HRP Data Methodology Challenge
Resources, Support, and Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to develop a strong submission, from technical resources and proxy data access to answers to common questions about eligibility, submission requirements, and evaluation.
Tools and Events to Help You Succeed
The challenge management team and NASA HRP are committed to giving participants the resources they need to develop high-quality submissions. The following support resources will be available throughout the challenge period.
A Kickoff Webinar in mid-April 2026 provided a comprehensive overview of the challenge, including the proxy dataset structure, submission requirements, evaluation criteria, and timeline. The session included a live Q&A and was recorded for on-demand access throughout the challenge period.
A Technical Workshop, delivered by NASA HRP experts in late April 2026, will provide a hands-on session covering ideal proxy dataset structure and access, analysis environment setup, statistical considerations for small-sample high-dimensional data, and demonstration best practices. The workshop will include a Q&A session and will be recorded for on-demand access.
A public Q&A Forum will be maintained on the Innobear platform throughout the challenge period. Participants are encouraged to submit questions through the forum, and all responses will be posted publicly so that every participant benefits from the answers. Questions of a sensitive or proprietary nature may be submitted directly to the challenge management team.
A curated list of proxy datasets will be made available to all registered participants immediately upon completing registration, you can bring your own data. No approval gate or waiting period applies.
Frequently Asked Questions
This challenge is open to United States citizens, permanent residents, and qualifying entities incorporated in and maintaining a primary place of business in the United States. Federal entities and employees acting within the scope of their employment are not eligible. Employees of the challenge management contractor and their immediate family members are also ineligible. Full eligibility requirements are set out in the Official Rules.
Yes. Teams may register and compete as a group. All team members must individually meet the eligibility requirements. Teams must designate a single point of contact for all official communications and prize disbursement.
No. This challenge is specifically designed to attract methodologists from outside the space science community. Valuable contributions may come from researchers who have spent years developing and validating analytical approaches in fields that share the same fundamental challenges as the Artemis II data — small samples, high dimensionality, and multiple data modalities. Domain expertise in space medicine is not required.
No. Successful participants will not propose new or theoretical methods. They will demonstrate methodologies that are already in use in other domains and make a compelling, evidence-based case for how those methods can be applied to the Artemis II data. The emphasis is on translation and demonstration, not invention.
A curated list of proxy datasets will be made available to all registered participants. These datasets could possibly support mirroring the characteristics of the Artemis II data — including sample size, data modalities, measurement types, and inherent limitations — without using actual astronaut data. The proxy data list is available immediately upon registration, and you can also bring your own data to use for analysis.
Each submission includes required and optional components:
- A Methodology Description (PDF, maximum 3 pages)
- A Demonstration Using Proxy Data (ZIP file with working code and a ReadMe), and
- An Application Narrative (PDF, maximum 3 pages)
- Participants are also strongly encouraged to respond to the Superlative Criterion question.
- Supporting documentation is required as part of the submission and may include references, validation results, visualizations, or other relevant materials (PDF, image, or video). Full submission requirements are set out in the Official Rules.
Submissions will be scored by a panel of five external judges on four criteria: Methodological Rigor (30%), Demonstration Quality (30%), Applicability to Artemis II (25%), and Innovation and Impact (15%). The total score for each submission will be the sum of the weighted scores across all criteria. Full scoring rubrics are set out in the Official Rules.
All intellectual property rights in a submission remain with the participant. Participation does not transfer ownership to NASA or the challenge management contractor. Full intellectual property terms are set out in the Official Rules.
Winners will be publicly announced in late June 2026.
Registration and submission are both conducted through the Innobear challenge platform. All official challenge information, rules updates, and announcements are maintained on this website.
Submit your question through the public Q&A forum on the Innobear platform. The challenge management team responds on a rolling basis, and all responses are posted publicly. Questions of a sensitive or proprietary nature may be submitted directly to the challenge management team via the contact information on the Innobear platform.