Best for General Interest. These organizations encompass a broad range of space activity and research.

• Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC)

• International Space Science Institute (ISSI)

Discipline-Focused. These organizations focus on space through a specific discipline.

• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

• Air Line Pilots Association, International

• International Institute of Space Law

  • American Bar Association Forum on Air and Space Law

  • American Society of International Law Space Law Interest Group

  • Federal Communications Bar Association

• International Astronomical Union

• Society of Satellite Professional International (SSPI)

*Designates university-level student organizations.

Best for General Interest. These organizations encompass a broad range of space activity and research.

• Future Space Leaders (FSL)

• National Space Society

• National Space Club and Foundation

• Mars Society

• The Planetary Society

Best for Students. These organizations are led by students.

• American Society for Gravitational and Space Research (ASGSR)

• Blue Marble Space Institute of Science (BMSIS)

• Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDs)*

Discipline-Focused. These organizations focus on space through a specific discipline.

• American Astronomical Society

• Aerospace Industries Association

• Aerospace Medical Association

• American Physical Society

• Society of Physics Students

• American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Women-Interest Groups:

• International Society of Women Airline Pilots

• Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

• Society of Women in Space Exploration

• Women in Aerospace

• Women in Aviation International

Indigenous-Interest Groups:

• American Indian Society for Engineers & Scientists (AISES)

• Society for Advancing Chicanos/Chicanas and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)*

Hispanic-Interest Groups:

• National Society of Hispanic Physicists

• Society for Advancing Chicanos/Chicanas and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)*

• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)

Black-Interest Groups:

• National Association of Black Geologists and Geophysicists (NABGG)

• National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)

• National Society of Black Physicists

Asian-Interest Groups:

• Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE)

The following societies don’t focus on space directly; however, their research, technology, and goals often align with or utilize space technology and missions in a significant way.

• American Geophysical Union (AGU)

• American Geosciences Institute (AGI)

• American Institute of Physics (AIP)

• American Meteorological Society (AMS)

• Geological Society of America (GSA)

• National Association of Science Writers (NASW)

These government agencies and foundations are recurring names in the space industry. They are important figures for internship, scholarship, and grant opportunities.

• Center for Strategist & International Studies (CSIS)

• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

• Lunar Planetary Institute

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

• National Space Council

• Secure World Foundation

• U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation