Washington, September NASA has opened a new technology competition seeking innovative, low-cost ways to measure changes in Earth’s upper atmosphere that can affect satellites operating in low Earth orbit.

The initiative, called the Orbital Clarity Challenge, is part of NASA’s TechLeap Prize program and focuses on improving measurements of atmospheric density, pressure and orbital drag. NASA is seeking solutions that can be produced at relatively low cost and deployed at scale across commercial satellite platforms.

Why Atmospheric Drag Matters

Space weather can significantly change conditions in Earth’s upper atmosphere. During periods of increased solar and geomagnetic activity, the thermosphere can heat up and expand. The resulting increase in atmospheric density at satellite altitudes can produce additional drag on spacecraft.

That drag can change a satellite’s trajectory and make accurate orbit prediction more difficult. NASA notes that improving measurements of thermospheric conditions could contribute to more predictable satellite flight paths.

NASA Seeks Low-Cost Measurement Technologies

Through the Orbital Clarity Challenge, NASA is inviting teams to develop approaches capable of measuring thermospheric density, pressure or drag in low Earth orbit.

The agency is particularly interested in technologies that are inexpensive and scalable enough to be produced in larger quantities and potentially flown as hosted payloads on commercial spacecraft.

The concept is to increase the amount of data available from different locations in orbit. More frequent and distributed measurements could help improve understanding of how atmospheric density changes over time and space.

Up to $500,000 Per Winning Team

NASA says up to four winners may receive as much as $500,000 each across three prize phases.

The teams will work toward developing flight-ready solutions over a period of up to 12 months. NASA also intends to provide winning team or teams with an opportunity to demonstrate their technology in orbit at no cost.

The challenge is designed to connect innovative ideas from industry, research organizations and other participants with an operational problem facing spacecraft operators and space-weather researchers.

Information Session Scheduled for September 22

NASA has scheduled a virtual information session for September 22, 2026, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time.

The session is intended to provide potential participants with additional information about the Orbital Clarity Challenge and the opportunity to develop technologies for improved orbital-drag measurements.

The competition officially opened on August 19, 2026. NASA’s current schedule lists October 28, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET as the registration deadline and November 11, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET as the Phase 1 submission deadline.

Part of NASA’s Broader Space Technology Program

The Orbital Clarity Challenge is the sixth competition in NASA’s TechLeap Prize series. It is being conducted through collaboration among NASA’s Heliophysics Division, Flight Opportunities program and Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation.

The effort reflects NASA’s broader interest in using innovative technologies and commercial spacecraft to collect more information about the near-Earth space environment.

Better measurements of atmospheric conditions could ultimately support improved satellite orbit prediction and help spacecraft operators respond to changes caused by space weather.

As the number of spacecraft operating in low Earth orbit continues to grow, NASA’s search for affordable and scalable measurement technologies could provide additional data for understanding the dynamic environment through which these satellites travel.