LPI: Lunar Exploration Summer Intership Program

The Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) is hosting a special summer intern program to evaluate possible landing sites for robotic and human exploration missions. The LPI invites applications from graduate students in geology, planetary science, and related programs. The program is also open to undergraduate students in geology, astronomy, chemistry, and physics with at least 50 semester hours of credit so that they, too, can participate in lunar exploration activities. The goal of this program is to integrate NASA's lunar science priorities with the exploration components of the new exploration program that takes us beyond low-Earth orbit. This will be a unique team activity that should foster extensive discussions among students and senior science team members.

The 10-week program runs from May 29, 2012, through August 3, 2012. Selected interns will receive a $5000.00 stipend to cover the costs associated with being in Houston for the duration of the program. Additionally, U.S. citizens will receive up to $1000.00 in travel expense reimbursement, and foreign nationals will receive up to $1500.00 in travel expense reimbursement.

Please pass this information on to any students who might be interested.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 20, 2012

Applications are only accepted using the electronic application form found at the LPI’s Lunar Exploration Summer Intern website: www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar_intern/

For more information:

Julie Tygielski
Lunar Exploration Summer Intern Program
lunarintern@lpi.usra.edu

Moon design contest for NASA internships

Talented engineering students who have ideas on how future explorers might live on the moon could find themselves working at NASA as paid interns.

The 2010 NASA Moon Work engineering design challenge seeks to motivate college students by giving them first-hand experience with the process of developing new technologies. To participate in the contest, students will submit their original design for tools or instruments that can help astronauts live and work on the moon. Top-ranked students will be offered a chance to intern with a team from NASA's Exploration Technology Development Program.

The Exploration Technology Development Program develops new technologies that will enable NASA to conduct future human exploration missions while reducing mission risk and cost. The program is maturing near-term technologies to help enable the first flight of the Orion crew exploration vehicle and developing long-lead technologies needed for possible lunar exploration missions.

Winning Moon Work contestants also will have a chance to attend field tests conducted by the Desert Research and Technology Studies Program, managed by NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. The program conducts annual tests of new technologies in landscapes that are close analogs of the moon and other harsh space environments.

Students should submit a notice of intent to enter the contest by Dec. 15. Final entries for the Moon Work challenge are due May 15, 2010. All entries must be from students at U.S. colleges or universities. Although non-citizens may be part of a team, only U.S. citizens may win NASA internships or travel awards.

For complete details and to enter the contest, visit: http://moonwork.larc.nasa.gov