MSGC Updates

Here you can find the the latest challenges, programs, internships, webinars, and more. Sign up to receive our monthly email updates!

Let the MSGC team know if you plan on participating by sending an email to mispacegrant@umich.edu.

AI at NASA: Unlocking the Future of Exploration

Event Date: Tuesday, May 12, at 2 p.m. EDT

Contact: hq-stem-communications@mail.nasa.gov

Artificial intelligence is all around us – helping as a virtual assistant for daily life, working as a tool for scientists, and shaping the careers of tomorrow. Join us to learn about the exciting ways NASA is using this technology during a virtual Q&A event on the Learn With NASA YouTube Channel. Hear from NASA AI expert Martin Garcia as he answers students’ questions and explains how the agency is using AI as a powerful tool to progress humanity’s exploration and understanding of the cosmos.

NASA Fall Internship Applications Now Open!

Apply by Friday, May 22, 2026

NASA offers several opportunities for students to undertake meaningful and challenging projects that prepare them for successful entry into the nation’s workforce. NASA interns learn key technical skills and career readiness competencies while contributing to NASA’s mission.

Virtual Career Connection: Exploring Careers in Aviation Technology and Maintenance

Registration Deadline: Tuesday, June 2

Event Date:

Thursday, June 11, at 1 p.m. EDT

Contact: hq-virtual-engagements@mail.nasa.gov

Are you curious about the exciting technical career pathways shaping the future of aviation? Join us for a virtual event to connect directly with the aircraft mechanics and technicians supporting NASA’s flight programs. This event is designed for high school, career technical/trade education, and college/university students. Following the presentation, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn about the presenter’s career journey.

Click here to register and find information for upcoming virtual events.

Deep Space Food Challenge: Mars to Table

Registration Deadline: July 31

Entry Deadline: Aug. 14

Contact: hq-stmd-centennialchallenges@mail.nasa.gov

As NASA plans for deep space missions that could last months or years, new ways to feed astronauts that are independent of Earth must be developed. The Deep Space Food Challenge: Mars to Table is a global competition inviting chefs, innovators, culinary experts, higher-education students, and citizen scientists to design a complete, Earth-independent food system for long-duration space missions. U.S. participants will compete for part of a prize purse of up to $750,000 from NASA. International teams are also eligible to participate and receive recognition. Click here to learn more.

New NASA Force Hiring Initiative

Explore NASA Force Careers

NASA Force is a brand-new, elite hiring initiative designed to recruit the next generation of technical talent directly into mission-critical roles. This program is an incredible opportunity for your recent graduates and early-career professionals to jumpstart their careers by working on high-impact projects like the Artemis missions and lunar rover development.

Through term-based appointments (typically 1–2 years), NASA Force allows innovators to bring their skills to the forefront of space exploration while gaining unparalleled experience within the agency.

• Target Audience: Engineers, technologists, and innovators ready to enter the workforce.
• The Mission: Contribute to U.S. leadership in space, aeronautics, and deep-space exploration.

How to Apply: Positions are posted via USAJOBS.gov.

NASA Artemis II Human Research Data Methodology Challenge

Submission Deadline: Friday, June 5

Contact: hrpchallenge@floor23digital.com

NASA’s Human Research Program is conducting three studies of data collected during the Artemis II mission that sent astronauts around the Moon. The studies will generate a dataset collected from four subjects – a sample size that renders most conventional statistical approaches either inapplicable or unreliable.

The NASA Artemis II Human Research Data Methodology Challenge asks participants to consider any proven methodology that addresses extracting maximum insights from limited, high-dimensional, multi-modal data. Participation is limited to United States citizens, permanent residents, and qualifying entities. The challenge carries a total monetary prize pool of $25,000, distributed among up to fifteen winners.

Click here to learn more.

The Air Force Science & Technology Fellowship Program

Applications Accepted on a Rolling Basis
https://myumi.ch/G2q1M

The Air Force Science and Technology Fellowship Program (AF STFP), funded by the United States Air Force, provides a platform for outstanding scientists and engineers to engage in vital research and development efforts. Through a competitive selection process, the program identifies exceptionally talented individuals at various career stages, from recent graduates to experienced researchers, offering them the opportunity to conduct self-directed research at Air Force facilities.

Summer Computing Camps for Middle School and High School Girls  – Eastern Michigan University

Bits & Bytes middle school camp: June 15 – 19

Now in its tenth year, “Bits & Bytes” is an all-day, week-long, summer computing camp for middle school girls. It introduces computing and technology from theoretical concepts to applied projects. Coding is introduced through educational software and robots with the support of student mentors. The Camp concludes with a hackathon and a career discovery event. It is staffed by the Women in Computer Science (WICS) club members at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) and led by a faculty member. No prior coding experience is necessary, we encourage anyone who is interested to join!

Terabytes AI high school bootcamp: July 6-8

Terabytes AI is a 3-day, summer bootcamp for high school girls interested in learning about Artificial Intelligence. This camp has replaced the Gigabytes  summer program. Participants will dive into the fundamentals of AI, machine learning, and data science, alongside crucial discussions on the ethical use of AI. They will master foundational Python coding, understand the mechanics of how AI systems work and gain hands-on experience by applying AI to real-world problems. Terabytes AI is modeled after the successful, three-year run of the Gigabytes summer computing program for high school girls. The curriculum is developed and delivered by experienced EMU faculty, and the program is staffed by members of the Women in Computer Science (WiCS) club.

The camps are free-of-cost, except for a small registration fee (some scholarships are available). More information and registration: https://www.emich.edu/computer-science/summer-camps/index.php

EMU Coding for Neurodivergent Learners: July 20 – 22, 2026

6th – 12th Graders

A sensory-friendly coding experience designed to meet learners where they are. Campers choose their own learning path using Blocks and/or Python and explore physical computing with LEGO BrickQ. Campers should have basic typing skills; however, no prior coding experience is required. The program emphasizes technical confidence in a low-stimulation, high-support environment. Sensory tools are welcome, and frequent breaks are built into the schedule. Camp will culminate in a personalized “Grand Build” showcase. More information and registration: https://myumi.ch/4mgQQ

Go For Launch! Sault Ste. Marie

June 16-17, 2026

On June 16 and 17, STEAM students in grades 8-12 will be able to attend a high-impact aerospace program at Lake Superior State University. Go For Launch! is an experiential learning opportunity that allows students to work alongside experts including astronaut Greg H. Johnson and former NASA instructor and Higher Orbits founder Michelle Lucas. 

Students will experience engaging hands-on learning opportunities including teamwork, collaboration and the chance to define and design their own experiments. The program will be capped off with a presentation for a panel of judges, with the winning experiment moving on to the regional level — and potentially being launched into space and conducted on the International Space Station.

Students from across Michigan are encouraged to register for the event for $50 each as space allows.

Help Scientists Improve Hail Predictions With CoCoRaHS and SEaRCH

The bigger the hailstone, the more damage it can cause. But predicting hailstone size can be challenging. How quickly does hail melt as it falls?

You can help tackle this question by joining the SouthEast Region CoCoRaHS Hail (SEaRCH) project. This network of backyard weather observers includes volunteers of all ages and backgrounds who work together to measure and report hail in their local communities. SEaRCH is also part of the NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and National Science Foundation supported Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow (CoCoRaHS) network, whose amateur weather sleuths report rain and snow.

Click here to learn more and get started.

Smithsonian Activity: Compare the Weather on Mars and Earth

https://myumi.ch/E8j73

Did you know you can check the temperature on Mars? Track the temperature on Mars and compare it to Earth in this activity from the National Air and Space Museum.

Joint Polar Satellite System STEM Activity: Flight Path Navigator Graphing Game
https://myumi.ch/2r65m
Did you know that data from NOAA and NASA’s Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) satellites helps pilots plan their flight paths? In a new game from the JPSS team, players use graphing to plot a safe flight path, including take-off and landing, for an airplane. The beginning concepts of graphing are explored as young learners plan routes to avoid clouds, ice, turbulence, and other obstacles.

Explore the Universe With NuSTAR Art and Coloring Pages
https://myumi.ch/G29z4
NASA’s Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, mission detects high-energy X-rays. With NuSTAR, scientists observe and investigate some of the hottest, densest, and most energetic objects in the universe, like the remnants of exploded stars and supermassive black holes actively consuming gas and dust.

Introducing Plant the Moon: Summer Lab

Registration closes: June 21, 2026

Plant the Moon: Summer Lab is a new, self-guided science experience. Just like the flagship Challenge, participants plant real vegetable crops in lunar soil simulant to tackle one of the next great challenges in aerospace: growing food beyond Earth. Over eight weeks, students of all ages will conduct their own experiments, record their results, and submit a final report to earn a certificate of completion.

However, Summer Lab was built to be even more flexible. A lower-stakes spinoff of the official Challenge that works just as well in a backyard as it does in an organized science camp.

National Science Foundation Education and Training Opportunities
Various Deadlines
https://myumi.ch/y1bkd
Browse NSF Opportunities to discover what could be the next step in your academic journey. Search by keyword or use the filters to find Opportunities relevant to your interests. Start your application when you find a good fit or save it to come back to when you’re ready.

Open Science Training
https://myumi.ch/kPdqy
NASA’s Open Science 101 course provides the foundational knowledge of the principles and best practices for conducting open science. Researchers, students, and the public are invited to register for this free, five-module course to learn about the principles of open science; how to plan, conduct, and participate in open science research projects; legal and ethical considerations when planning open science projects; and open science best practices.