CEDAR email: 4 DAYS LEFT! 2026 NASA Planetary Science Summer School Applications Due March 23, 2026

[Armijo, Joyce E (US 5510)]

4 DAYS LEFT! 2026 NASA Planetary Science Summer School Applications Due March 23, 2026


Dear Colleague,

I'd like to call your attention to the deadline of March 23, 2026, for application to the 38th Annual Planetary Science Summer School (PSSS) experience at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena CA. I would appreciate your support in getting the word out to grad-level students, post docs, faculty members, and early career scientists and engineers, to help us gather a qualified pool of candidates. Please share the announcement with your contacts who may have an interest or can suggest other qualified candidates to apply. Thanks so much for your support!


Rosaly Lopes/ja
Manager, NASA Science Mission Design Schools
Senior Research Scientist
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
M/S 180-109
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena CA 91109
(818) 393-4584




2026 NASA Planetary Science Summer School (PSSS)
NASA Science Mission Design Schools

Now through March 23, 2026, NASA is encouraging applications for its 38th Annual Planetary Science Summer School. Offered by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, PSSS is a 3-month long early career development experience designed to prepare the next generation of planetary science and engineering mission leaders.  Participants learn the process of developing a science hypothesis-driven robotic space mission in a concurrent engineering environment while getting an in-depth, first-hand look at mission design, mission life cycle, costs, schedule and the trade-offs inherent in each.

Applicants with the following education and career experience are eligible: Science and engineering Doctoral Candidates (advancement to candidacy required), recent Ph.D.'s (up to five years beyond their Ph.D.), Postdocs, Junior Faculty with a Ph.D., and Non-research Engineering Master-level students within six to nine months of graduation will be considered on a space-available basis.

Open to U.S. Citizens and legal permanent residents and a limited number of Foreign Nationals from non-designated countries living with continuous residence in the U.S at the time of application and extending through the full program period.  There is no charge to attend.  We strive to create a welcoming environment where participants' contributions and unique perspectives are valued.

Session 1: Preparatory Sessions May 14 - July 24. | Culminating Week with JPL's Team X July 27 - July 31.

Session 2: Preparatory Sessions May 28 - August 7. | Culminating Week with JPL's Team X August 10 - 14.

PSSS is roughly equivalent in workload to a rigorous 3-credit graduate-level course, requiring an average effort of 10-12 hours per week. Participants spend the majority of the first 10 weeks in preparatory webinars acting as a science mission team, prior to spending the final culminating week being mentored by JPL's Advance Project Design Team, or "Team X" to refine their mission concept design, then present it to a mock review board of NASA Center experts.

To apply and learn more about the NASA Science Mission Design Schools: http://go.nasa.gov/missiondesignschools




[JPL logo]
Joyce Armijo
Program Specialist
55x | Academic Engagement Office (5510)
JPL
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91109
Mail Stop 180-109
M: 626.524.8653
O: 818.354.2337
joyce.e.armijo at jpl.nasa.gov<mailto:joyce.e.armijo at jpl.nasa.gov@jpl.nasa.gov>


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