If you’re a high school student interested in aerospace engineering, summer research programs can give you early, practical experience in this field. These programs focus on research in areas like aerodynamics, spacecraft design, propulsion systems, and orbital mechanics, offering opportunities to explore topics far beyond your typical high school curriculum.
There are multiple universities and aerospace organizations that host research programs, and these usually include project-based work, lab research, and mentorship from engineers or faculty. As a researcher, you could examine flight data, design aircraft systems, or replicate space missions, all while developing technical skills applicable to both academic and professional trajectories in the field.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled 11 aerospace engineering research opportunities for high school students.
1. NASA and UT Austin’s SEES High School Summer Intern Program
Location: Virtual and on-site at the University of Texas, Austin, TX
Cost/Stipend: No cost; unpaid, but interns receive a NASA certificate upon completion.
Application Deadline: February 22
Program Dates: Spans from May to July, full timeline can be found here.
Eligibility: Current high school Sophomores or Juniors (rising Juniors/Seniors) | Must be 16 years old by July 5 | Should be U.S. Citizens
The SEES High School Summer Intern Program offers high school students the chance to work with NASA subject matter experts in space-related research projects. Interns selected for the SEES program will participate in virtual distance learning activities and must complete them to maintain their eligibility for the internship.
In July, both virtual and on-site interns will work with NASA experts. Each virtual project follows a specific timeline; for example, the Globe Observer team meets three times a week in June and July, in addition to conducting field investigations.
All participants will take part in a virtual SEES Science Symposium on July 21-22, where they will present their research to NASA, scientists, family members, and invited guests. This event serves as a capstone to showcase the collaborative work and learning from the internship.
2. Lumiere Research Scholars Program – Aerospace Engineering Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Starting at $2,990 (financial aid is available)
Application Deadline: Deadlines are varied based on the cohort
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June – August), Fall (September – December), Winter (December – February), and Spring (March – June).
Eligibility: You must be a high school student with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.3, but no prior experience in your field of interest is required.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program offers high school students a unique opportunity to engage in one-on-one research with Ph.D. scholars. Over 12 weeks, participants choose subjects such as aerospace engineering, applied mathematics, computer science, or artificial intelligence and work independently on a research project. The program culminates in creating a research paper, enabling students to address real-world challenges while sharpening their critical thinking and analytical skills.
To maximize the program’s benefits, students must invest time, demonstrate initiative, and tackle their chosen topics with diligence. This personalized mentorship fosters significant academic growth, helping students build confidence in research while producing work that enhances college applications and opens doors to future academic pursuits. You can find more details about the application and the financial aid packages here!
3. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute
Location: Virtual and on-site at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free for families earning under $150,000; otherwise, $2,350
Application Deadline: March 31
Program Dates: July 7 – August 3
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors attending school in the U.S. who have completed the online BWSI prerequisite course.
The MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute offers high school students the opportunity to engage in activities such as satellite design, rocket propulsion, and autonomous flight, developing a deeper understanding of aerospace systems. Additionally, students can explore the fundamentals of Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) and dive into other advanced topics.
Other courses available for the summer include Cyber Operations, Autonomous Air Vehicle Racing, and Unmanned Air System–Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAS-SAR). The program emphasizes teamwork and real-world problem-solving, with guidance from MIT faculty and industry experts. This intensive program is designed for aspiring engineers looking to build technical expertise and work on multifaceted projects.
4. Cornell Engineering High School Outreach – CURIE & CATALYST Academies
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Cost: $1,900 (financial aid is available)
Application Deadline: February 15
Program Dates: July 13 – 19
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors from across the U.S., with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and strong STEM coursework (e.g., physics, chemistry, calculus by senior year)
The CURIE (for female-identifying students) and CATALYST (for students from underrepresented backgrounds) Academies are one-week summer programs hosted by Cornell University’s College of Engineering. These residential programs provide participants with a comprehensive introduction to engineering through faculty-led lectures, interactive lab activities, and teamwork-based projects.
Instead of concentrating solely on aerospace engineering, the curriculum covers a range of engineering disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, biomedical, civil, and materials science. Past projects and workshops have covered topics like robotics, renewable energy, biomechanics, and design thinking. The program also includes college preparation sessions and opportunities to interact with Cornell faculty, graduate students, and peers who share a passion for STEM.
5. NASA Johnson Space Center – Texas High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS)
Location: Virtual and on-site at Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free
Application Deadline: October (Applications reopen in August).
Program Dates: 10-month-long program; November–March (online), July 28 – August 1 (residential)
Eligibility: Texas high school juniors who are U.S. citizens.
The High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS) is a 10-month-long program allowing Texas high school juniors to dive deep into aerospace topics with NASA experts. Throughout the school year, students complete an online curriculum comprising five modules, each focusing on space exploration, Earth science, technology, and aeronautics.
The interactive lessons familiarize scholars with NASA’s six core themes: Humans in Space, Moon to Mars, Earth, Space Technology, Flight, and the Solar System and Beyond. The curriculum is designed to guide students through the past, present, and future of space exploration, with each module featuring STEM-based activities and culminating in rubric-based assignments.
Outstanding students will be invited to participate in a five-day virtual summer program (Moonshot) supervised by NASA scientists and engineers. Upon completion, students receive a NASA letter that their schools may use to award 0.5 science elective credit.
6. Washington Aerospace Scholars
Location: Virtual and on-site at The Museum of Flight, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Free; students accepted into Phase 2 must pay a $1,025 residency fee (financial aid is available)
Application Deadline: October 22
Program Dates:
- Phase 1: November – March
- Phase 2: 6-day Summer Residency in July/August
Eligibility: Washington State high school juniors
Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS) is an online distance learning course and summer experience designed for high school juniors interested in STEM fields, focusing on flight, aerospace design, and space exploration. The online curriculum, developed by the University of Washington, covers air and space vehicle design, NASA’s space programs, and Earth and Space Science topics.
The program includes eight lessons and a final project, combining online readings, essays, aerospace-related math problems, group discussions, and hands-on labs. Upon completing the course, top students are invited to participate in a 6-day summer experience with STEM professionals, NASA scientists, and educators. Graduates of the WAS program gain access to exclusive scholarship opportunities worth $250,000 and receive complimentary membership to The Museum of Flight.
7. Rice University Space Science – Space Exploration Camp (Rice Space Institute)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,495 (financial aid is available)
Application Deadline: Varies depending on course
Program Dates: Multiple sessions year-round
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up
The Aerospace – Space Exploration Program for high school students, offered by RICE Space Institute at Rice University, provides an in-depth look into how commercial companies are revolutionizing aeronautics. The course covers key milestones in space history, the future of moon landings, and the scientific motivations for Mars exploration. Through engaging videos and interviews with leaders in space exploration, students gain a unique behind-the-scenes perspective.
Students will explore the history of space travel, the importance of the Moon as a gateway for Mars missions, and the scientific reasons for going to Mars. They will study the challenges of space exploration on the human body and delve into future technologies, such as in-space manufacturing. The course culminates in a capstone project, where students design their own mission to Mars.
8. MITES Summer
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: February 1
Program Dates: 6 weeks from late June to early August
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are current high school juniors
The MITES Summer Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a fully funded, six-week residential experience designed to develop academic and professional skills in STEM through rigorous coursework and project-based learning. You will engage in advanced studies in mathematics, science, and humanities, and explore specialized electives such as Machine Learning, Genomics, and Engineering Design.
The program includes laboratory tours, STEM workshops, site visits to research labs and tech companies, and collaborative projects. Through mentorship and college admissions guidance, you can build a strong foundation for pursuing higher education and careers in the science and engineering fields.
9. Aerospace – National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC)
Location: Duke University, Durham, NC, and Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Cost: $4,195
Application Deadline: June 1
Program Dates: Multiple one-week sessions in June–July; varies by location
Eligibility: High school students ages 14–18 who have completed at least one year of high school
The National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) on Aerospace, hosted at select university campuses, is a summer program designed to introduce high school students to core principles and practical applications in aerospace. You will learn how to design, build, and test an unmanned aerial vehicle as part of a team-based engineering challenge, gaining experience in aerodynamics, flight control, and systems integration.
Through hands-on workshops and technical simulations, you will explore topics such as rocket propulsion, aircraft carrier launch systems, payload delivery mechanisms, and the fundamentals of wind turbine design. The program emphasizes both conceptual understanding and applied engineering skills, offering insight into how modern aerospace technologies are developed and implemented.
10. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Location: Various AFRL locations across the United States
Cost: No cost; $501.60 weekly stipend for high school interns
Application Deadline: January 10
Program Dates: Dates vary based on the AFRL sites and/or projects to which you are applying
Eligibility: To be eligible, students
- Must be US Citizens
- Must be at least 16 (by the session application deadline) and have a valid Government ID
- Must be enrolled or accepted at an educational institution taking at least a half-time academic course load leading to a degree or certificate for the semester immediately preceding the internship session.
- Must have a CGPA of 3.0
The AFRL Scholars Program allows high school students to conduct hands-on research alongside leading scientists and engineers at Air Force research facilities. Many opportunities are rooted in aerospace engineering and related disciplines, exposing students to topics such as aircraft structural design, propulsion systems, flight mechanics, high-speed aerodynamics, and aerospace materials. Students may engage in computational fluid dynamics (CFD), structural analysis, and simulations of aerospace systems under real-world conditions.
Through laboratory exposure and engagement with specialized test equipment, you will develop skills in computational modeling, simulation techniques, and systems engineering relevant to defense and aerospace applications.
11. UIUC WYSE – Aerospace Engineering (EAGER) Camp
Location: Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL
Cost:
- Residential: $1,000
- Commuter: $600
Application Deadline: Typically late March
Program Dates: July 6 – 12
Eligibility: Students entering 10th, 11th, or 12th grades in fall
The Aerospace EAGER Camp at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign introduces high school students to core aerospace engineering principles through an intensive, hands-on experience. You will engage with foundational topics such as flight mechanics, aerodynamics, orbital mechanics, propulsion systems, and aerospace structures, applying these concepts to both aircraft and spacecraft design. Through a combination of individual and team-based activities, you will design and build model boost gliders and payload rockets, which are launched and evaluated during the final session of the camp.
The program includes demonstrations, lab tours, classroom instruction, and direct interactions with engineers and faculty members. Guest speakers from organizations such as NASA, SpaceX, Boeing, and the James Webb Space Telescope share professional experiences and contextualize the engineering challenges you explore during the camp. This program also focuses on increasing access and confidence among students traditionally underrepresented in STEM through the EAGER (Engineers Aiming for Gender Equity & Representation) initiative.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – NASA