diff --git a/.github/workflows/pythonpackage.yml b/.github/workflows/pythonpackage.yml
index affe7dc5..05d0f34b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pythonpackage.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pythonpackage.yml
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ jobs:
         echo Starting MTH5 load_fdsn test at `date`
         coverage run -a -m pyspedas.mth5.tests.test_load_fdsn
         echo Starting maven tests at `date`
-        coverage run -a -m pyspedas.maven.tests.tests
+        coverage run -a -m pyspedas.projects.maven.tests.tests
         echo Starting cluster tests at `date`
         coverage run -a -m pyspedas.projects.cluster.tests.tests
         #echo Starting akebono tests at `date`
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ jobs:
         echo Starting st5 tests at `date`
         coverage run -a -m pyspedas.st5.tests.tests
         echo Starting lanl tests at `date`
-        coverage run -a -m pyspedas.lanl.tests.tests
+        coverage run -a -m pyspedas.projects.lanl.tests.tests
         echo Starting cotrans quaternion tests at `date`
         coverage run -a -m pyspedas.cotrans.tests.quaternions
         echo Starting cnofs tests at `date`
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ jobs:
         echo Starting goes tests at `date`
         coverage run -a -m pyspedas.projects.goes.tests.tests
         echo Starting mica tests at `date`
-        coverage run -a -m pyspedas.mica.tests.tests
+        coverage run -a -m pyspedas.projects.mica.tests.tests
         echo Starting ulysses tests at `date`
         coverage run -a -m pyspedas.ulysses.tests.tests
         echo Starting solo tests at `date`
diff --git a/pyspedas/__init__.py b/pyspedas/__init__.py
index 723ca098..3a345c2a 100644
--- a/pyspedas/__init__.py
+++ b/pyspedas/__init__.py
@@ -77,7 +77,6 @@
 from .mms.plots.mms_overview_plot import mms_overview_plot
 from .mms.particles.mms_part_getspec import mms_part_getspec
 from .mms.particles.mms_part_slice2d import mms_part_slice2d
-from .maven import maven_load
 from .noaa import noaa_load_kp
 
 # Make mission-specific namespaces available under pyspedas
@@ -100,9 +99,11 @@
 # for backward compatibility
 from .projects.kompsat.load import load as kompsat_load
 from .projects import kyoto
-from . import lanl
-from . import maven
-from . import mica
+from .projects import lanl
+from .projects import maven
+# for backward compatibility
+from .projects.maven import maven_load
+from .projects import mica
 from . import omni
 from . import poes
 from . import polar
diff --git a/pyspedas/lanl/README.md b/pyspedas/projects/lanl/README.md
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/lanl/README.md
rename to pyspedas/projects/lanl/README.md
diff --git a/pyspedas/lanl/__init__.py b/pyspedas/projects/lanl/__init__.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/lanl/__init__.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/lanl/__init__.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/lanl/config.py b/pyspedas/projects/lanl/config.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/lanl/config.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/lanl/config.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/lanl/datasets.py b/pyspedas/projects/lanl/datasets.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/lanl/datasets.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/lanl/datasets.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/lanl/load.py b/pyspedas/projects/lanl/load.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/lanl/load.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/lanl/load.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/lanl/mpa.py b/pyspedas/projects/lanl/mpa.py
similarity index 98%
rename from pyspedas/lanl/mpa.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/lanl/mpa.py
index 613ed973..fa703d2f 100644
--- a/pyspedas/lanl/mpa.py
+++ b/pyspedas/projects/lanl/mpa.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from pyspedas.lanl.load import load
+from .load import load
 
 # This routine was originally in lanl/__init__.py.
 def mpa(
diff --git a/pyspedas/lanl/spa.py b/pyspedas/projects/lanl/spa.py
similarity index 98%
rename from pyspedas/lanl/spa.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/lanl/spa.py
index 4c67f1e0..3b8aba75 100644
--- a/pyspedas/lanl/spa.py
+++ b/pyspedas/projects/lanl/spa.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from pyspedas.lanl.load import load
+from .load import load
 
 # This routine was originally in lanl/__init__.py.
 def spa(
diff --git a/pyspedas/lanl/tests/__init__.py b/pyspedas/projects/lanl/tests/__init__.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/lanl/tests/__init__.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/lanl/tests/__init__.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/lanl/tests/tests.py b/pyspedas/projects/lanl/tests/tests.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/lanl/tests/tests.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/lanl/tests/tests.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/README.md b/pyspedas/projects/maven/README.md
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/README.md
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/README.md
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/__init__.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/__init__.py
similarity index 85%
rename from pyspedas/maven/__init__.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/__init__.py
index 56c630c8..9197dd55 100644
--- a/pyspedas/maven/__init__.py
+++ b/pyspedas/projects/maven/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import pyspedas.maven.spdf as spdf_load
+import pyspedas.projects.maven.spdf as spdf_load
 from .maven_load import load_data
 maven_load = load_data
 from .euv import euv
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/access.txt b/pyspedas/projects/maven/access.txt
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/access.txt
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/access.txt
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/config.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/config.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/config.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/config.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/download_files_utilities.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/download_files_utilities.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/download_files_utilities.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/download_files_utilities.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/euv.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/euv.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/euv.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/euv.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/file_regex.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/file_regex.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/file_regex.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/file_regex.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/interp_utilities.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/interp_utilities.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/interp_utilities.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/interp_utilities.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/iuv.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/iuv.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/iuv.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/iuv.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/kp.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/kp.py
similarity index 98%
rename from pyspedas/maven/kp.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/kp.py
index 95b36026..007529c1 100644
--- a/pyspedas/maven/kp.py
+++ b/pyspedas/projects/maven/kp.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from .maven_load import load_data
-import pyspedas.maven.spdf as spdf_load
+import pyspedas.projects.maven.spdf as spdf_load
 
 # This routine was originally in maven/__init__.py, until being moved to its own file.
 # Please refer to __init__.py if you need to see the revision history before it was moved.
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/kp_utilities.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/kp_utilities.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/kp_utilities.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/kp_utilities.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/list_utilities.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/list_utilities.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/list_utilities.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/list_utilities.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/lpw.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/lpw.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/lpw.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/lpw.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/mag.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/mag.py
similarity index 98%
rename from pyspedas/maven/mag.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/mag.py
index ba2fdfe4..d6d3a3c5 100644
--- a/pyspedas/maven/mag.py
+++ b/pyspedas/projects/maven/mag.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from .maven_load import load_data
-import pyspedas.maven.spdf as spdf_load
+import pyspedas.projects.maven.spdf as spdf_load
 
 # This routine was originally in maven/__init__.py, until being moved to its own file.
 # Please refer to __init__.py if you need to see the revision history before it was moved.
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/maven_kp_to_tplot.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/maven_kp_to_tplot.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/maven_kp_to_tplot.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/maven_kp_to_tplot.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/maven_load.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/maven_load.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/maven_load.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/maven_load.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/ngi.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/ngi.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/ngi.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/ngi.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/orbit_time.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/orbit_time.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/orbit_time.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/orbit_time.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/read_iuvs_file.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/read_iuvs_file.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/read_iuvs_file.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/read_iuvs_file.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/read_iuvs_file_unused_modes.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/read_iuvs_file_unused_modes.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/read_iuvs_file_unused_modes.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/read_iuvs_file_unused_modes.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/rse.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/rse.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/rse.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/rse.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/sep.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/sep.py
similarity index 98%
rename from pyspedas/maven/sep.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/sep.py
index dc35bdaa..798fc02d 100644
--- a/pyspedas/maven/sep.py
+++ b/pyspedas/projects/maven/sep.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from .maven_load import load_data
-import pyspedas.maven.spdf as spdf_load
+import pyspedas.projects.maven.spdf as spdf_load
 
 # This routine was originally in maven/__init__.py, until being moved to its own file.
 # Please refer to __init__.py if you need to see the revision history before it was moved.
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/spdf/README.md b/pyspedas/projects/maven/spdf/README.md
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/spdf/README.md
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/spdf/README.md
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/spdf/__init__.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/spdf/__init__.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/spdf/__init__.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/spdf/__init__.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/spdf/config.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/spdf/config.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/spdf/config.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/spdf/config.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/spdf/load.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/spdf/load.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/spdf/load.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/spdf/load.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/sta.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/sta.py
similarity index 98%
rename from pyspedas/maven/sta.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/sta.py
index 10521699..3c12ab74 100644
--- a/pyspedas/maven/sta.py
+++ b/pyspedas/projects/maven/sta.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from .maven_load import load_data
-import pyspedas.maven.spdf as spdf_load
+import pyspedas.projects.maven.spdf as spdf_load
 
 # This routine was originally in maven/__init__.py, until being moved to its own file.
 # Please refer to __init__.py if you need to see the revision history before it was moved.
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/swea.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/swea.py
similarity index 98%
rename from pyspedas/maven/swea.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/swea.py
index aa8cb8f4..2c804793 100644
--- a/pyspedas/maven/swea.py
+++ b/pyspedas/projects/maven/swea.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from .maven_load import load_data
-import pyspedas.maven.spdf as spdf_load
+import pyspedas.projects.maven.spdf as spdf_load
 
 # This routine was originally in maven/__init__.py, until being moved to its own file.
 # Please refer to __init__.py if you need to see the revision history before it was moved.
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/swia.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/swia.py
similarity index 98%
rename from pyspedas/maven/swia.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/swia.py
index 5446d2ba..d2c6812d 100644
--- a/pyspedas/maven/swia.py
+++ b/pyspedas/projects/maven/swia.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from .maven_load import load_data
-import pyspedas.maven.spdf as spdf_load
+import pyspedas.projects.maven.spdf as spdf_load
 
 # This routine was originally in maven/__init__.py, until being moved to its own file.
 # Please refer to __init__.py if you need to see the revision history before it was moved.
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/tests/__init__.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/tests/__init__.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/tests/__init__.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/tests/__init__.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/tests/tests.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/tests/tests.py
similarity index 95%
rename from pyspedas/maven/tests/tests.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/tests/tests.py
index 611c9a06..21678d9f 100644
--- a/pyspedas/maven/tests/tests.py
+++ b/pyspedas/projects/maven/tests/tests.py
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 import unittest
 from pytplot import data_exists, tplot_names, del_data
 from pyspedas import maven
-from pyspedas.maven.download_files_utilities import get_orbit_files, merge_orbit_files, get_file_from_site
-from pyspedas.maven.maven_kp_to_tplot import maven_kp_to_tplot
-from pyspedas.maven.utilities import get_latest_iuvs_files_from_date_range
+from pyspedas.projects.maven.download_files_utilities import get_orbit_files, merge_orbit_files, get_file_from_site
+from pyspedas.projects.maven.maven_kp_to_tplot import maven_kp_to_tplot
+from pyspedas.projects.maven.utilities import get_latest_iuvs_files_from_date_range
 import time
 import collections
-from pyspedas.maven.config import CONFIG
+from pyspedas.projects.maven.config import CONFIG
 from datetime import datetime
 
 # We need sleep time to avoid "HTTP Error 429: Too Many Requests"
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ def get_kp_dict():
 
 class OrbitTestCases(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_get_merge_orbit_files(self):
-        from pyspedas.maven.config import CONFIG
+        from pyspedas.projects.maven.config import CONFIG
 
         get_orbit_files()
         merge_orbit_files()
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ def test_load_kp_iuvs_corona_data(self):
         time.sleep(sleep_time)
 
     def test_kp_param_errors(self):
-        from pyspedas.maven.kp_utilities import param_list, param_range, range_select
+        from pyspedas.projects.maven.kp_utilities import param_list, param_range, range_select
         # bad value in kp dict
         kp = {}
         kp["foo"] = "bar"
@@ -124,13 +124,13 @@ def test_kp_param_errors(self):
             i = len(log.output)
 
     def test_kp_utilities(self):
-        from pyspedas.maven.kp_utilities import (
+        from pyspedas.projects.maven.kp_utilities import (
             param_list,
             param_range,
             range_select,
             get_inst_obs_labels,
         )
-        from pyspedas.maven.kp_utilities import find_param_from_index
+        from pyspedas.projects.maven.kp_utilities import find_param_from_index
 
         kp = get_kp_dict()
         self.assertTrue(type(kp) is collections.OrderedDict)
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ def test_get_file_from_site_private(self):
             pass
 
     def test_load_mag_data(self):
-        from pyspedas.maven.utilities import get_l2_files_from_date
+        from pyspedas.projects.maven.utilities import get_l2_files_from_date
 
         del_data("*")
         data = maven.mag(datatype="ss1s")
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ def test_load_mag_data(self):
         time.sleep(sleep_time)
 
     def test_load_mag_data_private(self):
-        from pyspedas.maven.utilities import get_l2_files_from_date
+        from pyspedas.projects.maven.utilities import get_l2_files_from_date
 
         del_data("*")
         # We don't have credentials to the private site yet, so this is expected to fail
diff --git a/pyspedas/maven/utilities.py b/pyspedas/projects/maven/utilities.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/maven/utilities.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/maven/utilities.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/mica/README.md b/pyspedas/projects/mica/README.md
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/mica/README.md
rename to pyspedas/projects/mica/README.md
diff --git a/pyspedas/mica/__init__.py b/pyspedas/projects/mica/__init__.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/mica/__init__.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/mica/__init__.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/mica/config.py b/pyspedas/projects/mica/config.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/mica/config.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/mica/config.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/mica/load.py b/pyspedas/projects/mica/load.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/mica/load.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/mica/load.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/mica/tests/__init__.py b/pyspedas/projects/mica/tests/__init__.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/mica/tests/__init__.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/mica/tests/__init__.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/mica/tests/tests.py b/pyspedas/projects/mica/tests/tests.py
similarity index 100%
rename from pyspedas/mica/tests/tests.py
rename to pyspedas/projects/mica/tests/tests.py
diff --git a/pyspedas/utilities/tests/plot_tests.py b/pyspedas/utilities/tests/plot_tests.py
index ee86b2e5..6616efd7 100644
--- a/pyspedas/utilities/tests/plot_tests.py
+++ b/pyspedas/utilities/tests/plot_tests.py
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ def test_erg_specplot(self):
 
     def test_maven_specplot(self):
         del_data("*")
-        from pyspedas.maven.spdf import load
+        from pyspedas.projects.maven.spdf import load
         sta_vars = load(trange=['2020-12-30', '2020-12-31'], instrument='static', datatype='c0-64e2m')
         print(sta_vars)
         timespan('2020-12-30',1,'days')
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ def test_maven_specplot(self):
     #@unittest.skip(reason="Failing until we establish a default for spec_dim_to_plot")
     def test_maven_fluxes_specplot(self):
         del_data("*")
-        from pyspedas.maven.spdf import load
+        from pyspedas.projects.maven.spdf import load
         swe_vars = load(trange=['2014-10-18', '2014-10-19'], instrument='swea')
         print(swe_vars)
         timespan('2014-10-18',1,'days')