NASA has programs to increase American Indian and Alaska Native engagement in STEM through authentic and unique NASA experiences and access to scientific data. These programs include:
- Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) for American Indian and Alaska Native STEM Engagement (MAIANSE): a program that involves American Indian and Alaska Native students in experiential learning opportunities led by NASA. MAIANSE facilitates American Indian and Alaska Native student internships at NASA and involvement in NASA competitions, workshops, and other NASA experiences, as well as grants and cooperative agreements to tribal colleges and universities or American Indian-Alaska Native organizations.
- Science Mission Directorate, Science Activation program: a program that seeks to connect NASA science experts and content with students of all ages and scholastic levels. This program hosts a range of efforts to advance the goals of enabling science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, improving U.S. scientific literacy and advancing national education goals.
- Earth science data training: NASA leads a number of efforts dedicated to providing training to Indigenous-led land managers on accessing and using Earth science data.
- First Nations Launch: The NASA First Nations Launch competition, an Artemis Student Challenge, offers Tribal Colleges, and Universities (TCUs), Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI), and American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) chapter students, the opportunity to demonstrate engineering and design skills through direct application in high-powered rocketry.