NASA EXPRESS -- Your STEM Connection for Sept. 17, 2026

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

NASA STEM Engagement International Observe the Moon Night On Saturday, Sept. 19, join observers around the world in learning about lunar science and exploration, making celestial observations, and honoring cultural and personal connections to the Moon. You can participate in this annual, worldwide public engagement program from wherever you are. Visit the International Observe the Moon Night website to find event details, observing tips, Moon resources, events near you, and more. Make a STEM Connection: Fall Equinox Celebrate the autumnal equinox on Tuesday, Sept. 22, marking the official start of astronomical fall in the Northern Hemisphere. Learn more about this special spot in Earth's yearly trip around the Sun with these STEM resources. Crossword: Earth's Seasons and the Sun NASA Space Place: All About Seasons Hands-on Activity: Seasons Greenings Visit the NASA STEM Search to find more activities and resources. Higher Education Opportunities NASA Spring 2027 Pathways Internships Application Window: Monday, Sept. 21 - Friday, Sept. 25 Contact: nasa-internships@mail.nasa.gov   NASA Pathways Internships are a direct pipeline to full-time employment at NASA upon graduation. During these multi-semester federal internships, participants rotate through various assignments and can be converted directly into full‑time civil service roles after they successfully complete the program. Click here to explore available opportunities, find frequently asked questions, and learn how to apply. NASA TechLeap Prize – Orbital Clarity Challenge Virtual Information Session: Tuesday, Sept. 22 Registration Deadline: Wednesday, Oct. 28 Contact: hello@nasatechleap.org   A collaborative effort between NASA's Heliophysics Division, Flight Opportunities program, and Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation, this challenge seeks ideas to advance orbital drag measurements for safer, more predictable satellite flight paths. NASA invites applicants to propose low-cost, scalable approaches that enable proliferated measurements of density, pressure, or drag in low-Earth orbit.   Up to four winners will each receive up to $500,000 to develop flight-ready solutions across three prize phases. Winning teams will also receive an opportunity to demonstrate their solution in orbit at no cost.   Visit the challenge website to read the application requirements, rules, technical guidelines, and evaluation criteria that will be used to assess all valid applications. Watch Astronauts Answer Students' Questions and Apply to Host an In-flight STEM Downlink What is the hardest part of astronaut training? What does launching in a rocket feel like? What happens to trash on the International Space Station? Tune in Thursday, Sept. 24 at 11:35 a.m. EDT to watch NASA astronaut Anil Menon answer these questions and more from students in New Hampshire. Click here to watch the event as it's broadcast live from the space station. Interested in hosting a downlink? Visit the In-Flight STEM Downlinks website to learn how your school, community college, university, or organization can chat with astronauts in space. Proposals are due Friday, Sept. 25. Are You Up for a Challenge? 2027 Drop Tower Challenge – Fluid Shift Proposal Deadline: Monday, Oct. 26 Contact: Ed-DropTower@lists.nasa.gov   Student teams are invited to design and build small devices that utilize wetting properties to create a fluid shift in microgravity. Each test object will be placed with water (and a little liquid soap) in a plastic vessel and tested in the 2.2 Second Drop Tower at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Ohio. The goal of the challenge is for the device to suck in as much water as possible during free fall.   Top performing teams will have the opportunity to present their results in a student poster session at the 2027 meeting of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research.   The challenge is open to students in grades 8-12 at U.S. schools. Click here for competition details and eligibility requirements. Partner Opportunities Webinar for K-12 Educators: Building AI Literacy for Inclusion in STEM Event Date: Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 1 p.m. EDT Register Your American Rocketry Challenge Team Registration Deadline: Dec. 6 at 11:59 p.m. EST Help NOAA Scientists Monitor Hawai'i Bottomfish Population With OceanEYES Available Now 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. 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