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NASA 2026 Human Lander Challenge

NASA’s Human Lander Challenge (HuLC) is an initiative supporting its Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate’s (ESDMD’s) efforts to explore innovative solutions for a variety of known technology development areas for human landing systems (HLS). Landers are used to safely ferry astronauts to and from the lunar surface as part of the mission architecture for NASA’s Artemis campaign. Through this challenge, college students contribute to the advancement of HLS technologies, concepts, and approaches. Improvements in these technology areas have the potential to revolutionize NASA’s approach to space exploration, and contributions from the academic community are a valuable part of the journey to discovery. HuLC is open to teams comprised of full-time or part-time undergraduate and/or graduate students at an accredited U.S.-based community college, college, or university. HuLC projects allow students to incorporate their coursework into real aerospace design concepts and work together in a team environment. Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged.

Award: $126,000 in total prizes

Open Date: August 29, 2025

Close Date: March 4, 2026

For more information, visit: https://hulc.nianet.org/

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Sarah Douglas

Lydia Rodriguez Builds a Career of Service and Support at NASA 

Lydia Rodriguez is an office administrator in the Flight Operations Directorate’s Operations Division and Operations Tools and Procedures Branch at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. 

Over nearly two decades, she has supported nine organizations, helping enable NASA’s missions and forming lasting relationships along the way. 

“I’ve had the opportunity to meet many different people at NASA who have become like family,” Rodriguez said. “I enjoy the culture and building relationships with people from all walks of life. I have learned so much from each person I’ve met and worked alongside.” 

Her path to NASA began in high school, when her parents encouraged her to apply for a part-time Office Education student position at Johnson. That early opportunity gave her a glimpse into the agency’s culture — one that would inspire her to stay. 

Rodriguez takes pride in the practical support she has provided to her colleagues. She spent years in the Engineering Travel Office, helping team members plan their travel around the world. In 2013, the team was honored with a Group Achievement Award. 

“I am proud of being confident and able to help others with their bookings and questions,” Rodriguez said. 

Her NASA career has also taught her important lessons. Change has been a constant since she joined the center in 2008, and she has learned to adapt. 

One of the greatest challenges came after Hurricane Harvey in 2017, when her home was flooded. Rodriguez learned to ask for support and leaned on employee resources at Johnson. 

“I’ve learned that I am a resilient individual who takes on new challenges often,” she said. “What has helped me overcome obstacles is focusing on the mission and showing compassion toward people. We are all here for a reason and a purpose, and together we can accomplish greater things.” 

To the Artemis Generation, Rodriguez hopes to pass on the excitement of being part of the next frontier of space exploration. 

“Take full advantage of the opportunities and resources available,” she said. “Meet new people, ask for help, never stop learning, growing, and contributing your experiences. Hopefully it will inspire others to do the same.” 

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Sumer Loggins

What’s Up: September 2025 Skywatching Tips from NASA

Saturn’s spectacle, a Conjunction, and the Autumnal Equinox

Saturn shines throughout the month, a conjunction sparkles in the sky, and we welcome the autumnal equinox. 

Skywatching Highlights

• All of September: Saturn is visible
• Sept. 19: A conjunction between the Moon, Venus, and Regulus
• Sept. 21: Saturn is at opposition
• Sept. 22: The autumnal equinox

Transcript

What’s Up for September? Saturn puts on a spectacular show, a sunrise conjunction shines bright, and we ring in the autumnal equinox.

Saturn at Opposition

Saturn will be putting on an out-of-this-world performance this month. 

While Venus and Jupiter shine in the eastern morning sky, the ringed planet will be incredibly bright in the sky throughout September in the eastern evening sky and western early morning sky.

But why is Saturn the star of the show? Well, on September 21, Saturn will be at opposition, meaning Earth will find itself in between Saturn and the Sun, temporarily lined up. 

This also means that Saturn is at its closest and brightest all year! 

Saturn will be visible with just your eyes in the night sky, but with a small telescope, you might be able to see its rings!

Conjunction Trio

If you look to the east just before sunrise on September 19, you’ll see a trio of celestial objects in a magnificent conjunction. 

In the early pre-dawn hours, look east toward the waning, crescent Moon setting in the sky and you’ll notice something peculiar.
The Moon will be nestled up right next to both Venus and Regulus, one of the brightest stars in the night sky. 

The three are part of a conjunction, which simply means that they look close together in the sky (even if they’re actually far apart in space). 

To find this conjunction, just look to the Moon. 

And if you want some additional astronomical context, or want to specifically locate Regulus, this star lies within the constellation Leo, the lion. 

The Autumnal Equinox

On September 22, we mark the autumnal equinox or the official start of fall in the northern hemisphere. 

Astronomically, this is the time when the Sun finds itself exactly above the equator.

On this day, our planet isn’t tilted toward or away from the Sun, and both day and night are almost exactly 12 hours (with a few small exceptions). 

Moon Phases + Conclusion

Here are the phases of the Moon for September.

You can stay up to date on all of NASA’s missions exploring the solar system and beyond at science.nasa.gov.

I’m Chelsea Gohd from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and that’s What’s Up for this month.

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Circular Star Trails

On July 26, 2025, NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers took this long-exposure photograph – taken over 31 minutes from a window inside the International Space Station’s Kibo laboratory module – capturing the circular arcs of star trails.

In its third decade of continuous human presence, the space station has a far-reaching impact as a microgravity lab hosting technology, demonstrations, and scientific investigations from a range of fields. The research done on the orbiting laboratory will inform long-duration missions like Artemis and future human expeditions to Mars.

Image credit: NASA/Nichole Ayers

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Monika Luabeya