January 28, 2026
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and NASA have launched a groundbreaking Space Act Partnership focused on advancing data science, telemetry and other high-tech research through a multi-year collaboration that bridges aerospace and motorsports technology. The announcement arrived on the eve of this past weekend’s 2026 Rolex 24, the season-opening endurance race at Daytona International Speedway.
The agreement, signed under NASA’s Other Transactions Authority, establishes a framework for Technical Interchange Meetings (TIMs) to be held twice annually, alternating between NASA facilities and IMSA events. These sessions will allow both organizations to exchange knowledge publicly on areas such as machine learning diagnostics, wireless networking and sensor methodologies, technologies critical to human spaceflight and competitive racing.
IMSA President John Doonan noted the partnership being a “unique fusion of aerospace and motorsports innovation,” remarking that the exchange of telemetry and diagnostic methods could elevate both industries. NASA will offer technical overviews on data acquisition and prognostics used in crewed space missions, while IMSA contributes insights from rapid-response systems deployed in high-speed racing.
The first TIM is slated for NASA’s Ames Research Center, followed by sessions at IMSA venues and NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Participants will cover publicly available approaches to data and diagnostics, all without the exchange of funds, with each organization supporting its own involvement.
IMSA’s broader strategic initiatives also include the launch of IMSA Labs, a formal platform to support innovation across its automotive and technology partnerships, a move announced at the recent IMSA Technology Symposium that featured engineering and tech leaders, including NASA representatives.
The new Space Act partnership reflects their industries’ shared reliance on real time data and advanced telemetry, using technology to push boundaries, improve safety and accelerate innovation.
For Embry-Riddle students, this partnership reflects the growing overlap between aerospace, data science and high-performance engineering. With ERAU’s proximity to Daytona International Speedway and strong ties to NASA, the collaboration mirrors the interdisciplinary careers many students are preparing for.
