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Interns at Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops, VA. Credit: NASA

The Exploration and Space Communications (ESC) projects division executes the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Internship Project (SIP) at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. SIP prepares young professionals with the skills, experience, and connections they need to thrive in the workplace. Each intern is paired with a mentor, an expert in their field, who can guide interns to success. Interns work with their mentors to complete a project of measurable importance to further NASA’s mission.

Interested in working on space communications or navigation projects?

Apply for the SCaN Internship Project (SIP) by searching keywords like SCaN. SIP hosts year-around internship opportunities, allowing students to work on semester- or year-long projects.

To learn about other NASA internship opportunities, check out NASA’s STEM Engagement page.

The Intern Impact

SIP interns contribute to ESC in a variety of roles across many diverse disciplines from cybersecurity to public outreach. Intern projects further ESC’s mission, pursuing bold new lines of inquiry and lending fresh eyes to the communications challenges of today. Past interns have enhanced network capabilities, patented unique communications technologies, and improved the efficiency of agency operations.

Many SIP interns go on to work for NASA, furthering the pipeline of new talent to the agency by becoming mentors themselves.

See examples of previous interns’ projects in our Intern Journals, linked below:

Professional Development

SCaN and ESC provide interns with unique opportunities to grow their skills and interact with aerospace professionals. Interns are encouraged to incorporate creativity and curiosity into their processes, enhancing learning and development. They are challenged with new ideas and perspectives. In addition, they have numerous opportunities to network with current and future leaders, building the connections that will define their careers.

Interns leave the program with a better understanding of the unique contributions they can make to NASA and the world at large.

To hear more from previous interns, check out the videos below from past Goddard SIP sessions:

Interns attending a professional development session.

The Exploration and Space Communications (ESC) develops educational activities for a variety of age groups. These activities aim to assist educators in teaching students about the functionality and importance of space communications and navigation. To access more activities, check out the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Student Zone.

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

Feel the Noise

Age: 7 - 10 years old

In this activity, students use everyday metal objects and string to feel sound waves moving through different substances, or mediums. The activity demonstrates vibrations interacting with matter, building fundamentals for further learning about waves, energy and communications.

Download Feel the Noise.

Missed Messages

Age: 10+ years old

This activity challenges students to convey data from one side of a room to another. The task starts straightforward, but gets progressively more challenging as restrictions are added. The activity shows the needs and constraints of space communications, while stretching the engineering imagination of participants.

Download Missed Messages.

FEEDBACK?

Have you tried one of these activities yourself or with a group? We’d love to see any pictures or hear about your experience! Please contact us at gsfc-scan-engagement@mail.nasa.gov.

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