5 min read<\/p>\n
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"High](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/jsc2024e054864.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nTexas High School Aerospace Scholars get a virtual view of an extravehicular activity (EVA) suit in testing at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston.<\/div>\n Photo credit: NASA\/Helen Arase Vargas<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nExplore the universe this fall without leaving your classroom through live virtual engagements with NASA space and aviation experts. NASA is offering a new lineup of stellar virtual experiences to spark STEM excitement and connect students with the agency\u2019s missions, science, careers, and more.<\/p>\n
The virtual engagements, managed by NASA\u2019s Next Gen STEM<\/a> project, are free to join and open to both formal and informal education groups. These options are sure to launch your students\u2019 love of STEM:<\/p>\nNASA Back-to-School Career Day (Grades K-12)<\/strong><\/h3>\nOn Sept. 26, NASA is hosting a Back-to-School Career Day<\/a> showcasing a variety of NASA careers with virtual tours of agency facilities, live Q&A with experts, and more.<\/p>\nOpen to K-12 formal and informal education organizations, the registration deadline is Thursday, Sept. 5. In addition to the live event, the interactive platform will be available from Monday, Sept. 23, through Friday, Sept. 27.<\/p>\n
Europa Clipper Launch Virtual Watch Party (All Grade Levels)<\/strong><\/h3>\nNASA\u2019s Europa Clipper<\/a> spacecraft is scheduled to launch no earlier than Oct. 10 on a mission to investigate whether Jupiter\u2019s icy moon, Europa, could contain the building blocks needed to support life. The launch window opens on Oct. 10 during the school day at 12:32 p.m. EDT, and your classroom can be part of this pioneering mission. Sign up to watch the launch online<\/a>, visit Europa Clipper\u2019s Participation Hub<\/a> for more opportunities, and find additional resources on Europa Clipper\u2019s Kids Resources Hub<\/a>.<\/p>\nNQuest Virtual Workshops (Grades 6-8)<\/strong><\/h3>\nNQuest<\/a> offers 45-minute virtual workshops every Monday and Thursday. Available on a first-come, first-served basis, these free workshops include a live presentation, captivating NASA videos, and a hands-on activity to bring STEM concepts to life. All you need is a laptop, projector, and basic classroom supplies. Workshops can be scheduled to fit your school\u2019s bell schedule between 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. EDT. Register your class by Oct. 11.<\/p>\n\u201cAstro-Not-Yets\u201d Virtual Classroom Connections (Grades K-4)<\/strong><\/h3>\nIntroduce your students to the Astro-Not-Yets<\/a>, a series of short stories that teach students about NASA\u2019s Commercial Crew Program. In each of these monthly virtual events, a NASA expert whose job relates to the story will read the book to students, then answer their questions.<\/p>\n\n- Wednesday, Oct. 23: The Astro-Not-Yets! Explore Sound<\/a>. Students will learn how sound travels and experiment with transmitting sound through a string-cup phone. Registration deadline: Wednesday, Oct. 9.<\/li>\n
- Wednesday, Nov. 20: Astro-Not-Yets! Explore Energy<\/a>. Students will learn how spacecraft safely bring astronauts home from space, then design and test their own system to safely land an egg on the ground. Registration deadline: Wednesday, Nov. 6.<\/li>\n
- Wednesday, Dec. 11: Astro-Not-Yets! Explore Microgravity<\/a>. Students will learn all about gravity, microgravity, and the International Space Station. Registration deadline: Wednesday, Nov. 27.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u201cFirst Women\u201d Virtual Classroom Connections (Grades 5-12)<\/strong><\/h3>\nThis series introduces some of the women at NASA who have made significant achievements in STEM. Students get to hear their stories first-hand and ask them questions in a live Q&A.<\/p>\n
\n- Wednesday, Oct. 16: Meet NASA\u2019s first female launch director<\/a>, Charlie Blackwell-Thompson. She led the launch team during the uncrewed Artemis I mission around the Moon in 2022. Now, she and her team are preparing for the first crewed Artemis mission, Artemis II. Registration deadline: Monday, Sept. 30.<\/li>\n
- Wednesday, Nov. 6: Meet Laurie A. Grindle and learn about NASA\u2019s first X-43A Guinness world record<\/a>. Today, Grindle is deputy center director at NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, but in 2004, the X-43A aircraft she and her team developed set the Guinness World Record for \u201cthe fastest air-breathing aircraft\u201d twice in one year. Registration deadline: Monday, Oct. 21.<\/li>\n
- Wednesday, Dec. 4: Meet Dr. Ruth Jones, NASA\u2019s 2024 Wings of Excellence Awardee<\/a>. Jones will share her experience as a woman in STEM and tell students what it was like to become the first woman to earn a bachelor\u2019s degree in physics from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Registration deadline: Monday, Nov. 18.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Surprisingly STEM Career Explorations Virtual Events (Grades 5-12)<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe Surprisingly STEM<\/a> video series highlights some of NASA\u2019s many unexpected careers. In these events, experts from the videos discuss their unusual and exciting jobs and share their journeys that led them to NASA.<\/p>\n\n- Thursday, Oct. 24: Soft robotics engineer<\/a> Jim Neilan explains the importance of soft robotics in human spaceflight and some of the role\u2019s critical skills. Registration deadline: Friday, Oct. 18.<\/li>\n
- Thursday, Nov. 14: Exploration geologist<\/a> Angela Garcia takes students behind the scenes of her job training NASA astronauts to explore for the \u201ccrater\u201d good of humanity. Registration deadline: Thursday, Nov. 7.<\/li>\n
- Thursday, Dec. 12: Memory metal engineer<\/a> Othmane Benafan explains how he \u201ctrains\u201d metal to bend, stretch, and twist when prompted, and how this technology benefits NASA missions. Registration deadline: Thursday, Dec. 5.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Bring NASA Experts Into the Classroom (All Grades)<\/strong><\/h3>\nNASA recently launched NASA Engages<\/a>, a new, database-driven platform designed to connect a wide range of audiences with experts from across the space agency \u2013 both virtually and in person. Available to classrooms from preschool to college, informal education organizations such as libraries and science centers, and other eligible groups, NASA Engages enables educators and group leaders to find inspirational guest speakers, knowledgeable science fair judges, and more.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s More to Explore<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n- Find student challenges, hands-on activities, and more opportunities on the Learning Resources<\/a> website managed by NASA\u2019s Office of STEM Engagement.<\/li>\n
- Visit How Do I Navigate NASA Learning Resources and Opportunities?<\/a> to explore additional platforms and offerings to enhance your STEM curriculum.<\/li>\n
- Subscribe to the weekly NASA EXPRESS<\/a> e-newsletter to discover the latest events, resources, and other opportunities to bring NASA into your classroom.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\n\n\nExplore More<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
![\"High](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/jsc2024e054864.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>Explore the universe this fall without leaving your classroom through live virtual engagements with NASA space and aviation experts. NASA is offering a new lineup of stellar virtual experiences to spark STEM excitement and connect students with the agency\u2019s missions, science, careers, and more.<\/p>\n
The virtual engagements, managed by NASA\u2019s Next Gen STEM<\/a> project, are free to join and open to both formal and informal education groups. These options are sure to launch your students\u2019 love of STEM:<\/p>\n On Sept. 26, NASA is hosting a Back-to-School Career Day<\/a> showcasing a variety of NASA careers with virtual tours of agency facilities, live Q&A with experts, and more.<\/p>\n Open to K-12 formal and informal education organizations, the registration deadline is Thursday, Sept. 5. In addition to the live event, the interactive platform will be available from Monday, Sept. 23, through Friday, Sept. 27.<\/p>\n NASA\u2019s Europa Clipper<\/a> spacecraft is scheduled to launch no earlier than Oct. 10 on a mission to investigate whether Jupiter\u2019s icy moon, Europa, could contain the building blocks needed to support life. The launch window opens on Oct. 10 during the school day at 12:32 p.m. EDT, and your classroom can be part of this pioneering mission. Sign up to watch the launch online<\/a>, visit Europa Clipper\u2019s Participation Hub<\/a> for more opportunities, and find additional resources on Europa Clipper\u2019s Kids Resources Hub<\/a>.<\/p>\n NQuest<\/a> offers 45-minute virtual workshops every Monday and Thursday. Available on a first-come, first-served basis, these free workshops include a live presentation, captivating NASA videos, and a hands-on activity to bring STEM concepts to life. All you need is a laptop, projector, and basic classroom supplies. Workshops can be scheduled to fit your school\u2019s bell schedule between 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. EDT. Register your class by Oct. 11.<\/p>\n Introduce your students to the Astro-Not-Yets<\/a>, a series of short stories that teach students about NASA\u2019s Commercial Crew Program. In each of these monthly virtual events, a NASA expert whose job relates to the story will read the book to students, then answer their questions.<\/p>\n This series introduces some of the women at NASA who have made significant achievements in STEM. Students get to hear their stories first-hand and ask them questions in a live Q&A.<\/p>\n The Surprisingly STEM<\/a> video series highlights some of NASA\u2019s many unexpected careers. In these events, experts from the videos discuss their unusual and exciting jobs and share their journeys that led them to NASA.<\/p>\n NASA recently launched NASA Engages<\/a>, a new, database-driven platform designed to connect a wide range of audiences with experts from across the space agency \u2013 both virtually and in person. Available to classrooms from preschool to college, informal education organizations such as libraries and science centers, and other eligible groups, NASA Engages enables educators and group leaders to find inspirational guest speakers, knowledgeable science fair judges, and more.<\/p>\nNASA Back-to-School Career Day (Grades K-12)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Europa Clipper Launch Virtual Watch Party (All Grade Levels)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
NQuest Virtual Workshops (Grades 6-8)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\u201cAstro-Not-Yets\u201d Virtual Classroom Connections (Grades K-4)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
\u201cFirst Women\u201d Virtual Classroom Connections (Grades 5-12)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
Surprisingly STEM Career Explorations Virtual Events (Grades 5-12)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
Bring NASA Experts Into the Classroom (All Grades)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
There\u2019s More to Explore<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
Explore More<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n