2026–2027 Florida Aerospace Workforce Development Initiative
Undergraduate Projects in CubeSats, Balloon Payloads, Rocketry Payloads, and Space Systems Engineering
The NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium (FSGC) invites proposals from faculty at eligible Florida higher-education institutions to support hands-on undergraduate aerospace and spaceflight projects.The program is designed to give students practical experience designing, building, testing, and operating aerospace hardware and systems while helping prepare the next generation of Florida’s aerospace workforce.
FSGC particularly encourages participation from Florida State Colleges, community colleges, and institutions and technical programs that provide pathways into four-year STEM degrees or directly into the aerospace workforce.
At a Glance
Maximum Award: $5,000 per project, including indirect costs
Proposal Deadline: September 30, 2026
Project Duration: Up to one year
Earliest Project Start: October 15, 2026
Anticipated Award Announcement: October 15, 2026
Indirect costs are limited to 10% of the total award.
Program Documents
[Download the Full Notice of Funding Opportunity 2026-27 Florida Aerospace Workforce Development Initiative – PDF]
[Download the Full Request for Proposals 2026-27 Florida Aerospace Workforce Development Initiative – Word]
Faculty interested in applying should review the complete NOFO before preparing a proposal.
What Types of Projects Can Be Supported?
Projects should provide undergraduate students with meaningful, hands-on experience in aerospace engineering, spaceflight systems, or space technology.
Examples include:
- CubeSat development and subsystem design
- CubeSat payload development
- High-altitude balloon payloads and flight campaigns
- Balloon payload training activities
- Sounding rocket and rocketry payloads
- Student-built scientific instruments and sensors
- Flight electronics and avionics
- Communications systems
- Embedded systems and flight software
- Space systems engineering
- Mission design and operations
- Aerospace hardware prototyping and testing
- Space robotics
- Remote sensing and Earth observation payloads
- Autonomous flight systems
- Additive manufacturing for aerospace hardware
- Artificial intelligence applications for spacecraft and payload operations
- Aerospace workforce-development workshops
Projects should emphasize a design-build-test-fly, design-build-test, or comparable experiential-learning approach whenever appropriate.
Who Can Apply?
Proposals may be submitted by full-time faculty members at accredited Florida higher-education institutions, including:
- Florida public universities
- Florida State Colleges
- Florida community colleges
- Private not-for-profit colleges and universities located in Florida
Faculty from engineering, engineering technology, aerospace, computer science, physics, mathematics, and other STEM disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Programs at technical institutions should review the full RFP to confirm that their institution meets the eligibility requirements for an accredited Florida higher-education institution.
Projects must involve undergraduate students. At state and community colleges without four-year degree programs, students pursuing Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degrees may participate. FSGC particularly encourages projects that introduce first- and second-year college students to aerospace and spaceflight systems.
Student Participation
Student involvement is central to this program.
Strong proposals should give students substantial responsibility for activities such as:
- Designing hardware or systems
- Building and integrating components
- Programming and software development
- Testing and verification
- Mission planning
- Flight operations
- Data collection and analysis
- Systems engineering
- Project management
- Technical presentations and documentation
Projects that provide significant student ownership, leadership, and professional development are strongly encouraged.
Citizenship Requirements
Students who receive salary, stipend, or travel support directly from FSGC funds must be U.S. citizens.
Permanent residents are not eligible to receive direct financial support under this program.
Students who participate in a project without receiving direct financial support from FSGC funds are not required to be U.S. citizens.
Program Goals
The initiative is intended to:
- Increase undergraduate participation in aerospace research and engineering
- Expand Florida institutions’ capabilities in CubeSats, ballooning, rocketry, and space technology
- Provide authentic hands-on aerospace experiences
- Strengthen student skills in systems engineering and project management
- Encourage collaboration among Florida educational institutions
- Connect students and faculty with NASA, industry, and government partners
- Develop pathways to future internships, flight opportunities, research projects, and aerospace careers
The overarching goal is to strengthen Florida’s future aerospace workforce through hands-on student participation in authentic spaceflight and aerospace engineering activities.
Collaboration Is Encouraged
Interdisciplinary and multi-institutional proposals are strongly encouraged.
Potential partnerships may include:
- Universities and State Colleges
- Community colleges and four-year institutions
- Technical and engineering-technology programs
- Academic institutions and aerospace companies
- NASA centers and academic institutions
- Federal laboratories
- State and federal government organizations
Special consideration will be given to projects that expand aerospace opportunities at institutions with limited access to aerospace research and that create pathways for students to continue into aerospace-related bachelor’s degree programs or careers.
What Can the Funding Support?
FSGC funds may be used for project-related expenses such as:
- Aerospace hardware and components
- Sensors and microcontrollers
- Electronics and communications equipment
- CubeSat, balloon, and rocket payload components
- Fabrication and prototyping
- Testing and integration
- Student wages and stipends
- Training materials
- Project-specific software
- Ground-support equipment
- Modest travel for testing, integration, launches, or technical training
Faculty salary, general-purpose equipment, conference travel, and entertainment or hospitality costs are not allowable expenses.
What Makes a Competitive Proposal?
Proposals will be evaluated primarily on:
Student Impact — 35%
Hands-on participation, student leadership, professional development, and involvement of undergraduate students.
Technical Merit — 30%
Quality, feasibility, and appropriateness of the proposed technical activities.
Workforce Development — 20%
Development of skills relevant to Florida’s aerospace, aviation, and space sectors.
Future Potential — 10%
Potential for future flight opportunities, partnerships, external funding, or continued research.
Budget Appropriateness — 5%
Reasonableness of the proposed costs and alignment of the budget with project goals.
How to Apply
Proposals may not exceed four pages, excluding the cover page and budget.
Applicants should submit one PDF file containing the required project summary, objectives, technical approach and work plan, student engagement plan, budget and justification, and sustainability/future plans.
Proposal Deadline: September 30, 2026
Submit proposals electronically to:
Dr. Jaydeep Mukherjee
Director
NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium
Email: jaydeep.mukherjee@ucf.edu
Email Subject:
2026-2027 Florida Aerospace Workforce Development Initiative Proposal
Complete proposal instructions, requirements, review criteria, and the proposal cover page are provided in the full NOFO.
Ready to Get Started?
Faculty are encouraged to identify a project that provides students with an authentic opportunity to design, build, test, and operate aerospace technology while developing skills that can lead to future internships, research opportunities, advanced education, and careers in Florida’s growing aerospace sector.
Download the Program Documents
[2026-27 Florida Aerospace Workforce Development Initiative – PDF]
[2026-27 Florida Aerospace Workforce Development Initiative – Word]
Questions?
Dr. Jaydeep Mukherjee
Director, NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium
Florida Space Institute
University of Central Florida
jaydeep.mukherjee@ucf.edu