Hypersonic Horizons 2025: The High-Speed Video Challenge

Section III: Timeline

• Submissions Open: 10/17/2025 3:00PM
• Submissions Close: 1/9/2026 11:59PM
•  Judging Period: 1/12/2025-2/6/2026
• Winners Announced: 3/31/2026

Section IV: Prizes
Prize description / breakdown 

• High School Awards
  •  1st place entry- $5,000
  •  2nd place entry- $3,000
  • 3rd place entry- $2,500
  • 4th place entry- $1,500
  • 5th place entry- $1,000
  • 6th place entry- $500
• College/University Awards

• • 1st place entry- $10,000
  • 2nd place entry- $5,000
  • 3rd place entry- $2,500
  • 4th place entry- $1,500
  • 5th place entry- $1,000
  • 6th place entry- $500
• JHTO reserves the right to select one, multiple, or no winners in each prize category based on the number and quality of submissions received.
• JHTO reserves the right to award multiple prizes at any prize level, based on the distribution of final scores as determined by the judges using the Evaluation Rubric. If, in the sole discretion of the judging panel, multiple entries achieve comparable scores that merit recognition within the same prize tier, additional prizes may be awarded. Entries will be considered to have “comparable scores” if their final scores fall within 5% of each other when calculated as a percentage of the maximum possible score under the Evaluation Rubric. 
• In addition to the cash prizes, winners of the competition may be invited to one or more forums to present their work. Subject to our own discretion, the winners’ eligibility, and the availability of funds, JHTO may provide some financial assistance to help with your travel expenses. If we choose to provide financial assistance, we may choose to reimburse travel expenses for only one person from a team.
• Additionally, winners may be featured on federal websites, in newsletters, social media, and in other print and electronic outreach.
• All prizes are subject to the total available funds, and JHTO reserves the right to limit the number or value of prizes awarded based on funding availability. Final prize decisions rest solely with JHTO and are not subject to appeal. 

Section V: Judging
 Judging criteria 

• Judging. JHTO will select a panel of experts to judge the entries and recommend winners. Judges will remain fair and impartial and will not evaluate an entry if it is determined that doing so would result in a conflict of interest or would be otherwise inappropriate. Judges will consist of employees of the JHTO, NSWC Crane, other federal employees, or designated support contractors of JHTO and/or NSWC Crane.

  Government support contractors will assist in the review of any submissions provided by participants.

• Evaluation Criteria. Videos will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• • Hypersonics content- includes thorough and correct facts and scientific details;
  • Wind tunnel background- includes a demonstrated knowledge of the history, physics, types, and challenges associated with wind tunnels; 
  • Wind tunnel model design- includes showing the constructed model on the video and the presentation includes the use of the wind tunnel model in the answers to the prompts; 
  • Wind tunnel development and analysis- includes clear labeling and design explanation (high school students) or a thorough explanation of the new feature proposed to improve wind tunnels (post-secondary students); 
  • Education and entertainment value- includes explanations at a 6-8th grade student educational level and engaging content; 
  • Quality of video production- includes an organized structure with smooth transitions and excellent technical details such as focus, sound, and lighting; and,
  • Video requirements:
    • Length must be between 3 and 5 minutes;
    • Video file must be less than 1GB;
    • Must include a title, date, references, school information, and,
    • Must cite references used and relevant credits.

Section VI: How to Enter
Entry details 

• All videos and associated information are due by 11:59PM EST on Friday, January 9, 2026.
  
• Videos must be submitted to https://forms.gle/x3QBxhKkE8VmShWJ9.
  
• The form must be completed with name, e-mail, academic institution including city and state, and year for each member of the team.

Section VII: Rules
Eligibility requirements

• You may participate in the challenge if you are:
  • A student, or team of students, enrolled in a high school, accredited home school program in grades 9 through 12, or college or university program at the undergraduate level.
  • Teams may consist of up to three (3) individuals.
  • Students under the age of 18 years must provide a signed Consent Form by the Submission Close (1/9/2026 11:59PM) from a parent or guardian. Completed, signed consent Forms may be submitted with the video. 
  • Only US citizens are eligible to receive cash prizes in this Challenge.
• You may not participate in the challenge if you:
  • Are an employee of the Joint Hypersonics Transition Office, NSWC Crane, or another US Government / federal entity
  •  Will work on the challenge using federal funds, federal resources or federal facilities not available to all participants
  • Are an individual involved with the development or judging of the challenge or the spouse or child of such an individual. 
  • Participants (residents or entities) who are designated by the United States Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control are not eligible to receive any cash prize in the Challenge. Participants who are listed, or become listed, on the Excluded Parties List found on www.sam.gov or have any active exclusions may not be eligible to receive any cash prize in the Challenge.
• Eligibility is subject to verification by the Government before cash prizes are awarded.

Rules

• Participants must develop a fun video, between three and five minutes in length and 1GB or less in size, to help improve knowledge of travel and hypersonics.
• You must submit your video to: https://forms.gle/x3QBxhKkE8VmShWJ9 
• Your video must be YouTube compatible; it should not need to be downloaded or be only playable through a specific app or apps. 
• Each individual or team is limited to entering one video. Multiple submissions from the same source will be disqualified.
• The video may not contain any material that is unlawful, inappropriate, profane, indecent, obscene, hateful, defamatory, or disparaging.
• The video may not use any data that is only available for commercial purchase; uses or requires others to use copyright-protected content in a way that violates copyright laws or regulations; or contain personally identifiable information such as names, addresses, e-mail addresses, phone numbers, birthdays, social security numbers, or any other information that could be used to identify someone. 
• All aspects of your entry, including, without limitation, videography and content, must be rights-free or provided with any necessary permissions. Thus, entries consisting of public domain works or U.S. Government works are permissible. Additionally, entries subject to a Creative Commons license or other license from the rights holder are also permissible, provided that such license is compliant with the terms of these Official Rules. It is your responsibility to evaluate rights status and obtain any necessary permissions. Where there is a choice, use the most permissive license (i.e., the one allowing the broadest unconditioned use). 

Terms & conditions

• Agreement to Terms. By responding to this announcement, the participant agrees to comply with and be bound by the rules (including these terms and conditions) of this prize challenge and the decisions of the Government. The final scores and final determination of winner is final and binding on all participants. The final scores of the Judging Panel and the final determination of winner(s) may not be challenged by the participant(s).
• Joint Hypersonics Transition Office (JHTO) Use of Winning Entries
  • The JHTO may in its discretion make winning entries publicly available. Without limitation, your video submission may be shared on a website, social media, or other platforms. 
  • The JHTO may modify or alter winning entries, in its sole discretion, as deemed desirable, appropriate, or necessary.
• Malware. Each participant warrants that any submission is virus free and free of malware.
• Data Rights and Marking. All data submitted under the Prize Challenge will be made available to JHTO, NSWC Crane, and parties authorized to act on behalf of the NSWC Crane as discussed below. By accepting these Terms and Conditions, the participant(s) consent to the use of data submitted to NSWC Crane. Any materials submitted to NSWC Crane as part of a prize challenge submission become NSWC Crane records and will not be returned. Any information received from the participant is considered to be a federal agency record, and as such, subject to public release under FOIA. Decisions to disclose or withhold information received from a participant are based on the applicability of one or more of the nine (9) FOIA exemptions, not on the existence or nonexistence of protective markings. All FOIA requests received by NSWC Crane are processed in accordance with 10 C.F.R. Part 1004. Participants will be notified of any FOIA requests for their submissions in accordance with 29 C.F.R. § 70.26. Participants may then have the opportunity to review materials and work with a NSWC Crane FOIA representative prior to the release of materials.
• By participating in this Challenge, each individual (whether participating singly or in a group) warrants and assures the Government that any data used for the purpose of submitting an entry for this Challenge, were obtained legally through authorized access to such data.
• Except where prohibited, participation in the Challenge constitutes the consent of each winner to the government’s and its agents’ use of each winner’s name, likeness, photograph, voice, public summary, and or hometown/state information for promotional purposes through any form of media, worldwide, without further permission, payment, or consideration.

Upon submission, the Participant hereby represents and warrants that:

• It is the sole author and copyright owner of the submission; that the submission is an original work of the participant and that the participant has sufficient rights to use and to authorize others, including JHTO and NSWC Crane, to use the submission, as specified throughout the Official Rules; that the submission does not infringe upon any copyright or upon any other third party rights of which the participant is aware; and that there are no known or pending patents on or related to the technology proposed within the submissions or, if there are known or pending patents, that the patent holder grants to the Government a fully paid, nonexclusive, irrevocable, worldwide license to use, or have used on the Government’s behalf, reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, and perform and display publicly copyrightable works of the patented material. Except as provided above, any submission shall be accompanied by a statement delineating which intellectual property rights and licenses will not be extended to the government for this challenge.
• The submission, and any use thereof by NSWC Crane is not defamatory or libelous in any manner; does not constitute or result in any misappropriation or other violation of the publicity rights or right of privacy of any person or entity, or infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate any intellectual property rights, privacy rights or any other rights of any person or entity.
• It is free to enter into this challenge without the consent of any third party and has the capability to fully perform its obligations as stipulated by the Prize rules.
• There is no suit, proceeding, or any other claim pending or threatened against the participant, nor does any circumstance exist, to its knowledge, which may be the basis of any such suit, proceeding, or other claim, that could limit or impair the participant’s performance of its obligations pursuant to the Prize rules or Terms and Conditions.
• It will not infringe, violate, or interfere with the intellectual property, publicity, privacy, contract or other right of any third party in the course of performance of this agreement or cause NSWC CRANE to do any of the same.
• By participating in this Challenge, each individual (whether participating singly or in a group) warrants and assures the Government that there are no known or pending patents on or related to the technology proposed within the submissions or, if there are known or pending patents, that the patent holder provides the Government a description of the patented material and its use in the proposed Challenge solution. 
• Relationship of the Parties. Nothing contained in these Terms and Conditions is intended to create or constitute a relationship between JHTO or NSWC Crane with the participants. Participation in the Prize Challenge does not imply any form of sanction, endorsement or support of the Participant by the NSWC CRANE, nor does it grant either party any authority to act as agent, nor assume or create any obligation, on behalf of the other party. Participant may not use the JHTO logo, NSWC CRANE logo or official seal in their submission.
• Taxes. Tax treatment of prizes will be handled in accordance with U.S. Internal Revenue Service guidelines. The winners must provide a U.S. taxpayer identification number (e.g. a social security number) to receive the cash prize.
• Payment. Winner(s) agree to accept payment via electronic funds transfer. Participants selected as monetary prize winners must submit all required taxpayer identification and bank account information required to complete an electronic payment of the monetary prize. Failure to provide the Government required documents for electronic payment within thirty (30) days of notification by the Government may result in a disqualification of the winning entry. 
  • If two (2) or more individuals collaborate to provide a winning entry (as a Team), they must designate an eligible Team Lead who will receive the cash prize in full. Division of the cash prize is at the discretion of the Team Lead submitting on behalf of the Team.
  • Each Winner, will be required to sign and return to NSWC Crane, within thirty (30) days of the date the notice is sent, a completed Standard Form 3881 (Automated Clearing House – Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment) showing bank routing number for payment purpose and a completed IRS Form W-9 (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irspdf/fw9.pdf).
    
  • At the sole discretion of NSWC Crane, a winning participant will be disqualified from the challenge and receive no prize funds if:
    • the person/entity cannot be contacted
    • the person/entity fails to sign and return the required documentation within the required time period;
    • the notification is returned as undeliverable;
    • the submission or person/entity is disqualified for any other reason.
• Government Right to Cancel, Suspend or Modify Challenge. The Government reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, suspend or modify the Challenge. These rules may be changed without prior notice, and all participants should monitor https://hypersonics.tamu.edu for the latest information. The Government further reserves the right to select no winners and award no prize money if the Government determines, in its sole discretion that an award is not in the best interest of the Government.
• Responsibility for Costs Incurred. Nothing in these rules, to include information on the websites publicizing the award, may be interpreted as authorizing the incurrence of any costs, or modifying the statement of work or authorizing work outside the terms and conditions of any existing agreements or contracts with the Government. Participation in this prize challenge is at participant expense. The Government will not be responsible for any costs incurred by the participant, to include submission costs, travel costs, technology demonstration or development costs or any associated costs.
• Release of Claims. The participant agrees to release and forever discharge any and all manner of claims, equitable adjustments, actions, suits, debts, appeals, and all other obligations of any kind, whether past or present, known or unknown, that have or may arise from, are related to or are in connection with, directly or indirectly, this prize challenge or the participant’s submission.
• Liability. By participating in this challenge, the participant agrees to assume, and thereby has assumed, any and all risks of injury or loss in connection with, or in any way arising from participation in this challenge, or development of any submission. Based on the subject matter of the prize challenge, the type of work that it will require, as well as the unlikeliness of claims for death, bodily injury, property damage, or loss potentially arising from or related to participation in the prize challenge, no individual or entity participating in the prize challenge is required to obtain liability insurance.
• Indemnification. The participant agrees to indemnify the Government and its affiliates, directors, officers, employees against all liabilities, damages, losses, costs, fees (including legal fees), and expenses relating to any allegation or third-party legal proceeding arising from:

1. 1. the participant’s acts or omissions in relation to the Challenge (including the participant’s use or acceptance of any prize and the participant’s breach of these Terms); and
   2. the participant’s submissions violating any rights of any other person or entity or any obligation the participant may have with them.

• Compliance with Laws. The participant agrees to follow and comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies.
• Disclaimers. All content provided by the government is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. The Government disclaims all representations and warranties (express or implied), including any warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The Government is not responsible for any incomplete, failed, or delayed transmission of your application information or submissions due to the internet, including interruption or delays caused by equipment or software malfunction or other technical problems. Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government.
• Severability. If any term (or part of a term) of these terms or rules is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the rest of the terms or rules will remain in effect.
• Translations. In the event of any discrepancy between the English version of these terms and rules and a translated version, the English version will govern.
• Governing Law. This prize challenge is subject to all applicable federal laws and regulations. ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
• Availability of Funds. The Government’s obligation for prizes under 10 U.S.C. 4025 is subject to availability of appropriated funds from which payment for prize purposes can be made. No legal liability on the part of the Government for any payment of prizes may arise unless appropriated funds are available to the United States Navy for such purposes.