21 February 2025
Are you thinking about developing your first flight mission proposal in the next few years but have no idea where to start? Are you working or studying in any NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) discipline? If you are a scientist who would like to submit a NASA space mission proposal in the next few years but don’t know where to start, this August workshop is for you! We are interested in expanding the pool of potential NASA space mission Principal Investigators (PIs). There is no fee to attend the in-person workshop.
Ames Research Center, in collaboration with the University of Arizona, the University of Michigan, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC, and the Heising-Simons Foundation, will host the PI Launchpad to guide participants through ways to turn their science and technology questions into a mission concept. Participants will go step-by-step through the process of developing a science case, defining requirements, building a team, securing partnerships, and obtaining support from the home institution. Participants also will have time for networking and personal reflection as they mature their mission concepts.
We are interested in expanding the pool of potential NASA space mission PIs. We will select between 35-40 participants from eligible applicants depending on funding availability and on the merit of the applications.
The Workshop will take place on 11 – 14 August 2025, in Ames Research Center, Mountain View, CA.
Application Instructions can be found on the Launchpad NSPIRES webpage. Applications are due by 7 April 2025 at 11:59p Eastern (8:59p Pacific). All applications must be submitted via NSPIRES. To submit an application, an NSPIRES account is required.
There was a Pre-application Virtual Information Session on 20 February 2025. A recording and slides can be found on the NSPIRES page under Other Documents.
Please email questions to the 2025 NASA PI Launch Pad Organizers at this shared address hq-smd-piworkshop@mail.nasa.gov. Do NOT submit ANY applications or other attachments to this email address. Emails with attachments will be deleted.