NASA Science Mission Directorate
The Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is an organization where discoveries in one scientific discipline have a direct route to other areas of study. Visit the SMD website for calls for proposals and additional opportunities.
https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/grant-solicitations/
Launch Your Future: NASA’s Community College Aerospace Scholars Program Opens Direct Pathways to High-Demand Careers
The aerospace industry is expanding at a historic pace, driving new demand for skilled technical professionals. From computer programmers and laboratory technicians to precision welders and avionics specialists, the talent needed to fuel future space exploration stretches across every technical discipline. To bridge the skills gap and connect community college talent with real-world opportunities, the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) program is now open for registration!
Designed to fit within a busy academic semester, this multi-phase program offers students a flexible, guided opportunity to connect their current coursework directly to NASA’s core missions. Participating scholars build a professional STEM portfolio, connect with leading industry recruiters at a Virtual Career Fair, and compete for up to $750 in total monetary awards.
How the Challenge Works
The NCAS Student Challenge turns technical coursework into a launchpad for a real-world careers in two phases:
Phase 1: The Cohort Phase (Earn up to $500)
Students attend live webinars featuring NASA technical leads and dive into key agency resources to understand current workforce needs. To complete this phase, participants create a portfolio demonstrating how their specific skills link directly to a career at NASA. The top 1,000 student submissions meeting baseline scoring criteria will be eligible for a $500 award.
Phase 2: The Virtual Career Fair Phase (Earn up to $250)
Every student who completes the Cohort Phase receives an exclusive invitation to the NCAS Virtual Career Fair. This event connects participants directly with recruiters and technical leaders from organizations seeking candidates for internships, job placements, and career training. Completing the fair and submitting materials makes up to 500 top participants eligible for an additional $250 award.
How to Apply
Registration for the NCAS Student Challenge closes on Monday, September 28, 2026.
To participate, applicants must create an account on the NASA STEM Gateway—the official management platform across NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM)—and submit their application before the deadline.
● Learn more & register: nasa-ncas.org
● Apply Here: NASA STEM Gateway
No matter your field of study, your skills have an important place in space exploration. Secure your spot today and start building your future at NASA!
2026 NASA Space Apps Challenge
On November 14-15, NASA and 17 Space Agency Partners are calling people to join this year’s NASA @SpaceAppsChallenge, the largest annual hackathon. ✨🛰️🚀
⭐Join #SpaceApps teams with a variety of backgrounds and skill sets
⭐Use open data from #NASA and space-based data from 17 Space Agency Partners to address pressing challenges in Earth and space exploration
⭐Engage and learn from NASA Subject Matter Experts
⭐Participate for the chance to win one of the ten Global Award recognitions
Have an idea? Join us: https://bit.ly/3UmpaxA
NASA OSTEM Internships Webinar
Don’t miss the chance! Registration ends 2.2.2026
“Explore internship opportunities, learn about eligibility and application requirements, and discover how to apply. Learn firsthand experiences from current interns and tips to make your application stand out. This session will guide you through everything you need to know to kickstart your NASA journey. Q&A included!”
Artemis II Mission Ready
The second Artemis mission is almost here! Check out these ways to get involved:
~Reserve your spot to be a virtual guest to the launch! Virtual guests for this launch will receive curated mission resources, stay informed with the latest updates, and receive commemorative stamps for their virtual guest passport after both liftoff and splashdown—all delivered straight to their inbox:
https://www.nasa.gov/nasa-virtual-guest-program/
~Send your name around the moon and back! Claim your boarding pass here: https://www3.nasa.gov/send-your-name-with-artemis/
~Artemis Blog – all of the latest mission updates can be found here: https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/artemis/
Virtual Career Connection: CTE Month – Building Humanity’s Future in Space
Join our exclusive virtual event to connect directly with a Lead Technician and an Apprentice who are actively building humanity’s future in space. These skilled trades professionals will share their career journeys and demonstrate how technical careers are essential to NASA’s most ambitious missions.
Target Audience: High School, Career Technical/Trade Education, and College/University Students
Event Details:
-Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026
-Time: 1:00 PM – 1:50 PM ET
Registration Start Date: 12.17.2025
Registration Closes: 02.03.2026
Webinar: 3D Thursdays for Rural Educators
A monthly series with NASA’s Science Mission Directorate that connects rural educators to resources, networking, and professional development opportunities. Webinars will be hosted on the first Thursday of every month, with a target audience of rural educators grades 3-12.
https://smd-cms.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/jan-5-2023-3d-flyer.pdfDownlink schedule
Connect to LIVE question and answer sessions with astronauts aboard the ISS! Educators can apply to host a downlink as well.
https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/in-flight-education-downlinks-schedule/Annual World Space Week
“World Space Week is an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1999 that World Space Week will be held each year from October 4-10.”
NASA Virtual Career Connection-Career Technical Education Series
A pre-college STEM experience – “NASA is at the forefront of innovation in aerospace, and we are proud to help shape the future of transportation, technology, and exploration. The aerospace industry is one of the most exciting and fastest growing sectors, with advancements ranging from airplanes to cutting-edge space exploration. Jobs in these sectors require hands-on specialized skills and we are excited to show you what a future Career Technical Education career could look like here at NASA.”
Episodes – *varying registration deadlines, please see links
5.01.2025 -Space Welders: https://stemgateway.nasa.gov/s/course-offering/a0BSJ000002Xtiv/virtual-career-connection-cte-series-space-welders
5.08.2025 -Sheet Metal Expert: https://stemgateway.nasa.gov/s/course-offering/a0BSJ000002Xuv7/virtual-career-connection-cte-series-sheet-metal-expert
5.15.2025 -Equipment Specialist: https://stemgateway.nasa.gov/s/course-offering/a0BSJ000002Xv6P/virtual-career-connectioncte-series-equipment-specialist
NASA’s Next Gen STEM Career Day
Career Day 2025 – Discover your path. Today’s students are the future of STEM – even if they don’t know it just yet.
NASA has big plans for exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond; and we’ll need today’s students no matter where they are starting from. Whether you’re aiming for a four-year degree, a two-year community college program, or pursuing hands-on technical training, there is a place in space for you! Virtual Career Connections provide valuable opportunities to connect with the people of NASA and gain insights into real-world career paths. By participating, you’ll discover the skills you need to pursue these careers. The NASA Experts you’ll meet have walked the path you’re considering and can provide authentic perspectives on the skills, challenges, and rewards of their careers. Whether you’re exploring options or have a specific career goal in mind, these connections provide crucial context for why certain skills matter and how they’re applied in the workplace.
https://stemgateway.nasa.gov/s/course-offering/a0BSJ000002p9Uj/nasas-career-day-virtual-participation
Registration Deadline: 10.4.2025
Libraries & NASA citizen science: an intro to event resources
Attend this event to hear a librarian and a participatory science professional walk you through the NASA citizen science starter kit for librarians. The kit includes everything you need to host your a NASA Science Program for patrons of all ages, including: Editable poster to advertise event, event prep guide (for the host and for the space), community connection ideas, editable event agenda, handout for participants.
The short presentation by Kara and Sara about the kit will be followed by time for your questions and discussion.
Date and Time: 8.26.2025, 1:00 p.m.
https://gmri-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/MpO5YdoESMy3REB6JxG3_w#/registration
GOES Virtual Visits
Schools, museums, science centers, and other educational organizations have the opportunity to interact with NASA and NOAA experts about the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites. Open now – May 31, 2025.
https://www.goes-r.gov/resources/education.html
Dragonfly Student and Early Career Investigator Program
Set to launch in 2028, NASA’s Dragonfly mission will send a rotorcraft lander to explore a variety of locations on Saturn’s moon Titan. Graduate students are invited to apply for a two-year term to work with Dragonfly mission team members to conduct Titan research, help formulate Dragonfly mission science and operations plans, or assist in the development of instrumentation, hardware, or testing.
https://dragonfly.jhuapl.edu/Student-Opportunities/
Registration Deadline: 6.9.2025
2025 Kibo Robot Programming Challenge
“The Kibo Robot Programming Challenge (Kibo-RPC) is an educational program in which students solve various problems by moving free-flying robots (Astrobee) with student’s program in the International Space Station (ISS).”
Registration Deadline: 5.12.2025
https://stemgateway.nasa.gov/…/a0BSJ000001…/2025-kiborpc
NASA Spinoff in Sports Series
Virtual Career Connections – Learn about NASA technologies that have found their way into the sporting world. Students will have an opportunity to participate in a live Q&A session following this talk.
A pre-college STEM experience – Registration Ends: 4.4.2025
https://stemgateway.nasa.gov/s/course-offering/a0BSJ000001FboH2AS/410-nasa-spinoffs-in-sports-series-play-ball
NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship Programs
DEADLINE to apply: March 1, 2025
See openings here: https://npp.orau.org/index.html
Workshop: RockOn! 2025
DEADLINE to register: February 14, 2025
Join NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia for a week long, hands-on workshop. This is a great opportunity to learn the science behind building sounding rockets, and launching them into space! Learn more and register here: https://www.nasa.gov/wallops/stem/rock-on/
NASA’s Artifact Program
DEADLINE to Apply: January 31, 2025
Bring authentic space artifacts into you classroom, museum, or nonprofit events with this fantastic opportunity: https://artifacts.nasa.gov