Global Olympiad Route to NASA 2026-27: Exams, Eligibility, Registration & NASA Trip

Global Olympiad Offering NASA Visit 2026-27

Below, we have listed the Global Olympiads 2026-27 that the students can participate in and win a chance to visit NASA.

International Space Olympiad (ISO)

The International Space Olympiad (ISO) is for students in grades 5 to 12. The ISO exam conducted by Edu Mithra Intellectual Services Pvt Ltd provides the winners with a fully sponsored, certified NASA Astronaut Training experience. Read further details below.

Asian Regional Space Settlement Design Competition

The Asian Regional Space Settlement Design Competition (ARSSCDC) started in December 2004 at the American Centre, New Delhi, India. It is an industry-simulated competition for high school students where they act as aerospace engineers to design self-sustaining cities in Space. Each year, the organisers provide a new design concept with its own special requirements. The ARSSCDC participation is divided into three parts, as detailed below.

• Preliminaries: Some regions outside the US and Canada are required to appear in events to earn an invitation to the regional semi-final. For students in India, they will have to participate in the Indian Nationals – Space Settlement Design Competition (INSSDC).

  • High school students from Classes 8 to 12 are eligible to appear for the INSSDC 2026-27. They must be between the ages of 14 and 18 years.

  • The students will have to prepare a team of 12 members and register for the qualifying round.

  • Next, submit the 'Request for Proposal' (RFP) and prepare to answer as many requirements as possible. Submit the proposal in PDF format before the deadline.

  • A total of 20 teams will be selected to participate in the qualifying round. Out of 20, only 5 teams will be selected for the semi-finals round.

• Semi-Finals: Selected teams are in five competition companies that prepare the designs and provide the presentation. The Aerospace Education Competitions provide the design and scenarios.

• International Finals: Twelve 12-member teams from the regional semi-finals, four 12-member teams from the qualifying round, and four or eight smaller teams selected at AEC’s direction are grouped into four teams or companies. The finalists get a chance to visit the Centre for Space Education, co-located with the NASA Kennedy Space Centre Visitor Complex in Titusville, Florida.

National Astronomy and Science Olympiad (NASO)

The National Astronomy and Science Olympiad (NASO) is one of the biggest astronomy and space olympiad examinations for school students. Students can register for the NASO Olympiad 2026-27 individually or through schools.

• The registration is currently ongoing, and the Level 1 examination will be conducted on September 7 and 10, 2026.

• The NASO Level 1 2026-27 results are expected in December 2026. The Level 2 for NASO will be conducted in January 2027.

• The top 3 students with the highest score from Level 1 and Level 2 (cumulative) will be awarded a trip to NASA, Houston, USA.

• The next top 6 students will be awarded a trip to the ISRO centre in India.

• The top 2 students from each grade will be awarded a telescope.