NASA University Student Research Challenge (USRC) invites students to submit groundbreaking research proposals geared towards addressing critical technological hurdles within 21st-century aviation. To participate in the USRC, applicants are required to craft innovative approaches to tackle one of six core research areas, aligning with NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate. Exceptional student teams that secure selection stand a chance to obtain NASA grants valued at up to $80,000, contingent on the project’s complexity and the team’s capacity to generate a portion of the funding through a successful crowdfunding campaign. This initiative serves as an educational catalyst, demanding students to exhibit entrepreneurial acumen while simultaneously raising public awareness about their research endeavors.