Dreaming of NASA? Maharashtra Students Get Chance to Join Prestigious Space Training Programme
Pune, 26th June 2026: Students across Maharashtra will have an opportunity to participate in the selection process for a prestigious NASA-affiliated training programme, with the state-level entrance examination scheduled for September 2026.
The examination is being organised in India by the SWAN Research and Social Study Foundation for the NASA Training Program conducted at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, in collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Announcing the initiative at a press conference, SWAN Research and Social Study Foundation Founder-President Shashikant Kamble said students from Classes VI to XII are eligible to appear for the examination. The application process will be open from June 29 to August 31.
Foundation Secretary Vikas Taklikar, Treasurer Akshay Khobragade, Joint Secretary Gaurav Somvanshi, and members Prasad Bhopale, Aman Pachghare, and Sanket Jain were also present.
According to the organisers, separate question papers will be prepared for each class, covering Mathematics, Science, Geography, and Mental Ability. The examination aims to encourage students to develop analytical and problem-solving skills beyond the conventional curriculum while fostering an early interest in space science and research.
Kamble said the programme would expose students to space-related research, hands-on learning, and scientific exploration, helping nurture the next generation of innovators and scientists.
The examination will be open to students from English and semi-English medium schools across Maharashtra, including Zilla Parishad, Municipal Corporation, and Municipal Council schools.
Students selected through the examination will undergo advanced training during January and February at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and the Singapore Science Centre. The programme will also include educational visits to prominent destinations in the United States, including Space Camp, New York, Washington, D.C., and Orlando, Taklikar said.
For further details and registration, students and parents can visit the SWAN Research Foundation website at https://swanrsfoundation.com/swan.
