National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program
The space-grant colleges are educational institutions in the United States that comprise a network of fifty-two consortia formed for the purpose of outer space-related research. Each consortium is based in one of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico, and each consists of multiple independent space-grant institutions, with one of the institutions acting as lead. Similar programs include sea-grant colleges (instituted in 1966) and sun-grant colleges (instituted in 2003). Objectives. The program claims the following objectives: History. The National Space Grant College and Fellowship  Program was established in 1988 by the US Congress following the success of similar scholarship opportunities in the oceanic Sea Grant and agricultural Land Grant fields. The catch-all term Space Grant refers back to these previous federal programs. In 1989, the program was given over to NASA, which now administers it in the same way that NOAA administers Sea Grant. The first meeting of the National Council of Space Grant Directors took place from January 16, 1990 to January 19, 1990 at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Columbia, Maryland, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada  Flintridge, California. Programs. Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology (BLAST) BLAST is a three-day summer event that takes place at Virginia's Old Dominion University. This free, STEM-centered event, is available to 8th and 9th graders with a 2.3 GPA or better. BLAST's purpose is to show the students the interesting aspects of STEM to those who are unsure whether they want to be involved in STEM or not. Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project The NEBP is a high-altitude, balloon launching program. eXploration Systems and Habitation (X-Hab) 2019 Academic Innovation Challenge The eXploration Systems and  Habitation (X-Hab) challenge seeks better the academic and technological abilities of university students. It utilizes hands-on training in the implementation of space habitats for deep space missions. There is an Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Division where university students can compete to win awards worth $15,000–50,000 for a functional design that the AES finds useful and, or, interesting. John Mather Nobel Scholars Established in 2008, the John Mather Nobel Scholars is a scholarship program open to NASA-Goddard Space Flight. The program provides $3,000 so that a chosen participant can share their research paper with NASA professionals . To be a part of this program, a GPA of 3.5 or higher is necessary along with being a junior or higher. NASA KSC Higher Education Support Services The NASA/Kennedy Space Center Higher Education Support Services supports college grade Higher Education competitions. Such competitions entail internships, senior design projects, and selective grants. National Space Grant Distinguished Service Award The National Space Grant Distinguished Service Award was created by Josh Simpson and is awarded to students who will have an impact in a STEM field related to NASA’s mission/goals. Space Grant Support Services The goal of the Space  Grant Support Services is to better the Space Grant network. The Space Grant Support Services supports the Space Grant network in many different ways from an economical view to a public view. Space Systems Engineering Website The Space Systems Engineering Website is a free, six-week, online course that allows students to work and learn with NASA's engineers. Course materials will always be accessible and students are able to use the learned resources in any way they please. Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Program The Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Program is a one week, online, STEM summer program . The program focuses on NASA-related research provided by NASA's STEM professionals. Virginia Commonwealth STEM Industry Internship Program (CSIIP) The Virginia Commonwealth STEM Industry Internship Program or CSIIP, provides an online internship application system for STEM majors. This was done for the people to meet the increasing demand for citizens with STEM majors. Virginia Earth System Science Scholars The Virginia Earth System Science Scholars is a STEM-centered program where participants participate with NASA's professional researchers. The Virginia Space Coast Scholars (VSCS) program is an online, week long, STEM-centered program that focuses on the study of NASA 's missions. William A Hiscock Space Grant Scholarship Fund The William A Hiscock Space Grant Scholarship Fund was created "in memory of William Hiscock, the former director of the Montana Space Grant." Due to his efforts, many NASA ballooning centered programs were created. Participating institutions. As of 2002, there are over 850 participating institutions. Alabama Space Grant Consortium Alaska Space Grant Consortium Arizona Space Grant Consortium Arkansas Space Grant Consortium California Space Grant Consortium Colorado Space Grant Consortium Connecticut Space Grant Consortium Delaware Space Grant Consortium Florida Space Grant Consortium Georgia Space Grant Consortium Hawai'i Space Grant Consortium Idaho Space  Grant Consortium Illinois Space Grant Consortium Indiana Space Grant Consortium Iowa Space Grant Consortium Kansas Space Grant Consortium Kentucky Space Grant Consortium Louisiana Space Grant Consortium Maine Space Grant Consortium Maryland Space Grant Consortium Massachusetts Space Grant Consortium Michigan Space Grant Consortium Minnesota Space Grant Consortium Mississippi Space Grant Consortium Missouri Space Grant Consortium Montana Space Grant Consortium Nebraska Space Grant Consortium Nevada Space Grant Consortium New Hampshire Space Grant Consortium New Jersey Space Grant Consortium New Mexico Space Grant Consortium New York Space Grant Consortium North Carolina Space Grant Consortium North Dakota Space Grant Consortium Ohio Space Grant Consortium  Oklahoma Space Grant Consortium Oregon Space Grant Consortium Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium Puerto Rico Space Grant Consortium Rhode Island Space Grant Consortium South Carolina Space Grant Consortium South Dakota Space Grant Consortium Tennessee Space Grant Consortium Texas Space Grant Consortium Academic Members Government Members Industry Members Non-Profit Members Utah Space Grant Consortium Vermont Space Grant Consortium Virginia Space Grant Consortium Washington D.C. NASA Space Grant Consortium Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium West Virginia Space Grant Consortium Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium