NASA EXPRESS -- Your STEM Connection for April 9, 2026

Check out NASA's latest STEM opportunities and learning resources.

NASA STEM Engagement Artemis II Mission: Preparing for Splashdown After a successful lunar flyby that took them farther into space than any humans ever before, the Artemis II astronauts are preparing to return to Earth. On Friday, April 10, at approximately 8:07 p.m. EDT, the Orion spacecraft will splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. Keep up with the latest mission updates on the Artemis II website. Artemis II Blog:  Mission News and Updates Where Is Orion? Track the Artemis II Mission Celebrate splashdown with the STEM resources and activities below. Eggstronaut Parachute Challenge Hands-on Activity: Recover a Spacecraft The Astro-Not-Yets Explore Energy Visit the NASA STEM Search to find more Artemis-related activities and resources. Virtual Learning Opportunity Virtual Career Connection: National Apprenticeship Week Registration Deadline: Tuesday, April 14 Event Date: Thursday, April 23, at 1 p.m. EDT Contact: hq-virtual-engagements@mail.nasa.gov   Join us for a virtual event celebrating National Apprenticeship Week by exploring this essential pathway to prepare highly skilled workers contributing to groundbreaking achievements in space exploration.   This virtual career connection event will feature a NASA trade professional who will share insights into apprenticeships in aerospace and space exploration. During this interactive virtual broadcast, they will discuss the hands-on training and mentorship provided by apprenticeships and their potential pathway to building a rewarding career in aerospace.   Click here to register. Are You Up for a Challenge? 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. More to Explore Bring Exploration to Your Classroom With NASA’s Artifact Module Request Deadline: Friday, April 17 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. 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. Partner Opportunities Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Exploring Space Lecture: Humans and Robots on Other Worlds Event Date: Thursday, April 23 Department of Energy: New Mexico Lab-Embedded Entrepreneur Program Opportunity Application Deadline: Saturday, May 9 Institute of Education Sciences Workshop: Data Science for Education (DS4EDU) Application Deadline: Wednesday, May 13 Want to subscribe to get this message delivered to your inbox each Thursday? Sign up for the NASA EXPRESS newsletter at https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/nasa-express. Are you looking for NASA STEM materials? Search hundreds of resources at https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/search. Check out the ‘Science for Everyone’ website! Science starts with questions, leading to discoveries. Visit https://science.nasa.gov/for-everyone. To view the site in Spanish, visit https://ciencia.nasa.gov. Are you looking for more NASA prizes, challenges, and crowdsourcing opportunities? Visit https://www.nasa.gov/get-involved/ to find ways to contribute to NASA’s work. Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email NASA Office of STEM Engagement We are engaging students in NASA’s exciting missions, broad range of careers, and unique opportunities. Visit nasa.gov/learning-resources/  Follow Us on Social Media The National Aeronautics and Space Administration As explorers, pioneers, and innovators, we boldly expand frontiers in air and space to inspire and serve America and to benefit the quality of life on Earth. Visit nasa.gov Follow NASA

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