Texas Aerospace Scholars Senior Experience
Overview
The TAS Senior Experience is a six-month commitment for high school seniors in which students engage with NASA engineers, technicians, and other professionals while learning about the technical skills needed to manufacture hardware for NASA’s upcoming missions.
The Senior Experience begins with Ignition; an online course focused on research and the development of technical skills that help overcome technology gaps in the development of NASA’s Artemis missions and future Moon Base operations. Students will investigate topics unique to living and working on the Moon such as lunar dust mitigation, extreme thermal environments, and operating in a reduced-gravity environment. Through weekly design challenges, students will develop proficiency in computer-aided design (CAD) alongside communication, collaboration, and project management skills necessary to succeed in a professional environment.
The highest achieving students will be invited to participate in Flight Path, a five-day virtual summer challenge, in which students work in teams to design solutions required for building a sustainable lunar presence under the mentorship of NASA experts.
Top scoring teams from Flight Path are then invited to Slingshot, a residential experience at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where they will manufacture prototypes, participate in exclusive behind the scenes tours, and showcase their designs to NASA professionals.
Eligibility Requirements
In order to qualify, students must be:
- A U.S. Citizen
- A Texas resident
- Enrolled as a senior in a Texas high school
- Interested in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics
- Able to access the internet (from home, school, or a public library)
- Committed to completing a 10-week online course
How to Apply
Complete the following steps to submit an application in NASA STEM Gateway:
- Login OR Create a Customized Profile – Create an account for access to additional functionality and curated experiences.
- The name and email address associated with the account must belong to the student applying for the opportunity.
- When creating an account, students under the age of 18 will be prompted to enter a parent email to receive consent for participation.
- Visit the TAS Ignition Opportunity Page – The opportunity will only be accessible during the active (open) application period.
- Upload transcript from a Texas high school.
- Name should be visible on transcript and match the name on the Gateway account.
- Transcript should show that the student is currently enrolled as a senior.
- Complete the “Expression of Interest” essay to be shared with state legislators.
- Click on the Apply button in the upper-right corner and complete the application.
Check the timeline for important dates.
Timeline and Important Dates
All dates are subject to change.
Nov. 9–Dec. 4, 2026: Senior Experience Application Window
Dec. 7–22, 2026: Acceptance Notification Window
Oct. 27, 2026 at 5 p.m. CST: Senior Experience Information Session #1 | Click Here to Join
Nov. 9, 2026 at 6 p.m. CST: Senior Experience Information Session #2 | Click Here to Join
Nov. 19, 2026 at 5 p.m. CST: Senior Experience Information Session #3 | Click Here to Join
Jan. 11–March 20, 2027: Ignition Online Course
April 2027: Flight Path Student Selections
Week #1 (May 24–28, 2027) or Week #2 (June –11, 2027): Flight Path Virtual Summer Experience
June 2027: Top Team Selection
July 17, 2027: Students must turn 18 by this date to qualify for the Slingshot experience.
July 18-23, 2027: Slingshot Residential Experience
Frequently Asked Questions
Applicant must be:
- U.S. citizen
- Texas resident
- Texas High school senior
- Committed to the six-month program duration, including a virtual summer experience
- Able to access the Internet (home, school, or public library)
Students enrolled in our program can attend any type of school, including homeschool, public, private, charter, and online schools, as long as the school is based in the state of Texas. Proof of enrollment may be requested.
Due to funding, TAS Senior Experience participants must be U.S. citizens and Texas high school seniors. Students who are not U.S. citizens or Texas high school seniors are encouraged to visit the NASA Office of STEM Engagement website to explore a full list of opportunities and resources.
Technical questions regarding the NASA STEM Gateway should be directed to hq-nasa-stem-gateway@mail.nasa.gov.
Questions regarding clarification about program requirements, timeline of the application, or eligibility should be directed to the Texas Aerospace Scholars team at jsc-has@mail.nasa.gov.
Transcripts should show the student’s name and match the name on the NASA STEM Gateway account. Transcripts should verify that the student is a current Texas high school senior. Unofficial transcripts are accepted. Please upload a copy of the transcript to your application on the NASA STEM Gateway.
The Texas Aerospace Scholars team will share the essay from your STEM Gateway application with state legislators to coordinate your nomination. Please ensure your essay captures your interest in TAS in a concise and professional manner. No additional action is required from students.
Award notifications of application acceptance will be sent out via email from hq-nasa-stem-gateway@mail.nasa.gov during the month following the end of the application window. Qualified students will be randomly selected to fill available space in the program until, but no later than the student orientation. To formally enroll in the TAS program, students must accept this offer before it expires. Offers will not be re-extended once they have expired. Once accepted, information about student orientation and course login instructions will be sent via email from jsc-has@mail.nasa.gov.
The TAS Program is a workforce development program, not an internship. Students should not list their participation in the TAS Program as work experience or as an internship on their resume, but rather as professional development training or educational experience.
- November-December: Application and selection process for students.
- January-March: Students engage in online learning and discussion related to technical skills at NASA.
- April-May: Selected students prepare for the summer virtual experience.
- Late May-Early June: Virtual summer experience – Flight Path.
- July: Slingshot, onsite residential experience for top scoring Flight Path teams.
No cost for selected students or educators involved in the program.
Due to the timing of the TAS senior experience, participants will not be eligible to earn high school credit for their participation; However, students will receive a certificate of completion and valuable skills towards a future in aerospace!
For more information about Texas Aerospace Scholars, please email questions to jsc-has@mail.nasa.gov.
