NDSU senior named 2026 Astronaut Scholar
Turner Person, an NDSU senior majoring in both mechanical engineering and physics, has been selected as a 2026-27 Astronaut Scholar by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. Person is one of just 79 students from 54 colleges and universities nationwide to receive this prestigious honor, which recognizes exceptional undergraduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“Earning the Astronaut Scholarship has been truly amazing,” said Person, who grew up in Brainerd, Minnesota. “Over the past four years, I’ve put in a lot of work for my research and schooling so it’s very rewarding to see that work pay off.”
The ASF selected Person for the award based on his exemplary academic performance, ingenuity and unique aptitude for research. Astronaut Scholars receive up to $15,000 in scholarship support along with an opportunity to participate in the Michael Collins Family Professional Development Program for mentorship from scholar alumni, industry executives or astronauts.
Person will travel to Houston, Texas, for the ASF’s Innovators Symposium and Gala at the Omni Hotel August 12-15. During the event, an astronaut will present Person and his fellow Astronaut Scholars with their awards on stage. Scholars can also present their research at the event’s Scholar Technical Conference. Person plans to present on his hybrid rocket work at NDSU.
“Our hybrid rocket work started my sophomore year,” explained Person. “We have a clear combustion chamber in the hybrid rocket test stand and that lets us see the flow while the rocket itself is firing. A lot of our work this year has involved automating the ignition system and collecting data from all of our testing.”
At NDSU, Person has been mentored by Jordi Estevadeordal and William Refling, professors of mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering.
The ASF was created in 1984 by the six surviving Mercury 7 astronauts to ensure the United States would maintain its leadership in science and technology. Today, the Foundation continues to honor that legacy by supporting exceptional scholars and inspiring the next generation of explorers.
“Each new class of Astronaut Scholars represents the future of innovation and discovery,” said Colleen Middlebrooks, president and CEO of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. “The 2026 Astronaut Scholars have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, curiosity and leadership, and we are proud to support them as they continue pursuing breakthroughs that will shape the future of STEM. We look forward to welcoming them into the ASF family and seeing the impact they will make in their fields and beyond.”
For more information about the program and a full list of recipients, visit AstronautScholarship.org.
“I’m very glad that I started with mechanical engineering and added a physics major at NDSU,” said Person. “I’ve really enjoyed learning the physics behind these important engineering principles. It really gives you the background of everything you’re learning about, giving you a much deeper understanding.”