NASA Internships for High School Students: Which Programs Are Open in 2026
NASA internships for high school students: which programs are open in 2026
NASA runs more high school programs than most students realize. Beyond the main OSTEM internship, there are at least 7 programs specifically available to high school students — from paid summer internships to year-long research programs. Here's the complete list with 2026 deadlines.
All NASA high school programs at a glance
| Program | Type | Pay | 2026 Deadline | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OSTEM Internship | 10-week on-site | Paid stipend | Summer closed; Fall: May 22 | 16+, 3.0 GPA, US citizen |
| HUNCH | School-year classroom | Unpaid | Teacher enrollment | Any HS student |
| GeneLab for HS (GL4HS) | 12-week virtual | Unpaid | March 15, 2026 | Rising juniors/seniors |
| SEES (UT Austin) | 2-week on-site | Free (housing included) | February 22, 2026 | Sophomores/juniors |
| TX Aerospace Scholars (HAS) | Year-long hybrid | Free | Aug/Sep 2026 | TX residents, grade 11 |
| Goddard GISS | 6-week summer | Varies | Late spring | Grades 10–12 |
| N3 Neurodiversity Network | Summer | $1,000 stipend | March 1, 2026 | Neurodivergent students |
OSTEM: the main paid internship
The Office of STEM Engagement runs NASA's internship portal at stemgateway.nasa.gov. You create a profile, select up to 15 preferred projects, and NASA mentors browse applications and contact candidates directly.
Key details:
- Minimum 16 years old, US citizen, 3.0+ GPA
- Summer sessions are 10 weeks; fall and spring are 15 weeks
- Paid stipend based on academic level
- Fall 2026 deadline: May 22, 2026
OSTEM acceptance rates are often below 10%. Apply the day the window opens — mentors start selecting immediately, not at the deadline.
HUNCH: build real ISS hardware
NASA HUNCH is in its 23rd year with 551+ classroom programs in 34 states. Over 4,123 student-created items have flown to the International Space Station. Nine tracks are available: Culinary, Software (AI/ML, robotics), Biomedical Science, Hardware, Flight Configuration, Design & Prototyping, Video & Media, NASA HUNCH Academy, and Sewn Flight Articles.
This is a school-integrated program — teachers enroll through nasahunch.com, not individual students. If your school doesn't participate, ask a STEM teacher to register.
GeneLab for High Schools
A 12-week virtual summer program (June 1 – August 28, 2026) at NASA Ames. Students analyze real spaceflight biology data from NASA's GeneLab open science platform.
- Rising juniors/seniors with 3.0+ GPA and a biology course completed
- Free, ~20 hours/week commitment
- Applications open February 15, close March 15 (or when 1,000 applications received)
SEES: on-site Earth science research
The STEM Enhancement in Earth Science program, run with UT Austin's Center for Space Research. Remote work June through July 3, then on-site internship July 5–18, 2026 in Austin, TX. Housing, meals, and transportation provided for free.
- Current sophomores or juniors, 16+, US citizen
- Application deadline: February 22, 2026
Budget update: programs survived
The Trump administration's FY2026 budget proposed eliminating OSTEM entirely ($143M to $0). Congress rejected this — the final bill restored $143 million in OSTEM funding, including $58M for Space Grant, $45.5M for MUREP, $26M for EPSCoR, and $13.5M for Next Gen STEM. Programs are operating normally for 2026, though future fiscal years remain uncertain.
NASA is the most accessible space employer for high school students. Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman offer limited high school programs, but require commuting distance to a facility. Blue Origin and SpaceX primarily hire college students. NASA's OSTEM, HUNCH, and specialized programs have more slots, more locations, and remote options that industry programs don't match.
How to maximize your chances
- Apply to multiple programs simultaneously. OSTEM, GeneLab, SEES, and N3 are separate applications with no conflicts.
- Target fall or spring sessions. Summer is the most competitive; spring and fall have fewer applicants.
- Target less competitive centers. Glenn (Cleveland), Stennis (Mississippi), and Langley (Hampton) receive fewer applications than JSC, KSC, or JPL.
- Name specific projects and mentors. On STEM Gateway, specificity wins — reference actual programs and research areas.
- Start HUNCH if nothing else. Ask a teacher to register. It builds documented NASA experience for future applications.
Browse NASA positions on Zero G Talent, or see our complete NASA internships guide and NASA internship application guide. For the focused high school breakdown, see our NASA high school internship guide. Compare with Lockheed Martin high school internships, SpaceX internships, or Northrop Grumman internships.
