NASA and HeroX Launch MPLAN Challenge for Minority Serving Institutions

Up to $50,000 per winning proposal to support student opportunities and specialized resources

Mar. 16, 2026 at 2:38pm

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NASA's Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) has launched the MPLAN challenge in partnership with HeroX, a crowdsourcing platform. The two-phase program seeks research proposals from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) across NASA's 2026 topic areas, providing funding to MSIs to further develop ideas, facilitate research, and engage stakeholders.

Why it matters

The MPLAN challenge aims to make funding opportunities more accessible, strengthen institutional capacity, and foster direct engagement between MSIs and NASA. This initiative plays a vital role in empowering Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and other MSIs to connect with NASA's mission and resources, leading to new partnerships and innovations.

The details

In Phase 1, Principal Investigators at MSIs must submit research proposals addressing one of NASA's 2026 topic areas by May 29, 2026. Successful submissions will exhibit scientific and technical merit, feasibility, and potential benefit to NASA's interests. In Phase 2, prize recipients will participate in meetings with NASA Mission Directorate representatives and subject matter experts, including a kickoff meeting, workshop, and monthly engagements from August through November 2026.

  • The challenge was launched on March 16, 2026.
  • The pre-proposal webinar will be held on March 26, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. CT.
  • The proposal submission deadline is May 29, 2026.
  • The selection announcement will be made in July 2026.
  • The Phase 2 activities will take place from August through November 2026.

The players

HeroX

The leading platform for crowdsourced solutions, co-founded in 2013 by serial entrepreneur Christian Cotichini and XPRIZE Founder and Futurist Peter Diamandis.

NASA's Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP)

A program that aims to make funding opportunities more accessible, strengthen institutional capacity, and foster direct engagement between Minority Serving Institutions and NASA.

Torry Johnson

The Deputy Associate Administrator for NASA's Office of STEM Engagement, who announced the launch of the MPLAN challenge.

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What they’re saying

“We are excited to kick off this year's NASA MUREP Partnership Learning Award Notification (MPLAN). MPLAN continues to make funding opportunities more accessible, strengthen institutional capacity, and foster direct engagement with NASA experts.”

— Torry Johnson, Deputy Associate Administrator for NASA's Office of STEM Engagement (rivertonjournal.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The MPLAN challenge represents NASA's ongoing efforts to empower Minority Serving Institutions, fostering new partnerships and innovations that can advance space and aeronautical research. By providing funding and direct engagement with NASA experts, the program aims to strengthen the capacity of these institutions and their students to contribute to the agency's mission.