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Important Dates:

Applications close: Sept. 20 at 23:59 EDT

Application decision: Sept. 29

Orientation meeting: Date TBA

Beyond the thrill of deep-space exploration and demonstrating novel asteroid analysis techniques, this hands-on mission is your launchpad for a career in the aerospace industry. 

TERP RAPTOR (Terrapin-Engineered Rideshare Probe for Rapid-Response Asteroid Apophis Profiling Tracking Observing and Reconnaissance) is UMD's very own mission to deep space. In December 2028, we are venturing to the asteroid Apophis to capture up-close flyby images and demonstrate a novel mass-measurement method.

This is one of the most ambitious collegiate spacecraft missions ever attempted. We are a high-stakes collaborative initiative between UMD, GMU, NASA, and commercial partners. We aren't just pitching an idea, we are already executing it. We have:

• Secured hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding.

• Established a dedicated lab at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

• Passed rigorous design reviews with industry professionals.

• Secured our ride to deep space.

We are looking for dedicated students who thrive on nail-biting timelines to help us reach our goal. We have opportunities for students from any major and background. From technical development to operations support, every role matters.

We can’t wait to build the future with you.

Want to learn more?

If you missed our interest meetings, no worries. Check out our meeting slides below!

Questions?

Please email terpraptormd@gmail.com.  Please include “TR Recruitment” in the subject line.