NASA ASCEND Program

NASA ASCEND Program

ASCEND is a high-altitude ballooning project funded by the Arizona/NASA Space Grant. It provides a unique opportunity for undergraduate engineering students to apply their skills and prepare for success in their future careers.

Internships for STEM Students:

Join our Phoenix College Team and over 100 Arizona STEM college and university students in designing and flying balloon-launched scientific payloads up to 100,000 ft. in elevation.

  • Gain technical knowledge and practical skills working on a hands-on, relevant, real-world engineering project.
  • Design scientific payload experiments, analyze data, and present findings (annual symposium).
  • Gain exposure to a wide array of electronic, mechanical and software technologies including Arduino and Raspberry Pi microcomputers, atmospheric and flight sensors, communication and navigation radios, computer programming, CAD, 3D-Printing, carbon fiber, PCB design and much more.

 

Student Requirements & Application Materials

Student Requirements:

  • Enrolled in PC STEM courses
  • Must participate over both Spring and Fall semesters
  • Invest 80 hours minimum over 10 weeks and attend mandatory weekly team meetings
  • U.S. Citizen (Paid), Non-Citizen (Volunteer)
  • Programming (esp. Python and C++), electrical, and mechanical design skills are a plus

Application Materials