NASA has launched a student competition challenging university teams to design aircraft for inspecting aging infrastructure. The Gateways to Blue Skies contest asks students to develop innovative ways that planes or drones could examine bridges, tunnels, and highways by 2035. Current inspection methods often require dangerous work at extreme heights or in confined spaces, forcing costly shutdowns. Steven Holz from NASA's Langley Research Center noted that demand for airborne solutions is "increasing exponentially."
The 2027 competition is open to teams of two to six college students from any major. Teams must submit a proposal and two-minute video by February 22, 2027. Up to eight finalists will each receive $9,000 and present their designs to NASA experts in May 2027. Winners will be offered internships with NASA Aeronautics. The competition aims to engage students from diverse backgrounds in solving real-world aviation challenges.