Updates
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.
HIGHLIGHTS
2027 MSGC Funding Applications are now open!
Apply by November 12, 2026 (11:59pm)
Funding Start Date: May 10, 2027
Apply Now
Duration Window: September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2027
Announcing a NEW competitive collaboration opportunity provided by the Michigan Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) in partnership with NASA. This program is open to any space-related, Michigan-based organization that provides workforce development / internship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in artificial intelligence and other AI-related disciplines, including machine learning, data science, data engineering, advanced analytics and autonomous or intelligent systems. It requires a demonstrated ability by the organization to recruit undergraduate and graduate level students from State of Michigan higher education institutions for work-based internship opportunities and provides a 1:1 match up to $5,000 per student up to the maximum stated in this RFP. Awards will be made on a rolling basis, based on adherence to the instructions of this RFP and the availability of funds for as long as funds remain available. More details
Lake Huron is home to a portal that can transport you back billions of years. The Middle Island Sinkhole is one of the strangest ecosystems in the Great Lakes, and scientists believe it holds clues to early life on Earth – and maybe even other planets. Watch the video on this exciting research led by MSGC Board Member Professor Bopaiah Biddanda, Grand Valley State University.
Hack The Nest 2026
November 14-15, 2026
Hack The Nest is Eastern Michigan University’s 24-hour hackathon on November 14-15 in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Hack The Nest is open to all college and high school students, whatever your major or experience level. Whether you’re writing your first line of code or you’ve shipped a dozen projects, you belong here. 600+ students from across the Midwest are expected to participate. Register at hackthenest.tech.
NASA Space Apps Challenge Hackathon
November 14-15, 2026
NASA ORBIT Challenge
Application Deadline: November 16, 2026
The NASA ORBIT Challenge (Opportunities in Research, Business, Innovation, and Technology) is a nationwide competition where students from HBCUs, TCUs, and eligible Institutions of Higher Education develop earth or space-based innovations using NASA intellectual property to win from $500,000 in prize funding, mentorship from NASA experts, and access to an exclusive STEM accelerator program. Get started
Summer 2027 NASA Internships Open & New Requirements
Application deadline: March 1, 2027 (11:59 p.m. ET)
NASA’s internship programs provide training, mentoring, and career development opportunities while working with the best science, engineering, financial, information technology, and business minds in the world.
Summer 2027 applications are now open! Students can apply at the NASA Internship Programs website.
Please note that starting Summer 2027 and beyond, NASA has updated its eligibility and participation requirements. If you are planning to apply or are advising prospective interns, please review the new guidelines:
- Age Requirement: All interns must be at least 18 years old by the published start date of the session.
- High School Eligibility: Only graduating high school seniors (Grade 12) are eligible to apply for the summer session immediately following their graduation (offers are contingent on proof of graduation). Students in grades 9–11 are no longer eligible, even if enrolled in college or dual-credit programs.
- Recent College Graduates: Recent grads are eligible to participate within four sessions following their college graduation date.
- Lifetime Participation Limits: Interns are now capped at a maximum of three internships as an undergraduate and three as a graduate student (six total).
- Note on returning interns: If you have a continuing or returning intern for Summer 2027 who will exceed this new lifetime total, please contact your Internship Coordinator.
- Consecutive limit: The maximum limit of three consecutive sessions remains unchanged.
Proposal and video submissions due February 22, 2027
NASA’s annual Gateways to Blue Skies (GBS) Competition provides an opportunity for teams of post-secondary students from all academic fields and levels (freshman through graduate studies) to tackle critical challenges and opportunities within the aviation industry through a new competition theme each year.
In Phase 1, participation involves the submission of a 5–7-page proposal and creation of a 2-minute video summarizing the team’s proposal. Based on the review of proposal submissions, up to 8 teams may be selected to receive a $9,000 prize and advance to Phase 2.
In Phase 2, teams develop a final paper and infographic and give an in-person presentation at the GBS Forum. Internship opportunities with NASA’s ARMD serve as the Phase 2 prize for members of the winning team. Learn more
Proposals due February 24, 2027
The Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts – Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) Competition fuels innovation for aerospace systems concepts, analogs, and technology prototyping by bridging gaps through university and college engagement. RASC-AL is open to undergraduate and graduate university-level students studying fields with applications to space exploration (i.e., aerospace, bio-medical, electrical, and mechanical engineering; and life, physical, and computer sciences). RASC-AL projects allow students to incorporate their coursework into real aerospace design concepts and work together in a team environment. Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged.
In 2027, up to 14 Finalist Teams may be chosen to compete at the RASC-AL Forum in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Each finalist team will receive a $7,500 award to facilitate full participation in the RASC-AL Competition. The top 2 overall winning teams will receive an additional monetary award and an invitation to showcase their winning concepts at a premier aerospace conference. Learn more
2027 Challenge Theme: Lunar Communications
Proposal and video submissions due March 4, 2027
The Human Lander Challenge (HuLC) is an initiative supporting NASA’s efforts to explore innovative solutions for a variety of known technology development areas for human landing systems (HLS). Reliable lunar communications infrastructure is one area that must be tackled to ensure the safe and effective operation of human and non-human missions on the Moon. NASA invites collegiate student teams to explore innovations and potential solutions to lunar communications challenges and constraints. While the focus of the 2027 HuLC Competition is lunar and cislunar communications, the Moon serves as a proving ground for future human exploration of Mars.
Up to 12 teams will be selected to receive a $9,000 prize and advance to Phase 2, which includes a final design review at the HuLC Forum in Huntsville, Alabama in June 2027. Teams selected to advance to Phase 2 are responsible for developing a technical paper and poster and giving an in-person presentation to a panel of NASA and industry subject matter experts during the HuLC Forum. The overall top three placing teams will share a total prize purse of $18,000. Learn more
New NASA Deep Space Autonomous Robotics Challenge
Timeline details coming in January 2027
DSpARC is a multi-track software competition offering $5 million in total prizes to advance autonomous robotics software critical to future Lunar and Martian surface missions. NASA is seeking groundbreaking software solutions that impact robotics development for future missions to the Moon and Mars. The NASA Deep Space Autonomous Robotics Challenge invites industry, startup, and faculty-led teams to design, develop, and demonstrate software for multi-agent robotic systems tasked with preparing surface infrastructure before astronauts arrive on the Moon or Mars. By participating in this challenge, teams compete for a share of up to $5 million in total prizes, leverage NASA’s open-source assets, and evaluate skillsets for possible future opportunities with NASA. Can your autonomous system bridge the gap from simulation to reality and withstand the unpredictable conditions of deep space? The official challenge splash page and interest form are now live: deepspaceroboticschallenge.org
Regolith Innovation for Off-World Technologies (RIOT) Challenge
Proposals due February 1, 2026
RIOT, short for Regolith Innovation for Off-World Technologies, exists to help build the people and technology a permanent Moon base will need, and the Mars missions that follow. Living and working off-world means using what’s already there: turning regolith into building materials, oxygen, water, and more. RIOT gives university teams and industry partners a hands-on way to start that work now, with real simulant, real experiments, and real results. Along the way, students gain the skills and experience the growing space workforce is looking for, and the community gains data that moves in-space resource use forward. Learn more
Plant the Moon Challenge – Spring 2027 Funding Applications Now Open!
Info Webinar: Monday, November 9 | 6:00 – 7:00pm ET
Applications Due: Friday, December 14, 2026
All interested teachers and participants are invited to join the PTMC Team as they walk you through what participation in the Spring 2027 Plant the Moon Challenge will look like and answer your questions live!
Applications are open for Space Grant Consortium funding! Selected teams will receive support to cover 100% of their registration costs! Learn more and apply for funding
Register by December 8, 2026
As more and more aircraft are part of the United States’ National Airspace System, NASA and its partners in the aviation industry are searching for ways to increase safety, make flight more affordable, find new fuels for aircraft, and reduce the amount of time passengers and cargo spend in the air.
This year, the NASA Aeronautics “Dream With Us!” design challenge invites middle school and high school student teams to envision ways to incorporate an emerging aircraft fuel source, liquified natural gas, into the aviation environment. Learn more
Do you have questions about the challenge? Join a virtual information session on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. EDT.
NASA Moon Base Challenge (Open to high school and higher education)
Registration Deadline: Monday, Jan. 25, 2027
The NASA Moon Base Challenge is a multi-phase competition designed to engage high school and post-secondary student teams in developing solutions for a long-term human presence on the Moon.
The NASA Moon Base Challenge invites high school and post-secondary student teams to design real-world solutions for NASA’s Artemis missions across six technical categories: Power Generation & Storage, Habitat Construction, Life-Support Systems, Surface Mobility, Communication Networks, and Astronaut Safety. Student concepts must address critical lunar constraints while operating with high self-sufficiency and minimal crew reliance.
Across two competition phases, student teams submit a Concept Overview Paper before advancing to deliver a Recorded Pitch Video and companion Presentation Slide Deck. Teams across both the High School and Post-Secondary divisions compete for a share of up to $1 million in monetary awards available to support leading solutions.
For complete competition details, eligibility requirements, and official rules, visit here.
2027 Teams Engaging Affiliated Museums and Informal Institutions (TEAM II) STEM Innovator – Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
Applications Due February 1, 2027, 11:59pm Eastern Time
This opportunity seeks proposals to implement the *TEAM II STEM Innovator* activity, helping address America’s growing STEM talent gap by connecting learners to NASA missions and aerospace careers through immersive, NASA-aligned experiences. TEAM II STEM Innovators serve as regional hubs, building partnerships and strengthening regional STEM and workforce development ecosystems while fostering STEM identity, technical skills, career awareness, and exploration of Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways aligned with current and emerging opportunities in the aerospace workforce and growing space economy.
The primary audience for TEAM II programming is youth in grades 5–8. Secondary audiences include youth in grades 9–12, families and communities, and informal and formal education partners. View the NOFO announcement and webpage for more information.
Key Dates
- Pre-Proposal Webinar 1, optional: November 19, 2026
- Pre-Proposal Webinar 2, optional: January 11, 2027
- Last Day to Submit Questions: January 21, 2027
- Proposal Deadline: February 1, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
- Anticipated Award Notification: June 2027
Request Deadline: Friday, Nov. 6
Contact: hq-nasa-awg@mail.nasa.gov
NASA’s Artifact Program offers your organization the opportunity to enhance STEM education and spark curiosity in future innovators by bringing authentic space artifacts into your classroom or exhibit. Enrich your curriculum with various historical items from NASA’s collection, from spacecraft models and mission equipment to astronaut gear and engineering instruments. Visit the Artifact Module website for details on available artifacts, eligibility criteria, and the application process.
Scholarships Now Available for MSTA 2027
Applications due December 4, 2026
Don’t let funding hold you back from participating in 2027 MSTA Annual Conference in Kalamazoo, March 5-6, 2027. MSTA offers scholarships for teachers and pre-service teachers! These scholarships cover conference registration (1-2 days) and include a one-year MSTA membership. Apply today to elevate your teaching skills, gain valuable insights, and connect with a diverse community of curiosity cultivators. Applications will be accepted until December 4, 2026, and all scholarship winners will be notified by December 11, 2026. Questions can be sent to events@msta-mich.org
ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
NASA STEM Gateway Opportunities
Calling all Space Grant students, educators, researchers, and faculty! If you are looking to get involved in hands-on research, mission-driven design challenges, or career-building experiences with NASA, it’s time to check out the latest listings on the NASA STEM Gateway Opportunities portal.
NASA has active engagement opportunities available across undergraduate, graduate, and pre-college levels, including:
-
NASA SUITS Challenge: Software and user-interface design for future Moon Base and lunar surface exploration missions.
-
Micro-g NExT Challenges: Practical spaceflight hardware engineering, including the Lunar Adjustable Multipurpose Stand and Cable Management Tool.
-
NASA ORBIT: Multidisciplinary challenges bridging research, business, and innovation for undergraduate and graduate students.
-
NASA Career Technical Education (CTE) Days: Virtual and in-person professional development sessions hosted by Glenn Research Center, Johnson Space Center, Goddard Space Flight Center, and Kennedy Space Center.
-
Dream with Us Design Challenge: Aeronautics and clean-energy flight design projects tailored for middle and high school students.
-
Open Science 101 & Open Science Essentials: Open-access research modules designed to build modern, data-driven scientific skill sets.
Surprisingly STEM LIVE Session
- Registration Deadline: Wednesday, November 25, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET)
- Live Event Date: Thursday, December 3, 2026 (1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. ET)
“Surprisingly STEM: Powering the Future – Electronics Technicians at NASA” offers an inside look at how skilled technicians build and test electronics for rocket launches, scientific research, and human spaceflight. Participants will hear directly from NASA experts about their career journeys and daily work—from wiring control systems to testing instruments for extreme space conditions—while gaining expert tips for launching an aerospace career in electrical systems, skilled trades, or applied STEM programs. Register here. For any other questions about this virtual engagement, please reach out to hq-virtual-engagements@mail.
NASA Lunar Grounding Challenge
Submissions due Jan 15, 2027, 11:59 PM EST
Submissions are now open for the NASA Lunar Grounding Challenge. NASA is seeking lunar grounding concepts for electrostatic discharge mitigation that safely neutralize an astronaut’s charge before they interact with the lander. You are invited to develop and submit an innovative concept for a lunar bringing to equilibrium capability to safely discharge a suited astronaut from high triboelectric charge buildup during lunar surface EVAs in the South Pole and helping prevent dangerous electrostatic discharge before they interact with a lander. Learn more and register
Issues 1-9 of NASA’s Astrobiology: The Story of the Search for Life in the Universe graphic novel series are now available through Comics Plus.
Comics Plus is a digital comics platform available through public and school libraries across the country. Readers can access the collection through participating libraries with a library card. The series uses graphic storytelling to explore the history of astrobiology and the scientific questions behind the search for life beyond Earth. Learn more about the series on the NASA Science website.
Clouds are both drivers and products of Earth’s climate, but how does this work on Mars? With just a smartphone or computer, you can join NASA in the search for exotic Martian clouds and help unlock secrets of the Red Planet’s atmosphere. Click here to learn how you can look for the telltale pattern of clouds in graphed data collected by the Mars Climate Sounder, an instrument on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
The Michigan Space Grant Consortium is primarily funded through a NASA Training Grant.
Copyright 2019 Michigan Space Grant Consortium. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | Sitemap
Michigan Space Grant Consortium
Climate and Space Research Bldg. 2455 Hayward St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2143