NASA

NASA Supports GoAERO University Awardees for Emergency Aircraft Prototyping

With support from NASA, the international GoAERO Prize competition recently announced funding for 14 U.S. university teams to build innovative new compact emergency response aircraft. The teams will develop prototype versions of Emergency Response Flyers, aircraft intended to perform rescue and response missions after disasters and in crisis situations. The flyers must be designed to […]

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Feb 11, 2025 - 22:00

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NASA Supports GoAERO University Awardees for Emergency Aircraft Prototyping

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Artist illustration of the Aircraft Harmony, one of the GoAEROs prize competition winners..

Artist’s concept of an emergency response flyer from a team at Texas A&M University and Oklahoma State University, one of 14 university teams that received NASA-supported GoAERO awards in 2025.

Texas A&M University and Oklahoma State University

With support from NASA, the international GoAERO Prize competition recently announced funding for 14 U.S. university teams to build innovative new compact emergency response aircraft.

The teams will develop prototype versions of Emergency Response Flyers, aircraft intended to perform rescue and response missions after disasters and in crisis situations. The flyers must be designed to deliver a first responder, evacuate victims, provide emergency medical supplies, and aid in humanitarian efforts. Teams will bring their test aircraft to a fly-off expected in 2027.

These awards will provide students with an opportunity that might have otherwise been difficult – a chance to design and build potentially lifesaving aircraft.

koushik datta

NASA Project Manager

“These awards will provide students with an opportunity that might have otherwise been difficult – a chance to design and build potentially lifesaving aircraft,” said Koushik Datta, University Innovation Project manager in NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “At NASA, we’re looking forward to seeing how these young innovators can contribute to our mission to advance futuristic aviation technologies that can benefit first responders and the public.”

With support from NASA’s University Innovation Project, GoAERO named 14 awardee teams at the following universities:

Auburn University, in Leeds, Alabama

California Polytechnic University, in Pomona

Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, in Daytona Beach, Florida

Georgia Institute of Technology, in Atlanta

North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, in Greensboro

North Carolina State University, in Raleigh

The Ohio State University, in Columbus

Penn State University, in State College

Purdue University, in West Lafayette, Indiana

Saint Louis University

Texas A&M University, in College Station, and Oklahoma State University, in Stillwater

University of Texas, Austin

Virginia Tech, in Blacksburg

Student teams can utilize the funds to purchase parts, materials, batteries, and other components for building their aircrafts.

When naming the university awardees, GoAERO – in partnership with Boeing, RTX, and Honeywell – also announced 11 winners of Stage 1 of its competition. These include teams from the private sector and universities. These awardees were selected to build full- or smaller-scale flyers for evaluation. Eight entries will be selected for the next round of Stage 2 awards. The GoAERO Prize is still accepting new teams. While prizes are awarded at Stage 1 and Stage 2, teams do not need to win prizes to continue on to the next stage or compete in the final fly-off.

In addition to the University Innovation Project support for the university teams, NASA has partnered with GoAERO through a non-funded Space Act Agreement to provide U.S. teams with mentorship, educational opportunities, and access to specialized software tools.