PI Launchpad: Developing Your First Flight Mission Proposal

Important Dates:

  • Pre-application Information Session: February 24, 2023
  • Applications due on NSPIRES: April 14, 2023
  • Applicants notified of status: May 30th, 2023
  • Workshop dates: July 24-27, 2023

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 or engineers who would like to submit a NASA space mission proposal in the next few years but don’t know where to start, this June virtual workshop is for you! We are interested in broadening the pool of potential NASA space mission PIs. People with marginalized identities are strongly encouraged to apply.

PI Launchpad applications and instructions on how to apply are available on the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System--NSPIRES page for this opportunity. Applications may be submitted via NSPIRES until 11:59 pm Eastern Time on April 14th, 2023. 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.

The PI Launchpad: From Science Idea to NASA Mission

Workshop description:

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.

NASA SMD, the University of Arizona, the University of Michigan, Ames Research Center, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Heising-Simons Foundation will host the PI Launchpad to guide participants through ways to turn 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 PIs. People with potentially intersecting marginalized identities are strongly encouraged to apply. We will select between 35-40 participants from the pool of applicants.

Please watch our PI Launchpage page for new announcements.

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

2023 Launchpad Workshop

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