NASA EXPRESS -- Your STEM Connection for Oct. 1, 2026

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

NASA STEM Engagement NASA SpaceX Crew-13 Set to Launch Soon NASA is targeting no earlier than 11:10 a.m. EDT on Thursday, Oct. 1, for the next launch to the International Space Station. The SpaceX Crew-13 mission will lift off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Crew-13 mission will carry NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov to the International Space Station for a long-duration expedition. What Is the International Space Station? Be a Virtual Guest at the Crew-13 Launch Stay Updated With the Crew-13 Mission Blog Explore Sound With the Astro-Not-Yet Storybook and Activities Get Creative With the Commercial Crew A to Z Activity Booklet Visit the NASA STEM Search to find more activities and resources. Coming Up Later This Month Mark your calendar to stay up to date with these upcoming events to make timely STEM connections! Saturday, Oct. 3: Celebrate National Techies Day by signing up for the NASA Space Apps Challenge.   Sunday, Oct. 4: World Space Week begins! Commemorate the anniversary of the Sputnik I launch by building your own spacecraft. No Earlier than Monday, Oct. 5: Welcome SpaceX Crew-12 home from their stay on the International Space Station with an Eggstronaut Parachute Challenge.   Monday, Oct. 12: Celebrate the start of Earth Science Week by learning about our home planet and making a Stained Glass Earth craft. Saturday, Oct. 31: Create a Halloween pumpkin like a NASA engineer Opportunities for Educators Webinar: 3D Thursdays for Rural Educators – American Rocketry Challenge Event Date: Thursday, Oct. 15, at 8 p.m. EDT Contact: Rachael.Arens@ops.org   Join NASA’s Science Mission Directorate for a monthly series that connects rural educators to resources, networking, and professional development opportunities.   This month’s webinar will share information about the American Rocketry Challenge, the world’s largest student rocket competition. American Rocketry Challenge directors Jessica Pedersen and Caitlin Sullivan will share how you can take part in this yearlong program that challenges students to design, build, test, and launch model rockets that must meet rigorous engineering requirements. Click here to register to attend. Bring Exploration to Your Classroom With NASA’s Artifact Module Request Deadline: Friday, Nov. 6 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. Are You Up for a Challenge? 2027 Human Lander Challenge: Lunar Communications Notice of Intent Deadline: Tuesday, Oct. 20 Q&A Session: Monday, Nov. 16 Proposal Deadline: March 4, 2027 Contact: HuLC@nianet.org   NASA's Human Lander Challenge (HuLC) is asking collegiate teams to help address one of the most critical needs for sustained lunar exploration: reliable communications. As NASA prepares for a robust Moon Base and a long-term human presence on the Moon under its Artemis program, future lunar operations will require resilient communications systems that connect astronauts, rovers, habitats, landers, relay assets, and Earth.   For the 2027 HuLC Competition, teams will develop innovative, systems-level solutions to understand, establish, and optimize lunar communications systems for landers and surface operations that can be implemented within 3-5 years. Potential solution areas include, but are not limited to, hardware, software, and architecture.   Up to 12 teams will be selected to advance to Phase 2, each receiving a $9,000 prize. The top three overall teams in Phase 2 will share a prize purse of $18,000.   Click here to learn more. More to Explore GLOBE North American Phenology Campaign Data Collection Dates: Now Through December Contact: communications@nasaglobe.org   Calling all leaf peepers! GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) invites you to help PACE scientists better map leaf color from space by participating in the North American Phenology Campaign.   There are two ways you can take part: Monitor leaves on individual trees using GLOBE’s Green-Down protocol. Take landscape photos for NASA’s PACE satellite mission using GLOBE’s Land Cover tool in the GLOBE Observer app. Volunteer observations will help verify PACE vegetation color indices. Ready to get started? Visit the campaign website for training, learning activities, and resources. NASA’s Astrobiology Graphic Histories Now Available on Comics Plus   Issues 1-9 of NASA’s Astrobiology: The Story of the Search for Life in the Universe graphic novel series are now available through Comics Plus.   Comics Plus is a digital comics platform available through public and school libraries across the country. Readers can access the collection through participating libraries with a library card.   The series uses graphic storytelling to explore the history of astrobiology and the scientific questions behind the search for life beyond Earth.   Learn more about the series on the NASA Science website. Partner Opportunities Smithsonian Lecture – At Home in Space: Stories from ISS Astronauts Date: Thursday, Oct. 29, at 8 p.m. EDT Become a Planet Steward Application Deadline: Sunday, Nov. 1 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program Application Deadline: Thursday, Nov. 5 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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