7 Ways to Celebrate National Intern Day with NASA

NASA intern Julia Tilton interviews UAE astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi. al-Neyadi wears the iconic blue jumpsuit of an astronaut and gestures with his hands. Tilton is facing away from the camera and speaks with al-Neyadi in business professional attire. Credit: NASA

National Intern Day is celebrated annually to recognize and highlight the contributions of interns throughout different industries and fields of work. At every NASA center nationwide, interns play a critical role in our mission success.

The work of interns at NASA reaches far and wide.  Whether they’re contributing to our social media presence, supporting an engineering project that will one day return humanity to the Moon, or even chronicling NASA’s rich history, our interns’ contributions make us proud.

Looking to join in the celebration this National Intern Day? Here are seven ways for interns, mentors, and past interns to celebrate NASA internships.

  1. Ask Questions in Our Instagram AMA (Ask Me Anything)

Alt Text: Two female interns wearing blue NASA flight suits stand smiling with their hands behind their backs. Behind them, a large multirotor aircraft sits idle on the runway. The distance clear blue sky makes up the top of the image. Credit: NASA/Angelique Herring
Alt Text: Two female interns wearing blue NASA flight suits stand smiling with their hands behind their backs. Behind them, a large multirotor aircraft sits idle on the runway. The distance clear blue sky makes up the top of the image. Credit: NASA/Angelique Herring

“What’s it like being a NASA intern? What is the day-to-day of an intern at NASA? What are some of the coolest things interns get to see during their internship? How do you become a NASA intern?”

We’ve got your answers! Join our Instagram Ask Me Anything session on @NASAInternships story, where current interns, former interns, and mentors will answer your questions live.

  1. Use Our Celebration Toolkit

Two NASA interns pose together for a selfie by taking an image of the reflective visor of an extravehicular activity spacesuit. The rounded visor creates a fisheye effect on duo wearing business professional attire. Credit: Matt McDonnell/NASA
Two NASA interns pose together for a selfie by taking an image of the reflective visor of an extravehicular activity spacesuit. The rounded visor creates a fisheye effect on duo wearing business professional attire. Credit: Matt McDonnell/NASA

Are you loving your NASA internship experience? Were you a former intern who now works at NASA full-time? Have you mentored interns and enriched the lives of others?

Explore our Celebration Toolkit on our blog! This resource features unique visuals crafted for social media, perfect for commemorating #NationalInternDay and showcasing your NASA internship’s impact on your journey and career.

  1. Hear From Interns Past and Present About Working at NASA

    A graphic featuring three smiling interns prominently reads "NASA Intern Experience: Insights from Interns & Mentors. Friday, July 26 at 12pm ET." The visual is white and light blue, two of the three official colors of the NASA logo. The bottom of the image reads "Learn more at intern.nasa.gov." Credit: NASA
    A graphic featuring three smiling interns prominently reads “NASA Intern Experience: Insights from Interns & Mentors. Friday, July 26 at 12pm ET.” The visual is white and light blue, two of the three official colors of the NASA logo. The bottom of the image reads “Learn more at intern.nasa.gov.” Credit: NASA

Celebrate NASA Intern Week with us at our virtual intern event on July 26, 2024, at 12:00 pm EST! Join current NASA interns and mentors for insights into life at NASA, valuable advice from mentors, program details, and an interactive Q&A. This virtual event is open to everyone.

  1. Have a Networking and Career Guidance Discussion

    NASA intern Julia Tilton interviews UAE astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi. al-Neyadi wears the iconic blue jumpsuit of an astronaut and gestures with his hands. Tilton is facing away from the camera and speaks with al-Neyadi in business professional attire. Credit: NASA
    NASA intern Julia Tilton interviews UAE astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi. al-Neyadi wears the iconic blue jumpsuit of an astronaut and gestures with his hands. Tilton is facing away from the camera and speaks with al-Neyadi in business professional attire. Credit: NASA

Take advantage of this moment to seek valuable career advice from your mentor! Build a sturdy foundation to launch your future career post-internship with networking skills and advice gained from a more experienced mentor. Whether you’re curious about which NASA centers specialize in your field of study or seeking guidance on creating a resume for future applications, your mentor is poised to offer tailored insights and guidance.

  1. Share Your Internship Accomplishments

Engineer Jamesa Stokes works in a special laboratory testing advanced materials to see how they behave in extreme space environments. Credit: NASA/Jef Janis
Engineer Jamesa Stokes works in a special laboratory testing advanced materials to see how they behave in extreme space environments. Jamesa smiles at the camera wearing casual attire. Credit: NASA/Jef Janis

Did you find a planet orbiting two suns at once, discover a new aurora shape, create accurate flight simulations for the public, or design and test prototype space washing machines? Share your successes and accomplishments as a NASA intern with the world using #NASAIntern and #ArtemisGeneration.

  1. Get Involved with NASA STEM

Two Human Exploration Rover Challenge competitors pilot their human-powered rover through the course at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. The duo wear bicycle helmets and pedal their metallic rover over gravelly terrain. Throughout the foreground, large orange cones guide the rover's path. In the background, onlookers watch from beneath a large NASA pop-up tent. A large rock and stationary jet sit in the far background. Credit: NASA
Two Human Exploration Rover Challenge competitors pilot their human-powered rover through the course at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The duo wear bicycle helmets and pedal their metallic rover over gravelly terrain. Throughout the foreground, large orange cones guide the rover’s path. In the background, onlookers watch from beneath a large NASA pop-up tent. A large rock and stationary jet sit in the far background. Credit: NASA

Engaging with NASA STEM lays the framework for applying to a NASA internship in the future. By participating, you can gain firsthand exposure to NASA’s mission and projects, which enhances your understanding of the agency’s goals and operations. Active engagement often includes networking opportunities with professionals already working at NASA.

Learn more about how you can get involved: stem.nasa.gov.

  1. Apply for a NASA Internship

    A NASA intern in business casual attire sits in the Mission Control Center at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Looking forward at the console of computer monitors with data. In the background the large screens of Mission Control dominate. Credit: NASA
    A NASA intern in business casual attire sits in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Looking forward at the console of computer monitors with data. In the background the large screens of Mission Control dominate. Credit: NASA

Now that you’ve seen the behind-the-scenes fun of a NASA internship, we hope you’ll consider becoming a NASA intern yourself — or, if you’re already part of the team, continuing your internship for an additional session. As a friendly reminder: our Spring 2025 OSTEM Internship applications close on August 23, 2024.