September 9-11, 2025
Amazon HQ2 | Arlington, VA
The Horizons Challenge is your chance to identify the critical focus areas that will lead humanity to the Moon by 2040 and solve major global challenges. Join university teams from across the nation to submit the topics that will fuel innovation and drive NASA's next mission—together, let’s set our sights on the horizons of tomorrow.
Pitch a topic within one of our focus areas that can be addressed today, with the potential to scale and contribute to humanity’s journey to the Moon by 2040.
Select a focus area and develop a topic that needs to be solved. This is your pitch.
These questions are things you should think of when thinking of a solution topic within your selected focus area.
Which problem in your focus area feels most urgent—and why?
What problems in your focus area have the greatest potential for scalable impact?
What challenge, solved today, could revolutionize space exploration tomorrow?
How might solving a local issue spark a global or lunar breakthrough?
What critical gaps exist that must be addressed to prepare humanity for lunar living?
How can innovations for the Moon create a better world on Earth?
Define the problem, don’t solve it. Your solution topic will set the stage for future innovation competitions.
The goal is to propose a critical challenge within your focus area—something that needs to be solved now, with the potential to scale for lunar living or solve a global challenge.
The team with the winning pitch will help define the focus for upcoming Xperience Competition, where hundreds of students across the country will work on actual solutions to your problem statement.
Your solution topic should be:
One submission form, six deliverables.
All materials—including written responses, files, and links—will be submitted on ConneXions as part of a single form.
Your team's name and members—their majors, backgrounds, and what makes them tick—to highlight the unique mix of perspectives driving your project.
A comprehensive deep dive into your chosen challenge—what it is, why it matters, who it impacts, and how solving it could create game-changing impact on Earth and in space.
A visual, story-driven pitch deck that hooks us on why your challenge matters, shows the Earth-to-space impact, and highlights the breakthrough, market potential, and why your idea needs a multidisciplinary team.
A polished 5-minute video pitch that tells a compelling story—clearly explaining your challenge and why it should be addressed for Earth and space.
A written transcript of your video pitch to ensure accessibility and help judges follow along with your presentation.
A 2–3 minute team video that introduces who you are, highlights your collaboration and energy, and shares what drew you to defining this challenge.
As a finalist, you’ll refine your pitch in a breakout session at NEXPLORE, then pitch your idea live for an audience vote.
The winning team receives $2,040, symbolizing the 2040 goal of inspiring transformative solutions for the future.
The winner will be announced and celebrated during the finals at the NEXPLORE 2040 Summit, featuring pitch competitions and audience voting.
The winning solution topic will inspire hundreds of university students nationwide to work on solutions over the next 18 months. This solution topic will form the focus of one major competition launching in 2026.
