Deep Space Food Challenge: Mars to Table (M2T)

Building on the success of the Deep Space Food Challenge, the next goal in NASA’s efforts to transform astronaut dietary offerings is focused on incentivizing a complete space food system for a planetary surface that integrates a variety of food sources and associated technologies while meeting 100% of the crew’s variable nutritional needs within the space environment.

Future sustained lunar and deep space missions pose new challenges to crew health, food production, and food preparation. By using open innovation strategies in this area, NASA can incentivize innovative solutions to the challenges of astronaut nutrition. These challenges include food safety, palatability, optimization of resources, and ease of use. The solution may also have Earth-side applications.

The structure of the challenge consists of one level, spanning a total of nine months. Teams will be asked to outfit a Mars habitat space with their proposed food system models informed by subject matter expertise through webinars and office hours. Submissions must include a comprehensive meal plan, a blueprint/layout of the designed space, a detailed concept of operations, and a proposed commercialization strategy that includes evidence for a terrestrial market. all packaged in a submission walkthrough video. Teams will submit their solutions by July 2026, then a judging panel will evaluate submissions and determine winners in September 2026. Up to five total teams may be awarded a portion of the $250,000 prize purse.

1. Uses for and integration with habitat and life support systems
2. Integration of individual production systems to make up a full food system
3. Selection of foods and food production systems to support nutritional needs
4. Configuration and layout within the habitat
5. Uses for various analog testbeds on Earth, in LEO, and on the lunar surface

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 1) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.