CU Boulder's NASA Johnson Space Center Days: September 17-18, 2026
NASA JSC Mission: We go to space to answer humanity's most fundamental questions, to create new economic opportunities, and to improve life on Earth.
Individuals from NASA’s Johnson Space Center will be on campus Thursday, September 17, and Friday, September 18 for 2 days of engaging with students, faculty and staff.
Connect with NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) and discover opportunities for learning, research, internships, and careers.
Join NASA representatives and CU Boulder faculty, staff, students, and postdocs for an engaging discussion about NASA Johnson Space Center, current missions and programs, including the Artemis Program and the International Space Station, and the many pathways available to become part of the NASA workforce.
What You'll Gain
- Students and postdocs: Learn about NASA JSC, internship opportunities, career pathways, and ways to get involved in the broader NASA ecosystem.
- Faculty and staff: Connect with NASA personnel and explore potential research and collaboration opportunities.
- NASA representatives: Discover CU Boulder's research strengths, engage with faculty experts, and meet students and postdocs working in areas aligned with NASA JSC priorities.
Whether you're exploring your first internship, considering a future career with NASA, or interested in collaborative research opportunities, this event offers a unique chance to connect directly with the people shaping the future of space exploration.
Day 1 (Thursday, September 17) is being held on Main Campus in the UMC Glenn Miller Ballroom):
Day 2 (Friday, September 18) is being held at the Smead Aerospace Building:
Please join us!
Thursday, September 17, 2026 @ 9:00 a.m.– 3:45 p.m. MDT
Location:
University Memorial Center
Glenn Miller Ballroom
1669 Euclid Avenue
Boulder, CO 80309
Friday, September 18, 2026 @ 9:00 a.m.– 3:50 p.m. MDT
Location:
Ann and H.J. Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences
Room TBD
3775 Discovery Drive
Boulder, CO 80303
Register now
We welcome all CU Boulder individuals to the following event.
Agenda
DAY 1 – UMC Glenn Miller Ballroom
Morning only: Outreach Tables [EC Lobby, Outside Between Leeds and EC]
Information Table [UMC Lobby]
09:00-09:05: Opening Remarks and NASA Day Logistics [NASA Envoy Team]
Session 1: Welcome to NASA Days [UMC Glenn Miller Ballroom]
09:05-09:50: Keynote Speaker [Dr. Kjell Lindgren, NASA Astronaut] (virtual)
09:50-10:50: NASA Days Launch and JSC Programs and Facilities Overview [Dr. Andrea Hanson, Integration Manager, Commercial Lunar Payload Services Program (CLPS)]
10:50-11:00: Break
Session 2: NASA JSC Programs Overview [UMC Glenn Miller Ballroom]
11:00-11:40: Orion [Aaron Cannon, Orion Program]
11:40-12:20: Moon Base [Cindy Cross/John Lewis, Moon Base Chief Engineers]
12:20-13:00: Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations [Ryan Johns, Deputy Manager, Commercial Low Earth Orbit Systems Engineering and Integration Office]
13:00-13:30: Lunch and Learn: NASA OSTEM Internships [Andrew Monaco, Coordinator, OSTEM Internships]
13:30-14:00: Lunch and Learn: NASA Pathways Internships [Sam Miller, NASA Exchange Deputy Operations Manager]
Session 3: Get Involved with NASA Today [UMC Glenn Miller Ballroom]
14:00-14:30: Opportunities in Space at CU: Space Grant / Space Minor [CU Team]
14:30-15:00: Non-STEM STEM Careers [April Lanotte, Senior Workforce Development Specialist]
15:00-16:00: Panel Discussion: Non-Engineering Employees Contributing to the NASA Mission [Non-Engineering Panel]
DAY 2 – Smead Aerospace Building Room 114/Lobby
Morning only: Outreach Tables [EC Lobby]
Information Table [AERO Lobby]
09:00-09:05: Opening Remarks and NASA Day Logistics [NASA Envoy Team]
Session 1: Welcome to NASA Days [Aerospace Building Rm 114]
09:05-09:50: Keynote: CLPS: Setting the Stage for a Permanent Human Presence on the Moon [Dr. Andrea Hanson, Integration Manager, Commercial Lunar Payload Services Program (CLPS)]
09:50-10:45: Moon Base Habitation [James Johnson, Partnership Integration Manager]
10:45-11:00: Break/Networking
Session 2: NASA JSC Programs Overview [Aerospace Building Rm 114]
11:00-11:40: Orion [Aaron Cannon, Orion Program]
11:40-12:20: International Space Station [Scott Merkle, Launch Vehicle Flight Lead, International Space Station Office]
12:20-13:00: Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations [Ryan Johns, Deputy Manager, Commercial Low Earth Orbit Systems Engineering and Integration Office]
13:00-13:30: Lunch and Learn: NASA Careers Presentation [April Lanotte, Senior Workforce Development Specialist]
13:30-14:00: Lunch and Learn: NASA Internships [Sam Miller, NASA Exchange Deputy Operations Manager]
Session 3: NASA Careers Panel [Aerospace Building Rm 114]
14:00-14:30: POV: A NASA Intern’s Experience [Isabella Trezza, Data and Neuro Engineer Intern]
14:30-15:30: Panel Discussion: NASA Engineering Career Paths [Engineering Careers Panel]
Non-Engineering Panelists:
Melissa Telisky, Business Development Specialist (Mechanical Engineering B.S.)
Agnar Hall, Mission Control Center Systems Test Engineer (Astrophysics B.S., Astronomy M.S.)
Anna Morgenthaler (Operational Psychology)
William Foley, Habitability and Human Factors Branch Chief (Aerospace Engineering B.S.)
Sumer Loggins, Communications Strategist (Animal Science B.S.)
Dr. Steven Platts, Human Research Program (Zoology B.S.)
Sam Miller, NASA Exchange Deputy Operations Manager (Sports Administration B.S., Kinesiology and Exercise Science M.A.)
Alissa Madera, Deputy Astromaterials Curator and Curator of the Genesis Solar Wind Samples (Chemistry B.A., Earth and Planetary Science Ph.D.)
Erin Coscia, Artemis Safety and Mission Assurance Crew Survival Lead and Landing Support Officer (Astronomy B.S., Engineering Space Operations M.S.)
Felicity Vasquez, Budget Analyst (Business Administration B.A., MBA)
Engineering Careers Panelists:
Scott Merkle (International Space Station)
Aaron Cannon (Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Module)
Ryan Johns (Commercial LEO Destinations)
James Johnson (Moon Base Habitation)
Dr. Andrea Hanson (Commercial Lunar Payload Services)
Lindsay Kirk (Commercial Crew Office)
Erin Shimoda (Orion Guidance, Navigation, and Control)