars will support applicants during the submission window. A launch webinar on June 23 will cover white paper requirements and evaluation criteria. A mid-window FFR Mission Briefing and White Paper Q&A on August 5 will feature the NASA project team providing a technical orientation on robotic arm capabilities and operational constraints, followed by open Q&A.

For eligibility details, official rules, and timeline, visit SpaceRoboticistChallenge.com.

Floor23 Digital is administering the Space Roboticist Challenge on behalf of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.