NASA has opened a $1 million Moon Base Student Challenge for US high school and college teams

NASA has now invited students from across America to help tackle problems around a long-term lunar base through its $1 million Moon Base Student Challenge. It was announced on November 8, 2026. The competition invites students from eligible US high schools and post-secondary institutions to develop innovative ideas for a future lunar base. This base shall provide astronauts a place where they could live, work and explore for extended periods. Registration is open until January 25, 2027, giving aspiring engineers, designers and problem-solvers a chance to contribute ideas to NASA's next chapter in space exploration.The announcement is more than an invitation to build impressive models. It is an opportunity to think about the practical realities of imagining life on the Moon. As NASA explains in its official announcement, students will help explore technologies needed to establish a sustained human presence near the lunar South Pole.Six problems standing between the Moon and a human homeA lunar base needs far more than a place to sleep and a window with a spectacular view of Earth. Every essential service must be designed to operate in an unforgiving environment, often with limited resources and minimal human intervention.NASA's competition therefore focuses on six areas, each addressing a different piece of the lunar-living puzzle.1. Power generation and storageElectricity is the backbone of a lunar settlement.