The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation Scholarship program aids the United States in retaining its world leadership in technology and innovation by supporting the very best and brightest scholars in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while commemorating the legacy of America’s pioneering astronauts.

Astronaut Scholars are immersed in nearly every frontier of science, engineering, and technology as astronomers, biologists, chemists, physicists, mathematicians, computer scientists, engineers in practically every discipline, inventors, consultants, entrepreneurs who have started technology companies, professors at top institutions, and military officers. In these positions they have launched payloads into space, studied distant galaxies through the Hubble Space Telescope, worked on the Mars Rover missions, trained astronauts, researched alternative energy devices, investigated integrated circuit manufacturing, developed more efficient equipment for firefighters, produced new ways to cultivate agriculture, developed noise control devices, researched the basis of congenital heart disease, mentored future scientists and engineers, and so much more!

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation awarded its first seven scholarships in 1986. Each founding Mercury 7 astronaut sponsored a $1,000 scholarship and they then began to fundraise to support future scholarships. Each astronaut would donate proceeds from their speaking engagements and shared the ASF mission wherever they went to raise awareness of both the mission and the scholarship program.

Today, the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation awards fifty scholarships valued up to $15,000 to each selected scholar. The ASF scholarship award is just the beginning for Astronaut Scholars, and their selection is the beginning of a life-long relationship with astronauts, alumni, and great leaders who span academia, technical research, and corporate leadership.

UW applications for this scholarship are coordinated by the Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium.

An applicant for the Astronaut Scholarship must be a citizen of the United States, either native born or naturalized, and must be at least a sophomore applying for their junior, or a junior applying to receive a scholarship for their senior year. They must be enrolled in one of the participating universities in the Scholarship Program. Additionally, nominated students must be enrolled for both semesters as a full-time student for the ASF-supported academic year.

Applicants must be seeking a STEM degree with intentions to pursue research or advance their field upon completion of their final degrees. Students intending to pursue a practice in professional medicine are not eligible for the scholarship. However, those intending to perform biomedical research are eligible. Note: Special consideration is NOT given to aeronautical/astronautical engineering students or those intending to pursue careers as astronauts.

Must be nominated/recommended for consideration by a professor or faculty member who knows the student well enough to identify a special drive or talent that foreshadows a creative career leading to the advancement of scientific knowledge and technology.

Must have conducted a considerable amount of work outside the classroom in their chosen field of study. This may include laboratory research, cooperative education, internships, relevant military experience, entrepreneurial endeavors, and/or documented independent work resulting in technical papers, patents, or similar work product

• junior
• senior

• US Citizen

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation only accepts nominations for the Astronaut Scholarship from its affiliated and participating universities. At UW, the Astronaut Scholarship is administered by the Washington Space Grant Consortium. UW students should email nasa@uw.edu with questions.

Details and the online application for UW applicants is available at https://www.waspacegrant.org/programs/studentships/uw-asf/. 

Submission requirements are:

• Proof of citizenship
• Personal statement (one page)
• Two letters of recommendation (one letter must be from a faculty member familiar with the student’s work outside of the classroom)
• Current transcripts
• Current resume or CV

Questions should be directed to Eli Heller at the Washington Space Grant Consortium, or call 206-543-1943.