Want to do NASA research? 24 new US projects backed by $23 million will let citizen scientists hunt comets, study space weather and explore Earth data — all you need to know

NASA is opening more doors for Americans to take part in science that goes beyond watching rocket launches or following space missions from afar. Twenty-four organisations have been chosen by the agency for the new Science Activation portfolio, which is funded by about $23 million, with projects aiming to bring American communities into contact with NASA’s information, scientists and science activities.

The program will run throughout all 50 states and US territories and will include themes like astronomy, planetary science, Earth observations, space weather, and biology.

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This initiative falls under NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and has been chosen through the agency’s ROSES-25 Science Activation solicitation. Instead of looking at science communication as something done after the science has been conducted, the program gives its participants a chance to use scientific data and engage in science activities.

Some projects will involve students and teachers. Others will work with amateur astronomers, community colleges, national parks, citizen scientists and members of the public.

The result is a nationwide network where NASA science can become something people do, rather than simply something they read about.

NASA wants people to work with real science data

This new portfolio includes all five of NASA's Science Mission Directorate themes, namely, Astrophysics, Biological and Physical Sciences, Earth Science, Heliophysics, and Planetary Science.

In other words, these projects do not have to be confined to conventional astronomy programs.

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There may be projects on satellite observations of our planet, on studying the Sun and space weather, working with astronomical data, planetary science, or any biological systems-related research.

A number of these programs are based on skills which are more and more in demand in scientific research. These include artificial intelligence and machine learning, coding, sensors, geospatial analytics, data literacy, engineering design and modelling. NASA says these skills are valuable for its future projects and the commercial space economy as well.


One project, Sungrazer 2.0, will give participants opportunities to examine NASA heliophysics data while searching for previously unknown comets near the Sun.

Another, Telescopes for All, will expand access to robotic telescopes so participants can observe and analyse astronomical objects using research-oriented equipment.

The Discovering the SPARC project takes a different approach, combining amateur radio with space-weather science and involving high school students in a national research network.

From comet hunting to growing plants in space

The new projects cover some surprisingly different areas of NASA research.

The Growing Beyond Earth programme, led by Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, will involve students and educators in plant-growth experiments connected to NASA's early-stage work on crops for spaceflight.

Meanwhile, ARK, led by the University of Colorado Boulder, will use high-resolution remote-sensing data to engage citizen scientists in research into Antarctica's changing habitats.

There is also a project focused on space crops, another on atmospheric research using high-altitude balloons and uncrewed aircraft, and a programme that will create tactile 3D models to help people understand planets, Earth systems and astronomical structures.

The Dark Skies to Deep Time project in West Texas will combine astronomy, meteorite science, impact geology and planetary defence. Its programme is linked to the 2029 close approach of asteroid Apophis, giving participants a specific planetary event around which to build their activities.

NASA is also establishing a Starlight Parks Network, connecting NASA science with America's national parks and using those locations as settings for astronomy and other science activities.

The variety is deliberate. Instead of offering one standard programme to the entire country, Science Activation uses national projects alongside regional programmes tailored to particular communities.

Students, teachers and communities get a direct route into STEM

A key element of the program is reaching those individuals who would not otherwise be exposed to NASA-affiliated research experiences.

The chosen programs involve rural populations, economically disadvantaged individuals, individuals with different learning abilities, community college students, and other communities who have been less able to participate in STEM-based activities in the past.


The NASA Science and Engineering for All project, for example, is designed to expand authentic NASA science experiences for teenagers, with particular attention to underserved young people.

The NASA Community College Network: From Earth to Space will create a resource and peer network for instructors at community colleges, connecting educators who may otherwise be working in isolation.

Another programme, Tiny Scientists, Big Universe, will introduce NASA-linked science and data concepts to early-childhood learners, educators and scientists through nature-based activities.

According to NASA, Science Activation efforts have in the past reached out to learners in all American states, the District of Columbia, and US territories, and the larger program has also engaged people around the world. In its 2024 impact report, it reached out to more than 119 million people, 97% of whom were from the US.

NASA's $23 million experiment in public participation

The funding of $23 million goes beyond science education.

According to NASA, Science Activation is the means by which community members can get involved in scientific exploration through interaction with NASA scientists, data, organisations, and research experiences.

That distinction matters.

An individual looking at the picture taken during a NASA mission, a teen studying space weather using ham radio or a citizen scientist observing satellite data is engaging with the same scientific world as the scientists working for NASA.

This project also represents a trend towards making scientific data more available to the public.

Many NASA missions produce massive amounts of data, and its value isn’t limited to use by scientists. Digital technologies, open access to data and computing capabilities make it possible for many individuals to investigate scientific observations themselves.

Twenty-four new projects aim to foster these connections on a local level by engaging schools, museums, parks, universities, community colleges, astronomical clubs and other organisations.

Some participants will learn how to interpret satellite images. Others will point a robotic telescope at an object, look for comets in NASA’s data or study the impact of different environmental factors on plant growth.

The programme's larger goal is to make NASA science feel less like something happening somewhere else.

For people across the US, the new message is simple: NASA's science isn't only something to watch. There are now more ways to take part in it.

FAQ

1. How much is NASA investing in the new Science Activation projects?
NASA has awarded approximately $23 million to the 24 organisations selected for the new cohort.

2. What can people actually do through these NASA projects?
Activities vary by programme. Participants may analyse NASA data, search for comets, use robotic telescopes, study space weather, work with Earth-observation information, conduct plant-growth research or participate in hands-on engineering and science activities.

3. Who can participate in NASA Science Activation programmes?
The portfolio is designed for people of different ages and backgrounds and includes programmes for students, teachers, citizen scientists, amateur astronomers, community-college learners and members of the public. Several projects specifically aim to reach underserved communities.

4. Do all 24 projects focus on space?
No. The portfolio spans Astrophysics, Biological and Physical Sciences, Earth Science, Heliophysics and Planetary Science. Projects include research involving Earth's climate and water systems, Antarctica, plants, atmospheric science, the Sun, planets and distant astronomical objects.