For additional information or questions, please email aerostem@nasa.onmicrosoft.com.

Dream with Us 2023 Design Challenge ALL-IN-ONE

Challenge Description

Students ages 13-18, come dream with NASA Aeronautics and help us envision and market a 

more sustainable commercial aircraft. Put together your dream team of 2-4 participants and 

build a marketing plan to help convince a team of NASA experts that your design for a 

commercial aircraft should be chosen as the best sustainable design. Access STEM activities and 

resources that can be used to help you and your team create your project. If selected, your

team will have a NASA expert visit you at your school* to share how they contribute to current 

aeronautics challenges including sustainability. Selected designs may also be shared on our 

social media platforms and more.

*NASA expert visit may be in-person or virtual depending on scheduling and availability.

Ages 

For students ages 13-18. Project submission A is for teams of students ages 13-15. Project 

submission B is for teams of students ages 16-18 (for teams with multiple ages, the submission 

category will be based on the oldest member of the team). Sustainability and aeronauticsthemed STEM activities for grades K-12 will be available regardless of design challenge 

participation.

Dates

Submissions accepted March 1 - May 15, 2023. Submission link: 

https://stemgateway.nasa.gov/public/s/course-offering/a0B3d000000zjNv/dream-withus-2023-design-challenge. Selected designs will first be announced during a virtual awards 

reception then shared on social media and this site after the reception.

Design Challenge Rules

The Dream with Us Challenge opens March 1st, 2023. The submission period begins March 1st, 

2023, and concludes on May 15th, 2023, at 11:59 pm EDT. Schools, organizations, and 

community groups should communicate to parents and guardians that submissions are limited 
For additional information or questions, please email aerostem@nasa.onmicrosoft.com.

to one entry per team. Entries must be submitted through the design challenge web portal: 

https://stemgateway.nasa.gov/public/s/course-offering/a0B3d000000zjNv/dream-with-us2023-design-challenge. If you are an educator who would like to submit a team’s entry, you 

may do so. 

• Eligibility

o The contest is open to all children in grades 6-12 who are attending public, 

private, parochial, and home schools in the United States of America and 

children of U.S. military members stationed overseas. There will be two separate 

judging categories: one for participants ages 13 to 15 and one for participants 

ages 16 to ]18.

• Submission Requirements

1. All submissions must be the original work of the student teams.

2. Students must be currently enrolled in grades 6 – 12.

3. The challenge is limited to one entry per team.

4. Challenge submissions can be:

▪ Commercial

▪ Infomercial

▪ Brochure

▪ Website

▪ Radio ad

▪ Other

5. Regardless of how you choose to communicate your idea, you must include a 

marketing plan that sells your aircraft to NASA experts. 

6. Marketing plan must include:

▪ Image of the new aircraft with an N-Number, a logo, and paint scheme

▪ Energy consumption data (current design vs. new design)

▪ Design balance: energy usage (sustainability vs. economy vs. flight 

enjoyment)
For additional information or questions, please email aerostem@nasa.onmicrosoft.com.

▪ Environmental impact from multiple aspects (ex. humans, animals, 

plants, etc.)

▪ BONUS: explain synergistic technologies (show the advantages and 

disadvantages of elements of the new aircraft, point out how different 

parts of the design work together and/or conflict with one another)

• Submitting Entries

a. Each entry must include a signed submission form completed by a parent or legal 

guardian for each student. If a teacher is submitting a team’s artwork, the 

submission must include the signed forms for each student with the entry.

b. Artwork should be submitted as a high-resolution image of the student’s original 

artwork and must be submitted in .jpg or .png format (minimum of 2,400 pixels 

on the longest edge).

c. When submitting written work, including any presentations, it should be typed 

and submitted as a PDF. PDFs are limited to 10 MB.

d. Any videos or other media besides artwork or written work needs to be 

uploaded to YouTube with a “watch URL” link shared during submission.

• Judging and Criteria

o Contest officials will select the top submissions and present them to a panel of 

NASA judges. Judges will make selections based on the above-mentioned criteria 

to determine which projects will be recognized.

o The following criteria will be used to evaluate each entry:

• Communication

o How well does the team communicate their marketing plan?

o Are enough details provided to understand the team’s message?

• Impact

o Does the entry impact the target goal of sustainable aviation?

o Does the submission provide details identifying how the concept directly 

provides a benefit?

o Does the submission develop a logical and workable solution and 

approach to solving the problem?

• Practicality
For additional information or questions, please email aerostem@nasa.onmicrosoft.com.

o Has the team provided details that identify how the improvements, 

changes, and/or related activities can be implemented in a practical 

manner?

o Does the submission utilize existing technology or identify technology 

required to implement the solution?

• Originality

o To what extent is this concept new, or in what way is this an innovation 

on an existing idea?

o How is this concept unique?

• Important Note: All factors are important and will be considered in the 

evaluation process.

• Recognition

o All participants will receive a code that allows them to earn an “endorsement 

stamp” in the NASA Aeronautics Flight Log, which is available at 

https://www.nasa.gov/flightlog/. In addition, select projects will be chosen to be 

highlighted and showcased through NASA social media, on our website, and in 

other locations as appropriate. Certificates and other recognition for select 

projects will also be made available. 

o A virtual awards ceremony will be scheduled prior to the public announcement 

of selected projects and all participants will be invited to attend using the email 

provided during registration. Selected designs will be announced on this site no 

later than June 1st, 2023. Again, thank you for participating in the Dream with Us 

Challenge!

Design Challenge Resources

The following section contains resources that can be used to help complete the design 

challenge. There are resources for students as well as educator resources that can be used to 

help guide teams as they design their aircraft. Other resources can also be used and can be 

found through independent research about this topic. In addition, the major factors that NASA 

experts focus on that influence an aircraft’s performance, fuel efficiency, and overall 

environmental sustainability can be found below. These factors, a brief explanation of these 

factors, and links to find out more are also included.
For additional information or questions, please email aerostem@nasa.onmicrosoft.com.

Aeronautics Sustainability Factors

• Weight:

o Advanced composite materials – Composite materials are made up of two or 

more materials with dissimilar properties and are be designed to take advantage 

of the properties of the materials that make them up. Advanced composite 

materials are a specific type of composite material made by combining 

reinforcing materials, like carbon fibers or fiberglass, with a resin. Advanced 

composite materials are used extensively in aircraft because they are very strong 

even though they are lightweight. 

▪ https://www.nasa.gov/aeroresearch/programs/aavp/ac

o Tow steered composites structures – Traditionally, fibers in composite materials 

have been aligned in a singular direction within each layer. New techniques have 

made it possible to engineers to vary the alignment of fibers within a layer. 

Aligning the fibers in a curvilinear fashion can improve structural efficiency, 

lowering the weight because less material is required. 

▪ https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20180006190/downloads/201800061

90.pdf

o Damage arresting stitched composite structures – In many composite materials, 

fibers are located within individual layers. While the layers are very strong, 

delamination can occur. Delamination is when the material fails due to the layers 

separating. One way to combat this problem is through stitching. Stitching is a 

technique where fibers are woven through the layers, providing additional 

strength, and helping reduce the risk of delamination.

▪ http://www.tc.faa.gov/its/worldpac/techrpt/ar02-111.pdf

• Aircraft Configuration Technologies: 

o Truss-braced wing configuration – One potential way to increase the fuel 

efficiency of airplanes is to use thinner wings. For thinner wings to produce 

enough lift, more airflow over the wing is required. One way to increase airflow 
For additional information or questions, please email aerostem@nasa.onmicrosoft.com.

is to increase the length of the wings. The truss-braced configuration is designed 

to provide the additional support required for longer wings.

▪ https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20140011160/downloads/201400111

60.pdf

o Hybrid wing body configuration – A hybrid wing body, also called a blended wing 

body, is an airplane where the body and wing are combined. Some examples of 

this design are NASA’s X-48 airplane and the B-2.

▪ https://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/news/factsheets/FS-2003-11-81-

LaRC.html

o Box wing configuration – In a box wing configuration, an airplane’s front wing is 

mounted on the lower part of the plane. This wing is then joined at the tips to a 

rear wing mounted on top of the plane. 

▪ https://www.nasa.gov/content/boxed-wing-reduces-drag

o Over the wing nacelle (OWN) configuration – In a jet engine, the nacelle is the 

cylindrical housing that surrounds and protects the engine. An airplane using a 

OWN configuration would have the engine mounted above the wing rather than 

under the wing like in most current passenger airplanes. This can reduce aircraft 

noise for people on the ground because the wing effectively shields the noise. 

▪ https://ntts-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/t2p/prod/t2media/tops/pdf/LARTOPS-70.pdf

o Swing wing configuration – Airplanes designed with a swing wing or variable 

wing configuration have wings that can move while in flight. This enables the 

pilot to maximize the efficiency of the wings to reduce drag during take-off while 

fully extended and when swept back while flying also allowing the airplane to 

increase speed.

▪ https://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/pdf/121583main_FS-081-

DFRC.pdf

o Twin fuselage configuration – The fuselage is the “body” of the airplane. In a 

twin fuselage configuration, an airplane would have two separate fuselages. 
For additional information or questions, please email aerostem@nasa.onmicrosoft.com.

▪ https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/news/X-Press/twin-fuselagetowed-glider.html

o Double-bubble configuration – The double-bubble configuration is a much wider 

fuselage compared to traditional passenger aircraft. This increases the passenger 

carrying capacity of the airplane. At the same time, the fuselage can generate 

lift, decreasing the size of the wings required to fly the plane. 

▪ https://www.nasa.gov/content/the-double-bubble-d8-0

• Aerodynamics: 

• SMART Vortex Generators – These small, fin-like components on an airplane’s 

exterior help improve the aerodynamic performance by guiding airflow around 

it. Shape-memory alloys mixed with various metals are being tested in their 

ability to allow vortex generators to change shape, temperature, and speed to 

help improve an airplane’s performance and adapt during flight.

▪ https://www.nasa.gov/aeroresearch/nasa-looks-for-a-new-twist-onsustainable-aviation

o Ultra-thin wings – Thinner wings reduce drag on an aircraft due to less friction 

between the airflow and the wing’s thickness. Less drag on an aircraft decreases 

fuel consumption. 

▪ https://www.nasa.gov/aeroresearch/wind-tunnel-testing-of-a-new-wingdesign 

o Active flow control (AFC) – Allows the pilot to control the aircraft’s aerodynamic 

flow field with the ability to turn it off and on, as needed, saving energy, 

reducing mechanical parts, thus reducing weight and drag on the aircraft.

▪ https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/LAR-TOPS-340 

o Natural laminar flow (NLF) – Laminar flow is the way airflow travels above and 

below the wing surface of an aircraft. Using an airfoil shape encourages laminar 

flow to reach further than conventional shapes allowing for a smoother flying 

performance reducing drag and fuel consumption.
For additional information or questions, please email aerostem@nasa.onmicrosoft.com.

▪ https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19810010484/downloads/198100104

84.pdf

▪ https://blogs.nasa.gov/armstrong/2011/02/11/post_1296777084480/#:~

:text=Laminar%20flow%20is%20essentially%20the,of%20their%20shape

%20and%20size.

o High-aspect ratio wings – The aspect ratio is the slenderness of a wing from tip 

to tip. Wings with a higher aspect ratio usually have longer wing spans allowing 

for lower drag and a slightly higher lift. 

▪ https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k12/VirtualAero/BottleRocket/airplane/geom.html 

• Propulsion Efficiency: 

• Electric aircraft propulsion (EAP) – This aircraft is powered by electricity reducing 

fuel and energy usage. These planes will be quieter, safer, and more 

environmentally friendly than traditional aircraft.

▪ https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/aeronautics/eap/ 

o Hybrid EAP – An aircraft that uses both fuel and electric power for flight allowing 

for reduced fuel and energy consumption. The electric battery is replenished by 

the power boost during the aircraft’s take off and climb allowing sufficient 

electric power for cruising.

▪ https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/aeronautics/eap/airplane-concepts/hybridelectric/ 

o Sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) – Fuel made from renewable biomass and waste 

resources with the ability to power an aircraft similar to petroleum-based jet fuel 

but with less greenhouse gas emissions.

▪ https://www.energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/sustainable-aviation-fuels 

o Renewable fuels – Using renewable fuels such as liquid hydrogen or ammonia 

may prove to an effective way to reduce airplane engine emissions in the future.

▪ https://www.nasa.gov/aeroresearch/university-researchers-movingelectrified-aviation-forward-with-nasa
For additional information or questions, please email aerostem@nasa.onmicrosoft.com.

o Boundary layer ingestion (BLI) – The boundary layer is the layer of slow flow air 

that develops along the aircraft’s surfaces. By utilizing the inlet and the fan at 

the back of an aircraft, the slow flow air is ingested and used as a thrust to help 

propel the aircraft. This helps the engines not work as hard which reduces fuel 

consumption and improves the overall efficiency of the aircraft.

▪ https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/aeronautics/bli/ 

Student / Team Activities

• Attack of the Drones Coding Activity: 

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/aam-attack-of-the-drones-codingactivity-guide_0.pdf

• Make Your Own Battery: 

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/power_it_up.pdf

• Ohm’s Law: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/x-57-ohms-lawactivity-guide.pdf

• Design Your Own X-Plane: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/designyour-own-x-plane-v4.pdf

• Shape Memory Alloys: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/shapememory-alloys-activity_0.pdf

• Weighed Down:

Elementary School: COMING SOON

Middle/High School: 

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/weighed-down-middlehigh-school.pdf

• Volume and Shape

o Elementary School: COMING SOON

o Middle/High School: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/usingairplane-space-efficiently.pdf

• Prioritize Your Flight

o Elementary School: COMING SOON

o Middle School: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/prioritizeyour-flight-5-8.pdf

o High School: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/prioritizeyour-flight-9-12.pdf
For additional information or questions, please email aerostem@nasa.onmicrosoft.com.

o Pro/Cons List: 

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/ax_pre_activity_pros_cons

.pdf

• Name That Plane

o Elementary: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/name-thatplane-elementary.pdf

o Middle/High School:

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/name-that-plane-middlehigh-school.pdf

• Lifecycle of Energy

o Elementary School: COMING SOON

o Middle School:

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/lifecycle_of_energy-5-

8.pdf

o High School: 

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/lifecycle_of_energy-9-

12.pdf

Educator Resources

• NASA Virtual STEM Toolkit: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/nasastem-virtual-toolkit_ver_2_bb_6.24.pdf

• Quesst Supersonic STEM Toolkit: https://www.nasa.gov/quesst-supersonic-stem-toolkit

• Sustainable Aviation STEM Toolkit: https://www.nasa.gov/sustainable-aviation-toolkit

• Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) STEM Learning Module: 

https://www.nasa.gov/aeroresearch/stem/AAM

• Aeronautics @ Home: https://www.nasa.gov/aero-at-home

• Cool Aero Stuff: https://www.nasa.gov/aero/cool-aero-stuff/

• Aeronaut-X: https://www.nasa.gov/stem/nextgenstem/aeronaut-x/index.html

Topic Resources

• Category Descriptions: 

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/dwu_2023_category_descriptions

.pdf

• Marketing Plan Guide: 

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/marketing_plan_guide_dream_wi

th_us_design_challenge_2023.pdf

• NASA’s Sustainable Flight National Partnership: 

https://www.nasa.gov/aeroresearch/sustainable-aviation-np/
For additional information or questions, please email aerostem@nasa.onmicrosoft.com.

• NASA’s Transformative Aeronautics Concept Program: 

https://www.nasa.gov/aeroresearch/programs/tacp

• ICAO/UN Aviation Emissions Calculator (shows fuel burn and carbon emissions per 

passenger, per journey): https://www.icao.int/environmentalprotection/Carbonoffset/Pages/default.aspx

• Aviation Emission Reduction Innovations Tracker (click on the Technology tracker that 

includes NASA’s Electrified Flight Powertrain Demonstration – each project is a link): 

https://www.icao.int/environmentalprotection/SAC/Pages/GCSA%20main%20page.aspx

• Sustainable Aviation: https://www.icao.int/environmentalprotection/SAC/Documents/Innovation%20Driving%20Sustainable%20Aviation%20-

%20November%202021.pdf

• International Air Transport Association Aircraft Technology Roadmap (great charts on 

pp. 10, 13, provides choices of technologies to apply and impact): 

https://www.iata.org/contentassets/8d19e716636a47c184e7221c77563c93/Technolog

y-roadmap-2050.pdf

Video Resources

• Dream With Us Video: https://youtu.be/fnRsHzm7kxw

• NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility Playbook Series: 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiuUQ9asub3SwLVqDgTi0MvckjMTASRkK

• NASA’ Quiet Crew Video Series: 

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=The+Quiet+Crew

• Sonic Boom and the X-59 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmXdeov-nYo

Gather Town Resources

Gather Guide: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/gather_guide.pdf

• ImaginAviation Gather link: 

https://app.gather.town/app/khLBZ5Ymq6SRPN6G/imaginaviation

• Dream With Us Gather link: 

https://app.gather.town/app/2ol5JBWWcYxsYWBo/imaginaviation-2

• Gather Help Center: https://support.gather.town/help

• Keyboard Shortcuts: https://support.gather.town/help/shortcuts

• Customize Emotes: https://support.gather.town/help/emotes