NASA, the University of Arizona and the Heising-Simons Foundation are organizing a workshop in Tucson, AZ for researchers and engineers who would like to submit a NASA space mission proposal in the next few years but don’t know where to start. We are interested in broadening the pool of potential NASA space mission PI’s. People with 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.

Launchpad applications and instructions on how to apply are available on the NSPIRES page for this opportunity. Applications may be submitted via NSPIRES until 11:59 pm Eastern Time on October 4th, 2019. All applications must be submitted as a “Notice of Intent” via NSPIRES as a self-contained PDF file that includes your name, organization, and contact information. To submit an application, an NSPIRES account is required. To create a new account, please see the NSPIRES User Registration Page.

Additional details are below. Answers to FAQs are available at https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/pi-launchpad.

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:

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.

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.

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.

Please visit https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?solId={DFEE66D5-CBD9-0B17-4BF0-1F2B9D723E9D}&path=&method=init to apply and watch https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/pi-launchpad for new announcements.

Please email questions to hq-smd-piworkshop@mail.nasa.gov.