NASA District of Columbia Space Grant Consortium

09/05/2026

A big thank you to our colleagues at the NASA Nebraska Space Grant Consortium for hosting the Fall 2026 National NASA Space Grant Conference this week! We had a wonderful time connecting, collaborating, and sharing ideas with representatives from NASA Centers and our Space Grant family from across the country. It was great to spend time together and celebrate the incredible work happening throughout the Space Grant community!

09/04/2026

Meet Antonio Becerra, an undergraduate student at American University, and one of our Fall 2026 NASA Interns! Tony and his NASA mentor are working on the following research activity: Office of International and Interagency Relations (OIIR) Internship. Tony will provide assistance for NASA OIIR with a focus on the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Artemis. NASA OIIR serves as NASA’s central liaison, responsible for negotiating partnerships with foreign space agencies, coordinating interagency activities across the U.S. government, and ensuring all international engagements align with U.S. laws and national policy. The office is structured to support NASA’s Mission Directorates by handling the following core responsibilities: International Cooperation, Interagency Coordination, Policy and Compliance, and Advisory Management. We are proud to support Tony at NASA HQ this fall!

09/04/2026

The deadline is fast approaching! High school, undergraduate, and graduate students have until September 5th to submit abstracts for Sigma Xi’s International Forum on Research Excellence (IFoRE) Student Research Competition. Don’t miss your chance to showcase your research, win awards, and connect with peers & mentors. Submit your abstract this week!

Students Student Research Competition at IFoRE ‘26Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society, invites student researchers to submit their work for the 2026 IFoRE Student Research Competition. This year's event will be held virtually, with activities conducted on the Zoom, Whova, and ProjectBo...

09/01/2026

Our colleagues in the Minnesota Space Grant Consortium, working with the Tripoli MN High- Power Rocketry Club, recently announced the 2026-2027 Space Grant Midwest High-Power Rocketry Competition. The fly-off will be held in Minnesota, but this competition is open to college/university student teams from across the nation during the 2026-2027 academic year. This competition is an opportunity for students to design and construct high-power rockets, to be launched in May 2027 from a Tripoli high-power rocket club launch site just north of Minneapolis.
No previous experience in high-power rocketry is necessary to compete! For more information, visit www.mnspacegrant.org.

08/27/2026

A free networking opportunity for STEM students and faculty!

08/25/2026

Join the webinar "Smarter Space: AI and Data Solutions for Lo Earth Orbit"

Build the Infrastructure Behind Smarter Space Missions

Hear from AWS and BAE Systems on the technology supporting AI in low Earth orbit.

Tuesday, August 25| 12:00 – 12:45 PM EDT

REGISTER: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8689010942442091864

There is still time to register for today's live webinar exploring how commercial space companies can implement and scale artificial intelligence across low Earth orbit operations.

Hear experts from Amazon Web Services and BAE Systems discuss the computing infrastructure, cloud capabilities, and data management solutions needed to support increasingly complex missions.

Featured Speakers:

*Nik Ansell, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
*Justin Pierce, BAE Systems

You’ll learn:

*How AI is changing commercial space operations
*What infrastructure is needed to support AI workloads in low Earth orbit
*Best practices for managing and scaling space-based data
*How to build AI-ready architectures as missions grow more complex

08/24/2026

🚀 EARLY MORNING ROCKET LAUNCH ALERT! 🚀

Set those alarms! A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral, Florida tomorrow morning — Tuesday, August 25th at 5:33 AM EST.

Because liftoff is happening right before dawn, sunlight high in the atmosphere will catch the expanding rocket plume, possibly creating a spectacular "jellyfish" cloud effect! 🪼

👀 Where & When to Look:

Mid-Atlantic (DC, MD, VA): Look South/Southeast low on the horizon about 4 to 6 minutes after launch.

💡Tips for Viewing:

Find a spot with a clear view of the southeastern horizon (away from tall trees & buildings).

Step outside 5 minutes early to let your eyes adjust to the dark.

08/24/2026

Opportunity for STEM Undergraduates!

Interested in a career in space, defense or aviation? The Patti Grace Smith Fellowship provides paid internships, scholarships, and executive mentorship in the aerospace industry. This includes disciplines such as engineering, science, policy, and business, journalism and much more. The 2027 application is currently live until October 4th at 11:59pm PT!

Who Qualifies? To qualify for the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship, students must:

1) Currently in an associates or undergraduate degree program

2) Be a US Person (Citizen, Permanent Resident, or a lawfully admitted refugee/asylum seeker legally able to work)

3) Have strong moral character and dedicated to furthering the mission of the program and our community

4) Be at the beginning stages of your aerospace career!

Preference is given to those seeking their first paid summer job in the aerospace industry, however, special circumstances (e.g. military service, or prior experience in a role unrelated to your preferred future path) will be considered.

Why apply? Fellows have the opportunity to intern at over 20 leading host companies, such as Blue Origin, Astroscale, SpaceX, Airbus and more. Each fellowship class also convenes for a 4-day summit during their summer, where they build connections with their cohort and network with top aerospace professionals! In addition to a paid internship and summit experience, fellows are also matched with knowledgeable executive & professional mentors!

Want to learn more? Check out the application portal to see how to apply:

Our award-winning program provides extraordinary undergraduates with their first work experience in the aerospace industry, personalized mentorship, and a cohort of similarly driven and talented students and early career professionals pursuing aerospace careers. We have a proven track record of succ

08/24/2026

Meet Charlie McAdoo III, an undergraduate student at Howard University, and one of our Fall 2026 NASA Interns! Charlie and his NASA mentor are working on the following research activity: Multifunctional Nanosensor Platform. They are developing a highly sensitive and selective gas sensing platform for lunar applications. Charlie will work with the NASA team to characterize various sensors using Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and electrical probing. Charlie will summarize the data, which will aid in the selection of the final chip to be used for the upcoming NASA CLPS mission. We are proud to support Charlie at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center this Fall!

08/20/2026

We are supporting amazing students and STEM programs at American University, our lead institution!

FY26 support from NASA, leading foundations, and other partners expands hands-on research, learning, and career opportunities for students