NASA launches Orbital Clarity Challenge to improve space weather measurement
The US space agency is offering up to $500,000 in prizes to developers who can create low-cost instruments for measuring atmospheric conditions in low Earth orbit.
NASA has announced the Orbital Clarity Challenge, the sixth initiative in its TechLeap Prize series. The project is a collaborative effort involving the agency’s Heliophysics Division, the Flight Opportunities program, and the Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation. The primary objective is to develop low-cost, scalable methods for measuring thermospheric density, pressure, or drag in low Earth orbit.
Understanding these atmospheric conditions is critical for monitoring space weather effects. The Heliophysics Division studies how intense solar activity heats and expands Earth’s outer atmosphere. This expansion creates orbital drag through changes in atmospheric density, which can impact satellites and other spacecraft operating in low Earth orbit.
NASA is specifically seeking approaches that are inexpensive and scalable enough to be produced in quantity. The aim is to have these instruments flown as hosted payloads across the commercial fleet, allowing for broader and more consistent data collection. This would provide a clearer picture of how space weather influences the space environment.
The challenge will unfold across three phases, with the goal of advancing concepts to a flight-ready solution within 12 months. Up to four winners may receive a total of $500,000 in prizes distributed across these phases. In addition to the financial awards, NASA intends to offer each winning team a test flight at no cost upon the conclusion of the challenge.
Teams interested in participating must register by October 28, 2026. The submission deadline for Phase 1 is set for November 11, 2026. The initiative reflects a broader effort to leverage commercial spaceflight capabilities for scientific research and operational safety.
By crowdsourcing solutions through the TechLeap Prize series, NASA aims to accelerate the development of new technologies. The Orbital Clarity Challenge represents a targeted approach to addressing specific gaps in atmospheric measurement, potentially enhancing the resilience of the space infrastructure.
