The Space Entrepreneur Summer Academy (SESA) is a dynamic and immersive one- to three-week program hosted at Expanding Frontiers’ headquarters in Brownsville, Texas, designed to inspire and empower high school students to explore careers in the rapidly growing space industry.

First launched in 2019, SESA was created to provide students with a hands-on crash course in astropreneurship—combining the fundamentals of space exploration, business development, and real-world problem-solving. Under the mentorship of experienced professionals and educators, students engage with cutting-edge topics such as rocket propulsion, astronomy, public speaking, and business planning.

Students work collaboratively to develop solutions to real challenges currently faced by the space sector and present their findings at the program’s final showcase. Their experience is further enriched by guest lectures and Q&A sessions with experts from organizations like NASA, the Silicon Valley Space Center, and UTRGV’s Center for Advanced Radio Astronomy (CARA).

Located just miles from SpaceX’s Boca Chica launch site, SESA taps into the excitement of NewSpace—a movement where commercial companies, not just governments, lead the charge in democratizing and monetizing space exploration. This program helps students see themselves in that future, regardless of their academic background.

SESA encourages students from all fields—not just STEM—to discover how their unique skills and passions can contribute to this evolving industry. Whether you are interested in engineering, storytelling, finance, or design, there is a role for you in space.

After a brief hiatus in 2020 due to the pandemic, SESA returned in 2021 with a virtual option and has been held in-person again since 2022 with renewed momentum and impact.

Want a glimpse into the experience?
Read a student reflection: “On NewSpace: Space Entrepreneurs Summer Academy 2019.

NSS-CFF Scholars (National Space Society Club for Future Scholars)

Thanks to a generous donation from the National Space Society and Blue Origin’s Club for the Future, Expanding Frontiers was able to offer paid internships for attendees of the 2022 and 2023 Space Entrepreneur Summer Academy (SESA) Cohort. Students worked on projects ranging from entrepreneurship to rapid prototyping with mentors that work in the space industry. 

Expanding Frontiers offered NSS-CFF Scholars with internships in LIGO, Rapid Prototyping, Lunar Reconnaissance, Newspace Entrepreneurship, and Hydroponics. they also had a chance to intern with a ExF startup named Embedded.

SESA happens every July and is geared towards high school students interested in space and entrepreneurship.