Important Dates:

Applications due on NSPIRES: October 4th, 2019

Selections made no later than: October 21st, 2019

Workshop Dates: November 18th-20th, 2019

Workshop Location: University of Arizona Campus, Tucson, AZ

Workshop description:

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD), in partnership with the University of Arizona and the Heising-Simons Foundation, will host Launchpad to guide participants through turning their science question 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 will also have time for networking and personal reflection as they mature their mission concepts.

Are you thinking about developing your first flight mission proposal in the next few years but have no idea where to start? If you are a researcher in any NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) discipline who wants to take your career to the next level but have not yet held a leadership position on mission proposals or large science teams, this is the workshop for you. Join us November 18 – 20, 2019 in Tucson, AZ for Launchpad: an expenses-paid three-day workshop that will teach you the skills to get your mission idea off the ground.

We are interested in broadening the pool of potential NASA space mission PI’s. People with potentially intersecting marginalized identities are strongly encouraged to apply. There is no cost to attend the workshop and travel, meals, and lodging for non-NASA participants will be covered by the Heising-Simons Foundation.

We will select between 35-40 participants from the pool of applicants. For those not selected, we are planning to hold additional Launchpads in 2020 and beyond. Applicants should be currently at US institutions.

More details to come. Please watch https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/pi-launchpad for new announcements.