10 Best NASA Summer Internships for College Students
If you’re a college student looking to boost your resume and get a head start in your career, an internship is a great way to gain hands-on experience in your field. If your field happens to be space science, aerospace engineering, or earth science, you’ll probably want to check out opportunities at a place like NASA. We’ve compiled a list of 10 NASA internships for college students worth exploring. These internships are an excellent way to build career-ready skills at the prestigious space agency. Let’s dive in!
1. The NASA Pathways Intern Employment Program
If you're looking for a long-term, paid internship that could lead to a full-time job at NASA after graduation, the Pathways IEP is the clearest route in. You’ll work across multiple semesters while enrolled in school, contributing to projects at one of NASA’s centers. As long as you complete at least 480 work hours before graduating and meet performance expectations, you’re eligible for direct conversion into a civil service role.
Location: NASA centers across the U.S. (such as Johnson, Goddard, Kennedy, Ames, etc.)
Cost/Stipend: Paid (hourly rate; varies by location and education level)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive; no fixed cohort size, depends on agency needs
Program Dates: Varies by position; many interns work year-round while in school
Application Deadline: Rolling; opportunities appear throughout the year on USAJOBS.gov
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens age 16 and up who are enrolled at least half-time in a qualifying academic program with a minimum 2.9 GPA.
2. Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) Summer Intern Program in Planetary Science
As an LPI intern, you’ll spend ten weeks in Houston working alongside scientists from the Lunar and Planetary Institute or NASA Johnson Space Center on a research project in planetary science. Whether you're analyzing planetary samples, modeling surface processes, or helping interpret data from space missions, you’ll be doing meaningful work. This internship will provide you with research experience, professional mentorship, and an understanding of what a career in planetary science entails.
Location: Houston, Texas (Lunar and Planetary Institute or NASA Johnson Space Center)
Cost/Stipend: Paid (includes stipend and travel/housing support)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Around 12–15 students selected annually; highly selective
Program Dates: June 2–August 8 (10 weeks)
Application Deadline: December 12
Eligibility: Open to undergraduates with at least 50 semester hours completed by the start of the program. Preferred majors include physical and natural sciences, engineering, computer science, and math.
3. NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) Internships
If you're interested in climate science, planetary research, or space studies, GISS offers a small number of internships throughout the year. Many summer positions are part of NASA’s Climate Change Research Initiative (CCRI), where you’ll join a research team of students and faculty working under the guidance of a GISS scientist. Some positions are based at NASA GISS in New York, while others are hosted at regional partner institutions. Interns may work in person or remotely, depending on the project.
Location: Primarily New York City (NASA GISS) or nearby institutions; some roles remote
Cost/Stipend: Paid (stipend varies based on education level and hours)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~20 interns in summer, ~12 in fall and spring; highly selective
Program Dates: Summer (typically June–August); other terms available in fall and spring
Application Deadline: Varies by term; summer deadlines typically in February
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens currently enrolled in a high school, undergraduate, or graduate program with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Some projects require you to live within 50 miles of a NASA site; others allow remote work.
4. Firefly Embedded Software Internship
As a Firefly Embedded Software intern, you’ll work on real launch systems by building, testing, and debugging embedded code for space vehicles. With support from engineers and mentors, you'll gain experience developing and integrating hardware/software components and contributing to automated build and test systems. You will deepen your understanding of spacecraft control systems. If you have experience with Arduinos or Raspberry Pis and enjoy coding in C/C++ or Python, this internship allows you to apply those skills to aerospace systems.
Location: Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston, Texas
Cost/Stipend: Paid (competitive stipend; housing/travel support not specified)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; small, technically focused cohort
Program Dates: June–August
Application Deadline: May 16
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens currently enrolled in a bachelor’s or graduate program in computer science, electrical/computer engineering, or a related field. You’ll need experience programming in C/C++ and scripting languages like Python or Shell, and a background in embedded systems or digital logic is highly preferred.
5. JPL Summer Internship Program
In this program, you’ll spend ten weeks at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory working full-time on a research project guided by a JPL scientist or engineer. Whether you’re coding simulations, analyzing data, or testing hardware, you’ll be contributing to NASA missions while developing technical skills and building professional relationships. You’ll also join other interns in enrichment activities like facility tours, lectures, and career workshops hosted by the JPL Education Office.
Location: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California
Cost/Stipend: Paid (monthly stipend; travel and housing support available if you live 50+ miles from JPL)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; large intern cohort across disciplines
Program Dates: 10 weeks, starting in May or June
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who are enrolled in undergraduate or graduate STEM programs at accredited U.S. institutions, with a minimum 3.0 GPA. You must be available full-time for at least 10 weeks during the summer.
6. NASA Center Events and SFA Internship
If you're an undergraduate with an eye for detail and a deep interest in space and organizing things, this internship places you in the heart of NASA KSC’s Center Events team. You’ll help plan and execute ceremonies that celebrate mission milestones and workforce achievements, from safety awards to major launches. Expect to coordinate with various departments, prepare event materials, and contribute to events that boost center-wide morale. This internship provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse into NASA’s human spaceflight culture.
Location: NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Cost/Stipend: Paid (rate varies based on academic level and hours; no relocation or housing provided)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Small team; selective based on fit and communication skills
Program Dates: June-August (exact dates flexible within registration window)
Application Deadline: May 16
Eligibility: U.S. undergraduate students enrolled at least half-time in a degree program.
7. NASA International Internship (NASA I²)
The NASA I² internship program offers you a unique opportunity to gain global experience by working on international missions and projects that align with NASA's goals. You’ll collaborate with multinational teams, enhancing your cultural awareness and contributing to NASA’s scientific and engineering advancements. This program is designed for STEM students seeking to expand their career prospects while working on cutting-edge space exploration projects.
Location: Varies by session; positions available at various NASA centers with international collaborations
Cost/Stipend: Paid (stipend varies by session and location; no housing or travel provided)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive; session-specific selection
Program Dates: Spring, Summer, or Fall (dates vary by session)
Application Deadline: Varies by session (spring deadline typically in December)
Eligibility: Open to U.S. undergraduate and graduate students majoring in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) with a focus on NASA’s mission priorities. Applicants must maintain high academic standing, have a demonstrated interest in the U.S. space program, and communicate proficiently in English.
8. NASA Space Microbiology Modeling Internship
In this internship at NASA Ames Research Center, you’ll use computational modeling to explore how microbial populations live, die, metabolize, and evolve under extreme space-relevant conditions like microgravity and deep-space radiation. Depending on your background, you could explore population dynamics, environmental interactions, or the role of phenotypic diversity in microbial resilience. You’ll join a small research team that values curiosity and an interdisciplinary approach. If you’re interested in creating STEM outreach materials for K–12 or college students, that’s a bonus.
Location: Ames Research Center (ARC), Moffett Field, California
Cost/Stipend: Paid (stipend varies by academic level; housing/travel not included)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Small, selective research cohort matched by skillset
Program Dates: June-August (exact dates flexible within internship window)
Application Deadline: May 16
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs.
9. Lunar Surface Navigation Systems Internship
In this internship, you’ll work on designing, developing, and testing surface navigation systems for lunar missions. You’ll experiment with off-the-shelf components like inertial measurement units, real-time imagery, and radio references to explore how future astronauts might move safely and accurately across the Moon’s surface. The role combines software development (primarily in Python and MATLAB) with the integration and testing of sensors and electronics, as well as performance analysis through post-processing of data from simulated lunar environments.
Location: Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), Huntsville, Alabama
Cost/Stipend: Paid (stipend based on education level; housing and travel not included)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; small technical team based on background fit
Program Dates: June-August
Application Deadline: May 16
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens enrolled in undergraduate or graduate STEM programs. You should be comfortable programming in Python and MATLAB, and familiar with navigation concepts (like inertial systems or Kalman filtering).
10. KSC Integrated Management System Office Intern
If you're organized, tech-savvy, and curious about how NASA keeps its internal operations aligned with big-picture goals, this internship at Kennedy Space Center could be a great fit. You’ll support the Integrated Management System (IMS) team, helping manage and update electronic documentation that guides how the center operates everything from environmental safety protocols to strategic planning and business systems integration. You will work with tools such as SharePoint, Microsoft Office, and cloud platforms. You may also explore web development and process modeling tools, such as TechDoc or iGrafx. You’ll get to know how the backbone of NASA’s business systems works and maybe even contribute to STEM engagement or communications projects across the center!
Location: In-person at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida
Cost/Stipend: Paid (stipend varies by academic level; housing and travel not included)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; small team
Program Dates: June–August
Application Deadline: May 16
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs. Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office, particularly in SharePoint, Word, and Excel, are required. Familiarity with documentation editing, cloud platforms, and general office tech is important.
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