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Design Rockets for NASA’s 2026 Student Launch

Design Rockets for NASA’s 2026 Student Launch

Undergraduate teams nationwide will design, build, and fly high-powered rockets in NASA’s Student Launch competition, tackling real aerospace challenges while gaining hands-on experience, mentorship, and the chance to present at Marshall Space Flight Center.

Joseph Sampson
September 01, 2025 • 8 minutes

What’s Happening Today!

Welcome to a daily drop from That Black Chemist!

NASA has officially opened applications for the 2026 Student Launch, a nationwide competition where undergraduate teams design, build, and fly high-powered rockets. Students don’t just launch hardware—they also create scientific payloads, conduct outreach, and compete for top awards that can propel their careers in aerospace.

Meanwhile, researchers studying Marsquakes have uncovered new insights into the Red Planet’s interior. Data from NASA’s InSight mission suggest Mars’ core is smaller and denser than previously thought, reshaping our understanding of its geology and long-term cooling history. These findings help scientists piece together why Mars evolved so differently from Earth.

And if you love memes, stay tuned through the end!

Upcoming Opportunities

🚀 NASA Student Launch 2026: Design, Build, and Launch High-Powered Rockets

NASA’s annual Student Launch Challenge invites middle school, high school, and university teams to design, build, and fly rockets carrying scientific or engineering payloads. Celebrating its 26th anniversary, the 2026 competition draws inspiration from the Artemis missions, challenging university teams to create a habitat for “STEMnauts” and test soil for agricultural research.

📅 Program Details

Proposal Deadline: September 22, 2025
Competition Dates: April 22–25, 2026
Location: Bragg Farms, Toney, AL (near NASA Marshall Space Flight Center)
Duration: 9-month design cycle with milestone reviews
Register Here: [Website]

✅ Eligibility

Open to U.S. middle school, high school, college, and university teams
Teams must submit proposals and pass design/readiness reviews
Multidisciplinary student collaboration encouraged

⚠️ Bonus Opportunities You Should Know

🧪 NSF REU Summer Research Programs: List of funded undergrad research programs. (Search here)
🎓 Zintellect: List of scholarships, research fellowships, and internship opportunities funded by the U.S. government or private sector. (Search here)
💰 NASA OSTEM Internships: List of NASA Internships for high school and undergraduate STEM students. (More info)
🪖 Department of Defense (DoD) SMART Scholarship: $30,000-$46,000 scholarship awarded to top STEM students. (Link)

🌍 International Opportunities

🧲 Pathways to Science: List of upcoming internships, scholarships, and research programs hosted by any country [open to international students]. (Search here)
🔬 Amgen Scholars Program: Prestigious summer research program for undergraduate students in the U.S., Europe, or Asia. (More info)
⚛️ European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN): Search for any upcoming internships related to chemistry, physics, engineering, or data science! (Link here)

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Scientist’s Scroll

🌋 NASA Marsquakes Reveal Ancient Impact Fragments Hidden in the Planet’s Mantle

Data from NASA’s retired InSight lander has uncovered giant fragments of a massive asteroid impacts 4.5 billion years ago that’s still lodged deep within Mars’ mantle. These lumps, some as large as 2.5 miles across, were detected through seismic signals recorded by InSight’s ultra-sensitive seismometer before the mission ended in 2022.

Unlike Earth, Mars lacks plate tectonics to churn and recycle its interior. As a result, these ancient impact scars remain preserved, offering scientists a unique “time capsule” of early planetary history. The findings suggest Mars’ mantle has evolved sluggishly over billions of years, holding onto fine structural details that Earth would have erased.

By studying how marsquake waves slowed and scrambled as they passed through these buried fragments, scientists not only confirmed their existence but also gained insight into how colossal impacts shaped the Red Planet’s interior—and possibly other rocky worlds like Venus and Mercury.

🔗 Read the full article here —>

Tip of the Day

💡 Work on Projects You Enjoy & See Purpose In

The best projects aren’t just finished—they fuel your curiosity and keep you motivated. Here’s how to choose and sustain work that matters:

Follow Your Energy: Pay attention to tasks that feel exciting instead of draining. That spark is often a signal of long-term potential.
Connect to Purpose: Ask yourself how the project contributes to your growth, your community, or a bigger scientific or social question.
Set Meaningful Milestones: Break down the project into goals that feel rewarding to hit, not just boxes to check.
Balance Passion with Practicality: It’s okay if not every task is fun but make sure enough of the project aligns with your interests to keep momentum.
Reflect & Recalibrate: Regularly check if the project still feels purposeful. If not, adjust your direction before burnout sets in.