Updates
MSGC Updates
There are quite a few upcoming opportunities happening over the next couple of months and the MSGC team wants to make sure that you are updated on the latest challenges, programs, internships, contests etc.
Let the MSGC team know if you plan on participating by sending an email to mispacegrant@umich.edu
Save the Date! MSGC’s 2023 Fall Conference is on October 21st at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. Registration opens August 25th. Keep an eye on our 2023 Fall Conference page for more details: https://myumi.ch/4r293

2024 Micro-g Neutral Buoyancy Experiment Design Teams (Micro-g NExT)
Proposal Deadline: Tuesday, Oct. 10
Micro-g NExT challenges teams to design, build, and test a tool or device that addresses an authentic, current space exploration challenge. The overall experience includes hands-on engineering design, test operations, and public outreach. The 2024 Micro-g NExT tasks focus on Orion crew safety and lunar extravehicular activities operations during the Artemis missions. Professional divers will test tool prototypes in the 6.2-million-gallon pool at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) facility at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

2023 Annual Heliophysics Technology Symposium
Event Dates: Wednesday, Oct. 18 – Thursday, Oct. 19
Join NASA’s Heliophysics Strategic Technology Office for its inaugural NASA Heliophysics Technology Symposium. This fully virtual event will showcase a selection of NASA heliophysics technology projects including science-enabling technologies, laboratory research, and mission concepts. Researchers will present on their projects and take questions.

First Nations Launch
Applications Due 10/20/23
NASA’s Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium (WSGC) is pleased to announce the 15th Annual First Nations Launch (FNL) National Rocket Competition. This competition is an opportunity for students attending a Tribal College or University (TCU), a Native American-Serving Nontribal Institution (NASNTI), or who are active members of an American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) collegiate chapter at a non- TCU/NASNTI university/college to design, build, and fly a high-powered rocket to be launched at a competition at the Richard Bong State Recreational Area in Kansasville, WI.

International Observe the Moon Night
Saturday, Oct. 21
International Observe the Moon Night is a time to come together with fellow Moon enthusiasts and curious people worldwide. Everyone on Earth is invited to learn about lunar science and exploration, take part in celestial observations, and honor cultural and personal connections to the Moon. We encourage everyone to interpret “observe” broadly!


NASA SUITS Design Challenge
Proposal Deadline: Nov. 2
NASA SUITS (Spacesuit User Interface Technologies for Students) challenges teams to design and create spacesuit information displays within augmented reality environments and remote mission control consoles. Designs could aid astronauts in performing spacewalk tasks such as navigation and science sampling on the Martian surface. Top teams will travel to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and work with NASA technical engineers and coordinators to test their prototypes.


Lunar and Planetary Institute’s 2023 Culturally Inclusive Planetary Engagement Workshops
Multiple Workshop Dates Available
June – November 2023
During the workshop, scientists and educators are paired together and supported in bi-directional conversations around diversity and inclusion in engaging Black and Latinx audiences in planetary science. Participants also co-create and lead hands-on activities during a public engagement event following the workshop held in collaboration with a local youth-serving organization. These events allow workshop participants the opportunity to practice engagement strategies discussed in the workshop.




U.S. Department of Energy – IBUILD: Innovation in Buildings Graduate Research Fellowship
Application Deadline: Dec. 1
The Innovation in Buildings (IBUILD) Graduate Research Fellowship, managed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, will strengthen the pool of well-trained, diverse PhD scholars who are equipped for research-intensive building technologies careers across all sectors. IBUILD Fellows will receive research and educational support to conduct innovative research at their home institution in an area with demonstrated relevance to building energy efficiency. In addition to funding high quality research, the fellowship will provide professional development, mentoring, and networking opportunities.


NASA Human Lander Challenge 2024
NOI Due October 22, 2023
Proposals Due March 4, 2024
https://hulc.nianet.org
The 2024 HuLC competition seeks near-term, innovative solutions for Human Landing System (HLS) challenge areas…specifically addressing the mitigation of lunar Plume-Surface Interaction (PSI). Interested teams have a full year to prepare and submit proposals by the deadline of March 4, 2024. HuLC solicits proposals for innovative, systems-level solutions that can help NASA understand, mitigate, and manage the impacts of lunar PSI – with the ability to be implemented within 3-5 years. HuLC is open to teams of undergraduate and graduate students at accredited colleges and universities in the United States. Based on a review of initial proposals received by March 2024, up to 12 teams will be selected to continue developing their proposed concepts. Each finalist team will receive a $7,000 stipend to facilitate full participation in a competitive design review at a Forum in Huntsville, Alabama in June 2024.


CubeSat Launch Initiative Partnership Opportunity
Proposal Deadline: Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. EST
NASA is seeking proposals for CubeSat payloads in the 1U-12U size range looking to launch between 2025-2028. The CubeSat Launch Initiative gives students, teachers, and faculty a chance to get hands-on flight hardware development experience. Proposed CubeSat investigations must advance NASA’s strategic goals in the areas of STEM engagement, science, technology development/demonstration or NASA workforce development.




International Observe the Moon Night
Saturday, Oct. 21
International Observe the Moon Night is a time to come together with fellow Moon enthusiasts and curious people worldwide. Everyone on Earth is invited to learn about lunar science and exploration, take part in celestial observations, and honor cultural and personal connections to the Moon. We encourage everyone to interpret “observe” broadly!


Commercial Crew 2024 Artwork Contest
Audience: Artists worldwide, ages 4-12
Entry Deadline: Wednesday, Oct. 25
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is holding an art contest to create a 2024 calendar. This year’s contest has four overarching themes: Rockets and Spacecraft, Astronauts, Living and Working in Space, and Exploring the Solar System. Unique and original first, second, and third place artwork in three different age groups will be selected.


Your Place in Space Challenge
Submissions due 10/30
Your Place in Space Challenge is now open for teaching resources. Preparing high school students for rewarding careers & increase access to career and technical education (CTE). The Your Place in Space Challenge invites high schools to submit designs for a product or service that will contribute to space missions and exploration.


2024 Drop Tower Challenge – Microgravity Expulsion from Water
Teams of students in grades 8-12
Proposal Deadline: Nov. 1
Student teams are invited to design and build simple devices that will sink in water in normal gravity but will be expelled as far as possible from the water when exposed to microgravity. Objects from selected teams will be tested in the 2.2 Second Drop Tower at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Ohio. The top-performing teams will have the opportunity to present their results in a student poster session at the 2024 meeting of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research.


2023-2024 Conrad Challenge for Students Ages 13-18
Registration Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EDT on Nov. 3
The Conrad Challenge is a purpose-driven innovation competition creating the next generation of entrepreneurs who will change the world!


Girls STEAM Ahead With NASA: Resources in Action
Webinar Date: Oct. 17 at 3:30 p.m. EDT
The Girls STEAM Ahead with NASA program, part of NASA’s Universe of Learning, provides resources and experiences that enable youth, families, and lifelong learners to explore fundamental questions in astrophysics, experience how science is done, and discover the universe for themselves. Join NGCP for this exciting webinar to hear directly from this year’s 2023 GSAWN stipend recipients who are using these free resources and get ideas to implement in your own programs!




International Observe the Moon Night
Saturday, Oct. 21
International Observe the Moon Night is a time to come together with fellow Moon enthusiasts and curious people worldwide. Everyone on Earth is invited to learn about lunar science and exploration, take part in celestial observations, and honor cultural and personal connections to the Moon. We encourage everyone to interpret “observe” broadly!


2024 LiftOff Summer Institute: Growing on Earth and Beyond
Application Deadline: Dec. 23
Institute Dates: June 24-28, 2024
The 2024 LiftOff Summer Institute is a weeklong training event at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston sponsored by the agency’s Texas Space Grant Consortium. This year’s theme is “Growing on Earth and Beyond.” Attendees will explore the vital role plants will play in survival during long-duration missions and ways NASA is innovating plant growth and adaptation. Participants will attend presentations by NASA scientists and engineers, tour NASA facilities, and receive hands-on, inquiry-based classroom activities aligned to education standards. Applicants must be U.S. citizens currently employed as classroom teachers of grades 5-12, or currently enrolled in a pre-service teacher program.


2024 MSTA Conference
Feb 29th – Mar 2nd
Mark your calendars for Feb 29 – Mar 2 to join us at the 2024 MSTA Annual Conference! Stay tuned for further updates, including registration details, session highlights, and speaker announcements. In the meantime, save the date, spread the word, and start counting down the days!


Call for Proposals: SMD Bridge Program Seed Funding
Proposal Deadline: Accepted on a rolling basis through March 29, 2024
NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is seeking proposals for seed funding awards to provide support for faculty investigators and their students to carry out NASA-relevant research. The goal of the SMD Bridge Program is to develop sustainable partnerships among institutions historically under-resourced by NASA. Each award is expected to have a budget of up to $300,000 for a duration of 24 months.