Program Description

NASA and its partners in academia, industry, and the international community are examining options for a new era of robotic and human exploration using the Orion vehicle and other new assets that are being developed for missions beyond low-Earth orbit. A new program, called Artemis, is scheduled to land two astronauts near the lunar south pole in 2025, followed by a series of crew landings that broaden our exploration of the lunar surface. These and other efforts are contributing to the international community’s Global Exploration Roadmap.

This summer, students will be involved in activities that support Artemis missions to the Moon that utilize the Orion crew vehicle, the Deep Space Gateway, the Human Landing System, and robotic assets on the lunar surface. It is a unique opportunity to integrate scientific input with exploration activities in a way that mission architects and spacecraft engineers can use. Activities may involve assessments of landing sites and traverse plans for multiple destinations that are responsive to NASA objectives.

The Exploration Science Summer Intern Program builds on the success of the Lunar Exploration Summer Intern Program that was designed to evaluate possible landing sites on the Moon for robotic and human exploration missions. Over a five year period (2008–2012), teams of students worked with Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) science staff and their collaborators to produce A Global Lunar Landing Site Study to Provide the Scientific Context for Exploration of the Moon. Student teams also produced a series of influential journal articles (O’Sullivan et al. 2011; Flahaut et al. 2012; Lemelin et al. 2014; Potts et al. 2015; Steenstra et al. 2016; Allender et al. 2019; Bickel et al. 2019; Sargeant et al., 2020; Bickel and Kring 2020; Gawronska et al. 2020; Halim et al. 2021; Czaplinski et al. 2021; Kumari et al. 2022; Tai Udovicic et al. 2023; Peña-Asensio et al. 2024). The program for 2024 is designed to have the same impact on future exploration activities.

This program is open to graduate students in geology, planetary science, planetary astronomy, and related topics. The 10-week program runs from May 28, 2024, through August 2, 2024. Selected interns will receive a $7,050 stipend to cover the costs associated with being in Houston for the duration of the program. Additionally, students will receive up to $1,000 in travel expense reimbursement.

Most work will be conducted at the LPI. The LPI is adjacent to NASA's Johnson Space Center. The Johnson Space Center is home to the human exploration program and the integrated robotic and human systems that are being designed to push exploration beyond low-Earth orbit.

The Exploration Science Summer Intern Program is supported by funding from the LPI and the NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute at NASA Ames Research Center.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

College graduate students in geology, planetary science, and related programs are eligible. Selection is based on (1) scholarship, curriculum, and experience and (2) career objectives and scientific interest. All online application information must be received at LPI no later than January 22, 2024. Notification of selection will be made by early March. Successful applicants should be prepared to make a decision regarding an offer within 3 days of notification.

Applicants will be considered for appointment without regard to race, creed, color, sex, national origin, age, handicap status, or other nonmerit factors. Due to security issues, citizens of U.S. State Department Designated Countries (see link under "ECP Notices" at http://oiir.hq.nasa.gov/nasaecp/) are not eligible.

Application Requirements

You will need to apply using the online application form. Paper applications will not be accepted. Once you begin the application you must complete all of the questions on the form, including essay-style questions. Transcripts and letters of recommendation may be submitted independently, but must be received by January 22, 2024, for your application to be considered.

Effective December 8, all USRA interns must be fully vaccinated (2 weeks past final dose) unless they are entitled to a reasonable and legal accommodation. If you are not vaccinated, please consider getting your COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible.

• Complete the application form. Upon submission you will receive a confirmation e-mail with your application number and a link to an online submission form for letters of reference.
  
  
• Upon submission you will receive a confirmation e-mail with your application number and a link to view the status of your reference letters. You are required to submit three reference letters to qualify for the program.
  
  
• Have your college registrar mail an official transcript to:

LPI Exploration Science Summer Intern Program
Application #:
3600 Bay Area Boulevard
Houston, TX  77058-1113

Or electronic transcripts to: [email protected]

Applications are only accepted using the electronic application form found on this website.

Questions may be directed to
E-mail: [email protected]

Timeline

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is the program open to non-U.S. citizens?
  Yes, the program is open to international graduate students, as well as students from the United States. However, eligibility may be restricted due to security reasons as described in the eligibility section.
• Can participants start the ten-week internship after the program start date?
  Because this is a team activity, all students should be present on the first day of the program.
• When will applicants be notified of their selection?
  We will start notifying applicants March 4, 2024. All notifications should be made by April 4, 2024.
• Who is eligible for the program?
  LPI accepts applications from graduate students in geology, planetary science, and related programs.
• Are undergraduate students eligible to participate in the program?
  No. The program is only open to students currently enrolled in a Master’s or Ph.D. program.
  
• Where will the internship be located?
  Interns will be located at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas.
• What does the REAL ID Act require?
  For more information on the REAL ID Act, please visit the official website of the Department of Homeland Security.

Contact

Publications and Products

Publications

F. McDonald, D. Martin, N. Curran, and A. Calzada-Diaz (2015) Exploring the Moon on Earth.  Astronomy and Geophysics 56(6), 6.31-6.32, doi:10.1093/astrogeo/atv199.

C. S. Venturino, D. J. P. Martin, F. E. McDonald, S. Paisarnsombat, E. S. Steenstra, S. O’Hara, A. Calzada-Diaz, S. Bottoms, M. K. Leader, K. K. Klaus, T. K. P. Gregg, and D. A. Kring (2016) Lunar Pyroclastic Soil Mechanics and Trafficability in the Schrödinger Basin, Lunar and Planetary Science XLVII, Abstract #1676.

F. E. McDonald, D. J. P. Martin, E. S. Steenstra, S. Paisarnsombat, C. S. Venturino, S. O’Hara, A. Calzada-Diaz, S. Bottoms, M. K. Leader, K. K. Klaus, D. Hurwitz-Needham, and D. A. Kring (2016) A Long Duration Human-Assisted Robotic Sample Return Mission to the Schrödinger Basin Part 1: Traversing the Basin Center, Lunar and Planetary Science XLVII, Abstract #1464.

 D. J. P. Martin, F. E. McDonald, E. S. Steenstra, S. Paisarnsombat, C. S. Venturino, S. O'Hara, A. Calzada-Diaz, M. K. Leader, S. Bottoms, K. K. Klaus, D. Hurwitz-Needham, and D. A. Kring (2016) A Long Duration Human-Assisted Robotic Sample Return Mission to the Schrödinger Basin Part 2: Traversing Towards the Basin Wall, Lunar and Planetary Science XLVII, Abstract #1468.

E. S. Steenstra, D. J. P. Martin, F. E. McDonald, S. Paisarnsombat, C. Venturino, S. O’Hara, A. Calzada-Diaz, S. Bottoms, M. K. Leader, K. K. Klaus, W. van Westrenen, D. H. Needham, and D. A. Kring (2016) Analyses of Robotic Traverses and Sample Sites in the Schrödinger basin for the HERACLES Human-Assisted Sample Return Mission Concept, J. Advances in Space Research 58, pp. 1050–1065.

J. J. Ende, E .J. Allender, N. V. Almeida, J. Cook, O. Kamps, S. Mazrouei, C. Orgel, T. J. Slezak, A. J. Soini, and D. A. Kring  (2017)  Landing site assessment for phase of EDSH-Enabled Lunar Missions being examined as an ISECG-GER mission scenario.  Lunar and Planetary Science XLVIII, Abstract #1880.

O. M. Kamps, E. J. Allender, N. V. Almeida, J. Cook, J. J. Ende, S. Mazrouei, C. Orgel, T. Slezak, A. J. Soini, and D. A. Kring (2017)  Exploration of South Polar Region of the Moon: Tele-Operated Traverses.  Lunar and Planetary Science XLVIII,  Abstract #1909.

E. J. Allender, C. Orgel, N. V. Almeida, J. Cook, J. J. Ende, O. Kamps, S. Mazrouei, T. J. Slezak, A-J. Soini, and D. A. Kring (2019) Traverses for the ISECG-GER design reference mission for humans on the lunar surface, Advances in Space Research 63, 692-727.

H. M. Sargeant, V. T. Bickel, C. I. Honniball, S. N. Martinez, A. Rogaski, S. K. Bell, E. C. Czaplinski, B. E. Farrant, E. M. Harrington, G. D. Tolometti, and D. A. Kring (2020) Using Boulder Tracks as a Tool to Understand the Bearing Capacity of Permanently Shadowed Regions of the Moon. Journal of Geophysical Research - Planets 125, 14p., e2019JE006157. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JE006157

V. Bickel and D. A. Kring (2020) Lunar South Pole Boulders and Boulder Tracks: Implications for Crew and Rover Traverses. Icarus 348, 17p., 113850, doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2020.113850, Cover Article.

A. J. Gawronska, N. Barrett, S. J. Boazman, C. M. Gilmour, S. H. Halim, Harish, K. McCanaan, A. V. Satyakumar, J. Shah, H. M. Meyer, and D. A. Kring (2020) Geologic context and potential EVA targets at the lunar south pole. Advances in Space Research 66, 1247–1264.

V. T. Bickel, C. I. Honniball, S. N. Martinez, A. Rogaski, H. M. Sargeant, S. K. Bell, E. C. Czaplinski, B. E. Farrant, E. M. Harrington, G. D. Tolometti, and D. A. Kring (2019) Analysis of Lunar Boulder Tracks:  Implications for Rover Mobility on Pyroclastic Deposits, Lunar and Planetary Science L, Abstract #1587.

V. T. Bickel, C. Lanaras, A. Manconi , S. Loew, and U. Mall (2019) Lunar Rockfall Detection And Mapping Using Deep Neural Networks, Lunar and Planetary Science L, Abstract #1595.

B. E. Farrant, S. K. Bell, E. C. Czaplinski, E. M. Harrington, G. D. Tolometti, V. T. Bickel, C. I. Honniball, S. N. Martinez, A. Rogaski, H. M. Sargeant, and D. A. Kring (2019) Geologic Map and Potential Rover Traverses for Human-Assisted Sample Return Missions to the Schrödinger Basin, Lunar Farside, Lunar and Planetary Science L, Abstract #1790.

H. M. Sargeant, V. T. Bickel, C. I. Honniball, S. N. Martinez, A. Rogaski, S. K. Bell, E. C. Czaplinski, B. E. Farrant, E. M. Harrington, G. D. Tolometti, and D. A. Kring (2019) Determining the Bearing Capacity of Permanently Shadowed Regions of the Moon Using Boulder Tracks, Lunar and Planetary Science L, Abstract #1792.

H. M. Sargeant, V. T. Bickel, C. I. Honniball, S. N. Martinez, A. Rogaski, S. K. Bell, E. C. Czaplinski, B. E. Farrant, E. M. Harrington, G. D. Tolometti, and D. A. Kring (2019) Determining Trafficability of Pyroclastic Deposits and Permanently Shaded Regions of the Moon Using Boulder Tracks, Lunar ISRU 2019, Abstract #5019.

V. T. Bickel, C. I. Honniball, S. N. Martinez, A. Rogaski, H. M. Sargeant, S. K. Bell, E. C. Czaplinski, B. E. Farrant, E. M. Harrington, G. D. Tolometti, and D. A. Kring (2019) Lunar South Pole Boulders and Boulder Tracks: Implications for Crew and Rover Traverses, NASA Exploration Science Forum.

V. T. Bickel, C. I. Honniball, S. N. Martinez, A. Rogaski, H. M. Sargeant, S. K. Bell, E. C. Czaplinski, B. E. Farrant, E. M. Harrington, G. D. Tolometti, and D. A. Kring (2019) Analysis of lunar boulder tracks: Implications for trafficability of pyroclastic deposits, J. Geophysical Research - Planets 124, 1296-1314.

Harish, Venkata Satya Kumar Animireddi, Natasha Barrett, Sarah Boazman, Aleksandra Gawronska, Cosette Gilmour, Samuel Halim, Kathryn McCanaan, Jahnavi Shah, and David Kring (2019) Slope Map of the Moon’s South Pole (85°S to Pole). Map 1, Map 2, and Map 3.

Harish, Venkata Satya Kumar Animireddi, Natasha Barrett, Sarah Boazman, Aleksandra Gawronska, Cosette Gilmour, Samuel Halim, Kathryn McCanaan, Jahnavi Shah, and David Kring (2019) Slope Map between Shackleton and de Gerlache Craters, Lunar South Pole. Map 1, Map 2, and Map 3.

Kathryn McCanaan, Venkata Satya Kumar Animireddi, Natasha Barrett, Sarah Boazman, Aleksandra Gawronska, Cosette Gilmour, Samuel Halim, Harish, Jahnavi Shah, and David Kring (2019) Topographic Contour Map of the Moon’s South Pole Ridge.

Kathryn McCanaan, Venkata Satya Kumar Animireddi, Natasha Barrett, Sarah Boazman, Aleksandra Gawronska, Cosette Gilmour, Samuel Halim, Harish, Jahnavi Shah, and David Kring (2019) Slope Map of the Moon’s South Pole Ridge.

E. J. Allender, C. Orgel, N. V. Almeida, J. Cook, J. J. Ende, O. Kamps, S. Mazrouei, T. J. Slezak, A.-J. Soini, and D. A. Kring (2020) The Shaded Relief Geological Map of the South Polar Region of the Moon.

S. H. Halim, N. Barrett, S. J. Boazman, A. J. Gawronska, C. M. Gilmour, Harish, K. McCanaan, A. V. Satyakumar, J. Shah, and D. A. Kring (2021) Numerical modeling of the formation of Shackleton crater at the lunar south pole. Icarus, 354, ISSN 0019-1035, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2020.113992.

E. C. Czaplinski, E. M. Harrington, S. K. Bell, G. D. Tolometti, B. E. Farrant, V. T. Bickel, C. I. Honniball, S. N. Martinez, A. Rogaski, H. M. Sargeant, and D. A. Kring (2021) Human-assisted sample return mission at the Schrödinger basin, lunar farside using a new geologic map and rover traverses. Planetary Science Journal, 2:51, 23, https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/abdb34.

N. Kumari, J. Bretzfelder, I. Ganesh, A. Lang, and D. A. Kring (2022) Surface Conditions and Resource Accessibility of Potential Artemis Landing Sites 007 and 011. Planetary Science Journal 3:224, 23p.

S. J. Boazman, J. Shah, Harish, A. J. Gawronska, S. H. Halim, A. V. Satyakumar, C. M. Gilmour, V. T. Bickel, N. Barrett, and D. A. Kring (2022) The Distribution and accessibility of geologic targets near the lunar south pole and candidate Artemis landing sites. Planetary Science Journal 3:275, 15p.

C. J. Tai Udovicic, K. R. Frizzell, G. R. L. Kodikara, M. Kopp, K. M. Luchsinger, A. Madera, M. L. Meier, T. G. Paladino, R. V. Patterson, F. B. Wroblewski, and D. A. Kring (2023) Buried ice deposits in lunar polar cold traps were disrupted by ballistic sedimentation. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets 128(5), e2022JE007567, 23 p.

To see publications produced by the companion Lunar Science Summer Intern Program, click here.

Past Program Highlights

Throughout the summer, the teams will have opportunities to visit facilities and observe activities that are part of the lunar exploration program. They will also be exposed to several seminars that are designed to broaden a student’s exposure to lunar science and exploration issues. Although the specific opportunities available will change each year, the goal is to provide a similar set of activities for each summer team. Highlights for each year of the program are provided here:

• Summer Highlights (2008)
• Summer Highlights (2009)
• Summer Highlights (2010)
• Summer Highlights (2011)
• Summer Highlights (2012)
• Summer Highlights (2013)
• Summer Highlights (2015)
• Summer Highlights (2019)
• Summer Highlights (2022)
• Summer Highlights (2023)