Colleges and Universities

The collected names will be put on an SD card loaded aboard Orion before launch. NASA is inviting the public to join the agency’s Artemis II test flight as four astronauts venture around the Moon and back to test systems and hardware needed for deep space exploration. Participants can download a boarding pass with their name on it as a collectable.

Are you curious about the cutting-edge technologies powering humanity’s return to deep space? From advanced propulsion systems to life support technologies, join us for a virtual event to explore how emerging systems are making missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond achievable. Registration Deadline: Feb. 17

NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate is seeking input from U.S. academic institutions to help prioritize critical technology development needs – known as shortfalls – identified for future science and exploration missions. The shortfall prioritization process may inspire new investments within NASA or spark innovative partnerships with external stakeholders. This initiative also has the potential to unlock emerging commercial opportunities and accelerate growth in the U.S. space economy. Submission Deadline: Feb. 20

The 2026 NASA RASC-AL competition challenges undergraduate and graduate students to push the boundaries of innovation and engineering to develop bold concepts that advance humanity’s ability to live and work on the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Entry Deadline: Feb. 23

Find your place in space with a NASA internship! NASA offers several opportunities for students to undertake meaningful and challenging projects that truly make an impact on humanity. Application Deadline: Feb. 27

Through this challenge, college students contribute to the advancement of HLS technologies, concepts, and approaches. Improvements in these technology areas have the potential to revolutionize NASA’s approach to space exploration, and contributions from the academic community are a valuable part of the journey to discovery. Close Date: March 4

The NASA EarthRISE Developers Academy provides 10-week research opportunities that build the next generation of science and technology leaders through an immersive, experiential model applying NASA Earth observations to real-world challenges. Application Deadline: March 6

Join us for an interactive virtual event exploring how technical trades professionals are essential to advancing cutting-edge research and supporting groundbreaking missions. Get a behind-the-scenes look at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, and hear valuable insights from a NASA expert who will share their career journey. Registration Deadline: March 10

The NASA Postdoctoral Program offers early career and senior scientists fellowships with NASA scientists and engineers. Opportunities relate to missions in Earth science, heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics, space bioscience, aeronautics, engineering, human exploration and space operations, astrobiology, and science management. Application Deadline: April 2

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. Registration Deadline: July 31

Where is NASA in your life? Everywhere! In your car, in your home, in your school, and in the world around you. This year, the NASA Spinoff publication is celebrating 50 years of spotlighting the NASA technologies that improve everyday life on Earth. Check out the latest spinoff technology innovations in the Spinoff 2026 publication.

NASA Student Launch Challenge

NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge

App Development Challenge