NASA EXPRESS -- Your STEM Connection for Aug. 27, 2026

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

NASA STEM Engagement Make a STEM Connection: Launch of NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope NASA's newest deep space observatory heads to space soon! The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is set to launch Sunday, Aug. 30, at 7:26 a.m. EDT. It will lift off on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Make a STEM connection to this exciting mission with the resources below. What Is the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope? Surprisingly STEM Video:  Telescope Engineer Roman Educational Activity Center Coloring Pages: Roman Space Telescope Roman Space Observer Video Game For mission updates and resources, sign up to be a Virtual Guest at the launch. Don't Miss Tonight's Partial Lunar Eclipse Tonight, the Moon passes into the shadow of Earth, creating a deep partial eclipse that will be visible from much of North and South America and parts of Europe and Africa. The partial phase of the eclipse will begin at 10:34 p.m. EDT, with Earth's shadow easily visible as it takes an increasingly large bite out of the disk of the full Moon. At the moment of greatest eclipse, 12:13 a.m. EDT, 96.3% percent of the Moon's disk will be within the central part of Earth's shadow. Learn more with the "What Is an Eclipse?" article for students. Are You Up for a Challenge? Collect Data for NASA During GLOBE's PACE Clouds Challenge Challenge Dates: Tuesday, Sept. 15 - Thursday, Oct. 15 Contact: communications@nasaglobe.org   NASA’s PACE satellite – short for Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem – is entering the phase of its mission when scientists are learning how to use the information it provides to study clouds and aerosols. NASA scientists working on the mission are asking for your help to collect cloud observations when the PACE satellite is passing over your location.   The challenge begins next month, but you can learn more about the campaign at these upcoming virtual events. Meet PACE at today's GLOBE Observer Connect webinar starting at noon EDT. Get observation tips during a volunteer training webinar on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 3 p.m. EDT. This training session will also be offered in Spanish on Friday, Sept. 11, at 3 p.m. EDT. Click here to learn more about the challenge and the PACE mission. 2027 Gateways to Blue Skies Competition Notice of Intent Deadline: Oct. 12 Proposal and Video Submission Deadline: Feb. 22, 2027 Contact: BlueSkies@nianet.org   NASA’s 2027 Gateways to Blue Skies Competition is seeking ideas for innovative airborne platforms for inspecting land-based infrastructure that can be implemented by 2035 with the goal of improving safety, reliability, efficiency, and cost. The competition is open to teams of students from all academic fields and levels (freshman through graduate students) attending U.S. colleges and universities.   Based on reviews of proposals and two-minute video submissions, up to eight finalist teams will each receive $9,000 and advance to Phase 2 where they will present at a forum in May 2027. Winners will receive NASA Aeronautics internships in the academic year following the competition.   Click here to learn more. 2026 NASA Space Apps Challenge Hackathon Dates: Saturday, Nov. 14, and Sunday, Nov. 15 Contact: info@spaceappschallenge.org   Discovery awaits at the 2026 NASA Space Apps Challenge: The Next Frontier! Join NASA and a community of technologists and space science enthusiasts for the world’s largest annual hackathon. You will use NASA and space agency partners’ open data to address the most pressing challenges scientists face in Earth and space exploration. Click here to register for a local event near you or participate in the virtual Universal Event. Virtual Learning Opportunities Virtual Event: NASA’s Career Technical Education Day at Stennis Space Center Registration Deadline: Monday, Sept. 21 Event Date: Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 2 p.m. EDT Contact: hq-virtual-engagements@mail.nasa.gov   Join experts from NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, for a live virtual session designed to introduce students to hands-on technical careers that support the agency’s mission to the Moon and beyond!   Students will explore career pathways that are in high demand at NASA Stennis Space Center, including roles that do not require a four-year degree. Skilled trade experts will share their career journeys and highlight the wide range of technical disciplines that power rocket propulsion testing and autonomous systems development.   Registration is open to individual students. Teachers can also register their class to attend as a group. Click here for event and registration details. Partner Opportunities Second Lady’s 2026 Summer Reading Challenge Now Through Friday, Sept. 4 Soar Together Family Day at the Smithsonian: Art in Air and Space Event Date: Saturday, Sept. 12 U.S. Department of Education Careers in Your Community Challenge Submission Deadline: Nov. 19 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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