NASA’s Science Activation team spotlighted the research achievements of high school students participating in the STEM Enhancement in Earth Science summer internship program. Guided by aerospace scientists and university researchers, the young scholars investigated complex technical problems related to sustainable lunar exploration and planetary science.
Working remotely and on-site at partner institutions, the student teams analyzed authentic orbital datasets, topographical maps, and lunar imagery acquired by NASA missions. Intern projects investigated hazard-detection strategies for robotic landers, evaluated potential touchdown zones near permanently shadowed polar craters, and modeled the extraction of trapped ice and regolith materials for in-situ resource utilization.
Administered in collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Space Research, the SEES program provides experiential scientific training to cultivate future aerospace professionals. Education coordinators noted that providing secondary students with direct access to mission datasets fosters technical aptitude and inspires the next generation of engineers and space researchers.
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NASA SEES Interns Tackle Real-World Challenges in Lunar Exploration