middle school space research project

JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE

Goddard space flight center, redirect notice : this site will soon be redirected to science.nasa.gov/webb, james webb space telescope, informal education resources, sub sub title, desc of content., lesson plans, activities, resources & programs for informal education.

• NASA Space Place: What is the James Webb Space Telescope - NASA Space Place is a site about space and Earth science for upper elementary aged children.
• NASA STEM Toolkit for Webb - Resources, activities, videos and more for educators on Webb and associated science topics.
• Life Cycle Of a Massive Star Activity - String beads on a bookmark to represent the stages a massive star goes through during its life cycle: Bookmark (pdf) and Activity (pdf).
• Discovering the Universe - STEM lessons, activities, and student magazine to support the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, by Scholastic. Produced in coordination with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
• Build-It-Yourself: Satellite! - An educational game for high school and college age students, where they get to be the scientist by building their own satellite. Approved by the NASA Education Product review.
• Scope It Out! - An educational game for middle and high school students, which compares a simple telescope to both the James Webb Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope. Approved by the NASA Education Product review. Lesson plans available.
• Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum - Exploring Telescopes Discovery Station (pdf) - A set of telescope-themed activities designed for the informal-education setting. Features the James Webb Space Telescope, and includes contributions by educators Ryan Hannahoe and Peter Detterline.
• Webb Telescope Fun Pad (pdf) - a fun pad of activities for children ages 5-10, as well as basic information about the telescope.
• NASA e-Clips - a site of short, educational videos. This link will take you to the ones about the James Webb Space Telescope , be sure to check out Launchpad: Cryogenics - The Cold Hard Facts .

Informal Education from Our Partner Institutions

• Build the Webb's Mirror - An activity from Ball Aerospace to learn about how the Webb's mirror is segmented. For younger children.
• Everything Emits Infrared Energy - Even You! - An activity from Ball Aerospace to learn about infrared energy/light.
• Webb coloring page (.pdf) - A picture of Web, from Ball Aerospace, that can be printed out and colored in.
• NIRCam Education & Outreach - This is the website for EPO material associated with the Near InfraRed Camera (NIRCam) instrument (by University of Arizona). There are activities available, which were developed and are used regularly for their workshops with the Girl Scouts.

Links to other Education & Outreach Resources

• Space Place : A set of web-based activities, games, crafts, information and learning activities from the NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab made available for all to enjoy.
• Cool Cosmos : Learn more about infrared light, astronomy, and the world around us. Spectacular images, fun games, resources for educators, and more!
• StarChild: Cosmology/Big Bang information (For K-6: Level 1 , Level 2 .)

Visit our Formal Education page >

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SSEP | Student Spaceflight Experiments Program

A Model U.S. National STEM Education Initiative for Grades 5-16 to inspire the next generation of America’s scientists and engineers

NEW SSEP FLIGHT OPPORTUNITY – Mission 19 to the International Space Station Experiment Design Phase: Fall 2024; Flight to ISS: Late Spring 2025    

To explore this opportunity for your community –  after carefully reading the SSEP Executive Summary below –  send an email to Dr. Jeff Goldstein, SSEP’s creator and National Program Director, to set up an informational Zoom videoconference with you and your community stakeholders.

Dr. Jeff Goldstein, Center Director, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education jeffgoldstein@ncesse.org

Mission 19 Press Release (2/28/24)   Download:  Press Release as PDF

[VIDEOS] SSEP Description:  Clip 1 (NASA) ,  Clip 2 (NASA) [VIDEOS] SSEP Launch and On-Orbit Operations History NASA Release 7/20/17:  SSEP Wins Award for Research on International Space Station [VIDEO] SSEP Showcased at Congressional Hearing 11/5/19 –  STEM in Era of Commercial Space Scientific American  feature  article on SSEP:   February 17, 2015

Mission 19 Downloads: – Mission 19 3-page Program Overview (MS Word) – Mission 19 PowerPoint – 2-page SSEP Overview with Strategic Objectives, used for Congressional Briefings (PDF)

• New Flight Opportunity for School Districts: Announcing Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) Mission 19 to the International Space Station, Starting September 2024 February 28, 2024
• The Flight of SSEP Mission 17 – UPDATE 11/16/23: Launch Video, Astronauts Now Operating Experiments on ISS November 16, 2023

ISS Current Location

The ISS Current Location tracker above was developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). ESA’s Columbus laboratory is a component of the ISS. Visit the ESA website for more information on the tracker.

HDEV Live View of Earth from ISS

This high definition video of your world is being telemetered to Earth LIVE from the International Space Station. To determine what portion of Earth is in view, use the ‘ISS Current Location’ toggle above. We invite you to get into the spirit of exploration on the frontiers of space – select an audio file below, expand the HDEV video window to full screen, and look down from 250 miles above Earth’s surface. Suggestions for other audio tracks are welcome:)

David Bowie’s Space Oddity, sung by Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield on ISS ( watch his video )

http://ssep.ncesse.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Superman_Theme.mp3

Star Trek TNG

http://ssep.ncesse.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/star-trek-thenextgeneration.mp3

Twitter Feed with Images from Astronauts Currently Aboard ISS

Spot the station: when will iss fly over your town.

In late 2015, the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education suggested to NASA Headquarters that a Spot the Station widget, which could be easily embedded on any website, would be a wonderful way to extend ISS public awareness. The widget below was the result, and you’ll note that it is also found in the right column on all main pages of this SSEP website.

You are invited to use the widget to explore Station over-flights of your community, and even embed this widget on your website by clicking on the “About” button in the widget.

SSEP Executive Summary (last revised 2/28/24)

A careful read of this home page will provide an Executive Summary of the Program. The rest of this website provides a deeper understanding of program pedagogy and operations; guidance for how a community can come aboard; and resources to conduct the program.

The Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) was launched in June 2010 by the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE) in strategic partnership with Nanoracks, LLC . Designed as a model U.S. national Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education initiative, the program gives students across a participating community the ability to design and propose real microgravity experiments to fly in low Earth orbit (experiments conducted in a “weightless” environment). SSEP was first carried out aboard the final two flights of the U.S. Space Shuttle Program in 2011 (STS-134 Endeavour, STS-135 Atlantis). In 2012 SSEP transitioned to operations on the International Space Station (ISS) – America’s newest National Laboratory.

SSEP is suitable for students in pre-college grades 5-12, 2-year community colleges, and 4-year colleges and universities. A participating  pre-college community typically engages 300+ students (at least 100 students) in microgravity experiment design and proposal writing. For an undergraduate community, it is expected that at least 30 students will be engaged.

In 2012, SSEP was extended to international communities through the  Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education , NCESSE’s new international arm.

Click on the image and feel the magic. Shuttle Endeavour on its final flight (STS-134) docked at ISS, May 23, 2011. Aboard her are 16 SSEP Experiments .

SSEP is about immersing and engaging students and their teachers in every facet of real science—on the high frontier—so that students are given the chance to be scientists—and experience science firsthand.

More broadly, SSEP is about a commitment to student ownership in exploration, to science as journey, and to the joys of learning.

Of special note – SSEP garners extensive media coverage at local, regional, and national levels (over 1,400 articles to date). School districts effectively leverage media exposure from their participation in this high caliber STEM initiative, and at a time when STEM education is of national strategic importance (see  SSEP in the News).

Important note: SSEP is not designed for an individual class or a small number of students in a pre-college community. Implementing SSEP for an appropriate-sized student audience is straightforward, and Implementation Plans from a large number of communities that have participated in SSEP are available on request.

Program Overview

Each community  participating in SSEP is provided a very real research asset – launch services to transport one student team designed microgravity experiment to the International Space Station (ISS) where it is operated by the astronauts. The experiment is designed for operation in a flight certified, straightforward to use microgravity research mini-laboratory. After a typical 4 to 6 week stay in orbit, the experiment will be returned to Earth for harvesting and analysis by the community’s student flight team.

Mirroring how professional researchers formally compete to obtain limited research assets, the participating community carries out a ‘call for proposals’. More specifically, the community conducts a local  Flight Experiment Design Competition , engaging potentially hundreds of students in teams of typically 3-5, with each team vying for the community’s single experiment slot by proposing a microgravity research program that can be carried out in the mini-laboratory. The competition is conducted through formal submission of real (but grade level appropriate) research proposals by the student teams – as is standard practice for professional researchers. 50-80 flight experiment proposals are typically secured across a single pre-college community. At least 10 proposals are required for an undergraduate community.

Each community’s flight experiment is selected through a formal 2-step proposal review process. The final selection is carried out by the SSEP National Step 2 Review Board, which typically meets at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, or NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. The flight experiment then undergoes a 4-month NASA flight safety review at Johnson Space Center; laboratory refinement by the student flight team; handover to Nanoracks in Houston for integration into the SSEP experiments payload; and payload integration into the ferry vehicle for flight to ISS. SSEP experiment payloads launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

SSEP is not a simulation – this is very real spaceflight. This is very real student immersion in space science research, and a remarkable opportunity for a community.

Stated more powerfully —

SSEP provides each community its own – very real – Space Program.

An annual SSEP National Conference held at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, immerses delegations of students in a real research conference where they formally present to  their peers  on experiment design and science results (explore the  2019 Conference page , and video clips of presentations archived on the Scientific Return and Reporting pages, see  e.g. ,  Mission 13 to ISS Scientific Return and Reporting ).

Mission 14 patch from Moreno Valley, CA, flown on SpaceX-21, returned to Earth January 14, 2021. Click to Zoom

A suite of SSEP program elements—the  Community Program —leverages the flight experiment design competition to engage the entire community, embracing a  Learning Community Model for STEM education . The core element is a Mission Patch Art and Design Competition allowing hundreds of students across the community (down to grade K) to capture through art and design their community’s SSEP experience. Up to two Mission Patches accompany the community’s selected flight experiment to low Earth orbit. In terms of an experience that mirrors America’s space program, astronauts for every NASA crewed mission work with a NASA artist to design a mission patch that captures the mission objectives. It is worn on their flight suits and brands mission documentation. SSEP communities often use their selected flight patch designs on t-shirts, stickers, and lapel pins in the same way.

We invite communities participating in SSEP Missions 14-20 to use their Mission Patch competitions to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Landings on the Moon, and humans returning to the Moon with NASA’s Artemis Program starting in 2025.

SSEP MISSIONS 14 to 20 TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION – COMMEMORATION OF THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE APOLLO MOON LANDINGS AND RETURN TO THE MOON

The flight of Apollo 11 to the Moon, crewed by astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, may be arguably the most remarkable journey ever undertaken by humankind. At 9:56 pm EST on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on another world.

In 2019 the world celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, and it is noteworthy that 1.5 billion people alive today were alive in 1969.

But the Apollo program included a total of 9 missions with a spacecraft traveling to the Moon, and 6 of those missions each landed 2 astronauts on the lunar surface. To date, 12 humans have walked on the Moon – a quarter of a million miles from our home world Earth. These missions took place 1968 to 1972 – from Apollo 8 –  the first spacecraft to fly around the Moon in December 1968, to Apollo 17 – the final Apollo Moon landing in December 1972.

50 years after the Apollo moon landings, NASA’s Artemis Program will return humans to the lunar surface in 2026. Artemis 1 launched from Kennedy Space Center on November 16, 2022, successfully placing an uncrewed Orion spacecraft into lunar orbit. Orion returned to Earth on December 11, 2022, splashing down in the Pacific off the coast of California. Artemis 2 is expected to launch in 2025 with a crew of 4 for a flyby of the Moon. Artemis 3 is expected to launch in 2026 with a crew of 4, and land humans on the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972.

The  National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE) is using SSEP Missions 14 through 20 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of NASA’s Apollo Program, and humanity’s return to the Moon with Artemis, given SSEP program operations for these 7 missions span 2019-2026. SSEP Mission 14 started in September 2019, and SSEP Mission 20 is to start in Fall 2025.

Strategic Curricular Connections to Science and STEM

Students can design experiments in diverse science fields, including: seed germination, crystal growth, micro-encapsulation, chemical processes, physiology and life cycles of microorganisms ( e.g.  bacteria), cell biology and growth, food studies, and studies of micro-aquatic life. SSEP is therefore relevant across all science disciplines, and allows all teachers of science across a community to immerse students in a fully authentic process of scientific inquiry. A curriculum, and other resources for teachers and students, supports foundational instruction on both the cause and characteristics of a microgravity (weightlessness) environment; the science conducted in microgravity and why; guidance for proposal writing; and the experiment design process that flows from the key essential question–

The essential question driving experiment design: What physical, chemical, or biological system would I like to explore  with gravity seemingly turned off for a period of time, as a means of assessing the role of gravity in that system?

SSEP provides seamless integration across STEM disciplines through an authentic, high visibility research experience that correctly places content within a process landscape – an approach that embraces the Next Generation Science Standard s , but also requires –

• design of an experiment in a Science discipline of choice
• a critical understanding of the space Technology , and associated spaceflight operations, used to transport payload to and from Low Earth Orbit and conduct microgravity experiments on ISS,
• a critical understanding of the Engineering  specifications for the mini-laboratory, which provide real-world constraints on experiment design,
• Mathematics to design a viable experiment to operate in the mini-laboratory, through: refinement of sample (fluid and solid) concentrations and volumes, defining a timeline that is consistent with the experiment’s duration aboard ISS, and defining an approach to data analysis after the experiment returns to Earth.

In addition, student teams are writing real proposals that then go through a formal review process. This addresses vital skills in terms of historical research, technical writing and communications, and teamwork.

Through this authentic trans-disciplinary approach to STEM education, SSEP is designed to inspire and engage the next generation of scientists and engineers, and more generally, address STEM literacy. For school districts—even individual schools—SSEP provides an opportunity to implement a systemic, high caliber and authentic STEM education program tailored to community need. With the Mission Patch art and design competitions, SSEP is more appropriately designated an authentic  STEAM initiative .

Appropriate Lead Institutions to Conduct this Program

The program is open to 5 categories of community, which provides a great deal of flexibility in implementing SSEP at the local level:

• Pre-College (the core focus for SSEP) in the U.S. , (grades 5-12), with a participating school district—even an individual school—providing a stunning, real, on-orbit RESEARCH opportunity to their upper elementary, middle, and high school students
• 2-Year Community Colleges in the U.S., (grades 13-14), where the student body is typically from the local community, providing wonderful pathways for community-wide engagement
• 4-Year Colleges and Universities in the U.S. ,  (grades 13-16), with an emphasis on Minority-Serving Institutions, where the program fosters interdisciplinary collaboration across schools and departments, and an opportunity for formal workforce development for science majors
• Communities in the U.S. led by Informal Education or Out-of-School Organizations, ( e.g. , a museum or science center, a home school network, a boy scout troop), because high caliber STEM education programs must be accessible to organizations that promote effective learning beyond the traditional classroom
• Communities Internationally:   in European Space Agency (ESA) member nations, European Union (EU) member nations, Canada, and Japan with participation through NCESSE’s Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education . Communities in other nations should explore the potential for their participation by  contacting the Institute .

SSEP’s Remarkable Program Heritage – Flight Opportunities to Date

Since program inception in June 2010, there have been 20 SSEP flight opportunities—SSEP on STS-134 and STS-135, which were the final flights of Space Shuttles Endeavour and Atlantis; and SSEP Missions 1 through 18 to ISS. A total of  242 communities  have participated in the program, reflecting 42 States and the District of Columbia in the U. S.; 5 Provinces in Canada; and Brazil and Ukraine each conducting national competitions. Thus far 76 communities have participated in multiple flight opportunities – 31 communities conducting three or more flights – reflecting the sustainable nature of the program.

Through the first 20 flight opportunities (through Mission 18), a total of 161,900 grade 5-16 students across  3,480 schools were fully  immersed in microgravity experiment design and proposal writing, 31,385 flight experiment proposals were received from student teams, and 421 experiments were selected for flight . Through Mission 17,  224,600 students across the entire grade preK-16 pipeline were engaged in their communities’ broader STEAM experience, submitting   195,000 Mission Patch designs.

381 of 421 experiments selected for flight through Mission 17 have now flown . 38 Mission 17 experiments launched on SpaceX-29, November 9, 2023, from Launch Complex (LC) 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida – the same pad from which all the Apollo missions to the Moon launched. The Mission 17 experiments returned to Earth on December 22, 2023. Another 39 Mission 18 experiments are to launch on SpaceX-31 in September 2024.

For more information on SSEP Missions to date–

Explore the  SSEP Launch and On-Orbit Operations History  page, which provides a sense of the already rich history of the SSEP Program. Here you will find s list of SSEP missions and payload designations, videos of all SSEP launches, a list of all astronauts that have operated SSEP experiments, and videos of astronauts operating the experiments.

Explore the Flight Opportunities to Date page, which provides launch and landing dates, and information on the ferry spacecraft, astronaut crews aboard ISS during experiment operation, and the SSEP flight experiment payloads.

Explore the separate SSEP website – the  SSEP Community Network Hubsite  – which is dedicated to the participating communities and the over 1,600 organizational partners at the local level. At the Hubsite, you can read profiles of the participating communities, see a map of the Community Network , read about the selected flight experiments and flight Mission Patches, explore the over 1,400 media articles on SSEP, and watch videos of student teams reporting out at the SSEP National Conferences in Washington, DC.

NEW Flight Opportunity Starting September 2024 – We Invite Your Community to Come Aboard

February 28, 2024: Announcing  SSEP Mission 19 to the International Space Station (ISS)

The National Center for Earth and Space Science Education , and the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education announce the 20th SSEP flight opportunity – SSEP Mission 19 to ISS  –  which provides for an experiment design competition Fall 2024, and a ferry flight for the selected flight experiments to ISS in Late Spring 2025.  SSEP Mission 19 to ISS is currently the only SSEP flight opportunity available.

Time Available for Experiment Design: Your Student Teams, led by your designated SSEP Local Team of Teacher Facilitators, will have 9 weeks from program start to proposal submission: September 3 to November 5, 2024. During this time, core activities include:

• introducing SSEP curricular content for foundational instruction on: the nature of microgravity, science conducted in microgravity, mini-laboratory operation, and experimental design
• defining student teaming, and facilitation of microgravity experiment design across all student teams
• each team writing a formal 5-page, grade level appropriate flight experiment proposal

Key Milestones:

• Experiment Design and Proposal Writing (9 weeks):  September 3 – November 5, 2024
• Flight Experiment Proposals due to your lead institution:  November 5, 2024
• Local Step 1 Review Board selects 3 finalist proposals, submits to NCESSE:  November 14, 2024
• Formal selection of your community’s flight experiment:  December 20, 2024
• Ferry Flight of SSEP Payload to ISS on SpaceX Dragon, estimated launch date:  Late Spring 2025
• Ferry Flight of SSEP Payload back to Earth:  typically Launch Plus 4 – 6 weeks
• SSEP National Conference for students:  late June or early July 2025, most likely held at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC, the site of the 2011 through 2019 Conferences

TIME CRITICAL Letters of Commitment of Funding from Participating Communities:   due August 22, 2024 Mission 19 to ISS Starts in Participating Communities:  September 3, 2024

ASAP: Interested communities are directed to contact NCESSE as soon as possible, but no later than April 15 , 2024 [EXTENDED TO JUNE 30, 2024], to explore participation. It typically takes 2-3 months in advance of program start to plan and fund the program in a community (funding with assistance from NCESSE if required – see below).

Contact: Dr. Jeff Goldstein, SSEP National Program Director, at  jeffgoldstein@ncesse.org Center Director, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education

Download: Mission 19 Press Release (2/28/24) , or View Online

For a deeper dive into SSEP program pedagogy and operations, explore the More on SSEP page (one of the buttons in the navigation banner above).

Program Basics

SSEP provides significant flexibility for a community to design a program to their strategic needs in STEM education—

• Appropriate Community Size:  a community of any size can participate, including a small school district, an individual school, a large inner city or suburban district, a cluster of rural districts, a college, or a museum/science center or other informal education led community-based effort
• Required Student Engagement:  a participating  pre-college community typically engages 300+ students in the grade 5-12 range (at least 100 students) in microgravity experiment design and proposal writing. For an undergraduate community, it is expected that at least 30 students will be engaged, corresponding to at least 10 proposal teams.
• Broader Student Engagement :  a community can engage all students Grades K-16 in the mission patch art and design competitions. These competitions also provide the community an opportunity to extend SSEP participation to grade levels and student populations not involved in microgravity experiment design and proposal writing.
• a bulleted list of powerful SSEP talking points that can be called upon when talking to a potential funder
• extensive experience successfully talking to funders about SSEP on behalf of interested communities
• databases of funders on a regional and local level, that allow us to rapidly do a search for appropriate funders
• a template for a proposal to a funder that can be customized to a specific community

Strategic, National, and Local Partners

The Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) is a program of the  National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE)  in the U.S., and the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education internationally. SSEP is enabled through a strategic partnership with Nanoracks LLC , which is working in partnership with NASA under a Space Act Agreement as part of the utilization of the International Space Station as a National Laboratory. NCESSE, the Clarke Institute, and Nanoracks are therefore designated  SSEP Strategic Partners .   Visit the  Strategic Partners  page to read about their SSEP programmatic roles and responsibilities.

SSEP is the first pre-college STEM education program that is both a U.S. national initiative and implemented as an on-orbit commercial space venture. 

NCESSE and the Clarke Institute are proud to be working with the following National Partners on SSEP:

• in the U.S. – the  Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum , the  International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory

To read more about these partnerships, visit the National Partners and Sponsors  page.

Partnership is truly a hallmark of SSEP. Over 1,600 organizations have supported SSEP at the local level, including: school districts, private schools, NASA Space Grant lead institutions and other universities, corporate foundations, businesses, community foundations, and local research institutions. These organizations are designated the  SSEP Local Partners .  To explore the Local Partners, visit the  Community Profiles & Local Partners  page at the Community Network Hubsite.

SSEP was designed to be a keystone initiative for U.S. National STEM education, and to help inspire America’s next generation of scientists and engineers. Through the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education, the International arm of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education, SSEP participation is also being expanded internationally to reflect the multinational complexion of ISS operations.

Phase 1 of SSEP was a unique and historic opportunity for students to propose experiments to fly aboard STS-134 and STS-135, the final flights of the U.S. Space Shuttle Program. We wanted the final voyages of the Space Shuttle to also mark a new beginning for student experiments in space, enabled by the new age of commercial space – the new private sector of companies providing transport services to and from low Earth orbit. This Phase 2 of SSEP provides communities of grade 5-16 students the ability to design and propose real microgravity experiments, just like professional researchers, for operation by the astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

We want SSEP to provide routine student researcher access to space via commercial payloads; to leverage the power of such access into a STEM education program delivered at the local level across an entire community; and to serve a network of such communities across the nation—even internationally.

To our children, who are America’s future in the 21 st century— be part of history … by making history.

To schools and school districts committed to STEM education— let us help your students step into the shoes of scientists and engineers … right now.

PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS, DISTRICT SCIENCE OFFICES, PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS

All content on this website is Copyright 2024, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE). Any use of this content without the permission of NCESSE is prohibited.

The Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) is a program of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE) in the U.S., and the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education internationally. It is enabled through a strategic partnership with DreamUp PBC and NanoRacks LLC , which are working with NASA under a Space Act Agreement as part of the utilization of the International Space Station as a National Laboratory. SSEP is the first pre-college STEM education program that is both a U.S. national initiative and implemented as an on-orbit commercial space venture.

Exploring the Solar System - Middle School Space Project

• Google Apps™

Description

Exploring the Solar System - A Middle School Space Project that combines research, creativity, and collaboration.

Take your students on an exciting journey through our solar system with this comprehensive 6-part space project! Students will gain an in-depth understanding of each planet through activities like creating fact files, designing fictional cities, and writing from the perspective of a resident.

The project comes in Office, Google, and PDF formats for your convenience. It is also fully editable.

The project begins with an introduction to the planets where students will compare basic characteristics on a chart.

Next, each student will be assigned a planet to research in-depth. They will create an engaging infographic poster highlighting unique traits, orbital paths, survival challenges, and fun facts about their planet.

In part 3, students will team up to analyze similarities and differences between their planets using Venn diagrams and presentations. Comparing composition, climate, size, terrain and more draws connections.

Imagination ignites in part 4 as groups design fictional cities tailored to their planet’s conditions. From infrastructure to culture, students will draw detailed maps and diagrams to showcase their planetary metropolis. Presentations explain how the city design reflects the planet’s traits.

Part 5 allows students to imagine daily life on their planet through a written journal. By pretending to live there, students connect more deeply.

Finally, the project culminates in the Planets Fair where groups host interactive exhibits to teach visitors about the amazing worlds in our solar system.

With 6 comprehensive components, this project offers an enriching opportunity for middle schoolers to explore space.

MS-ESS1-1. Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons.

• This standard could be met by students modeling the orbits and rotations of the planets and comparing them to Earth's patterns.

MS-ESS1-2. Develop and use a model to describe the role of gravity in the motions within galaxies and the solar system.

• Modeling gravity's role in orbits and rotations fulfills this standard.

MS-ESS1-3. Analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system.

• Analyzing data about planets to compare their scales and properties meets this standard.

MS-PS2-4. Construct and present arguments using evidence to support the claim that gravitational interactions are attractive and depend on the masses of interacting objects.

• Arguments about gravity's role based on planet masses satisfies this standard.

MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution.

• Designing cities tailored to planetary constraints aligns with this standard.

The cross-cutting concepts of patterns, scale, systems, and structure and function are addressed through various project components as well.

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ISS National Lab STEM Award Recipients Inspire Students Through Space Station Science

Each year, the ISS National Lab honors talented educators who utilize SSE partner programs to innovate space-related education for their students.

Student Teams Launch Fruit Flies, Fungus, and Futures on NASA’s SpaceX CRS-30

Higher Orbits Go For Launch! sends student science to the International Space Station!

Heirlooms in Orbit: Native American Seeds Take Flight on the ISS

This research is an opportunity to introduce Choctaw students to space industry careers they didn’t previously dream possible.

Orbital Insights: Student Research in Space

High school senior, Isabel Jiang, is taking her scientific career to new heights as the most recent winner of the Genes in Space™ competition.

Inspiring Young Girls From Space: Barbie Flies Onboard the International Space Station

She may be a doll, but Barbie is showing young girls that a career in space when they grow up is real.

Space Station Ambassadors

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Space Station Explorers STEM Guide

Space station explorers news.

Students Reach for the Stars With STARWard STEM

Dozens of students descended on Kennedy Space Center’s Visitor Complex earlier this month, eager to present projects they designed that will soon fly to…

California High School Student Announced as Winner of the 2023 Genes in Space Competition at ISSRDC

Isabel Jiang, a high school student from Hillsborough, CA, is about to take a giant leap forward in her scientific career. She was named…

STEM Sessions and Awards Address Need for Future Space Workforce

Seattle (WA), July 18, 2023 – The National Space Council is calling on the U.S. government, private sector companies, education and training providers, and…

Seagrass in Space: Middle School Students Become Microgravity Scientists

During the pandemic lockdown, iLEAD California Charter School students were given the opportunity to participate in an eight-week iLEAD DreamUp to Space Experiment Design…

From scientists who make meaningful discoveries that benefit Earth to educators who train the future space industry workforce,…

ISS National Lab-Sponsored Investigation Aims to Expand Genes in Space™ Toolkit on Station

CAPE CANAVERAL (FL), January 24, 2024 – For nearly a decade, Genes in Space™ has challenged…

ISS National Lab Selects Illinois Graduate Student as the 2023 James A. Abrahamson Space Leader Fellow

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER (FL), January 12, 2024 – A college student pursuing a Ph.D. in physical sciences…

20 Years of Student Experiments Using the ISS

Download this Report to learn more about the student experiments the community has enabled over the past 20 years of continuous human presence onboard the ISS.

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Earth and Space Science Classroom Activities and Resources

Free middle school classroom activities and resources to meet Earth and space science standards: plate tectonics, lunar phases, seasons, and more.

STEP, a NASA-funded project, assembled Earth and space science classroom activities and resources while working with Houston area educators to provide professional development in Earth and Space Science to thousands of teachers. Each Earth and space science topic includes hands-on activities, some inquiry activities, and powerpoints and additional resources.

Weather and Climatic Interactions This topic addresses TEKS 8.10 (a,b,c) and connects strongly to physical concepts of energy transformation, light, absorption, and seasons.

Rock Cycle: Processes of Rock Formation and Erosion This topic covers TEKS 6.10 (B and D) and supports 8.9 (C).

Components of the Solar System An overview of the Solar System and scale activities, definitions and misconceptions, and an introduction to gravity.

Lunar Phases This topic addresses TEKS 8.7 B, regarding demonstrating and predicting the sequence of events in the lunar cycle.

Seasons This topic addresses TEKS 8.7A, regarding modeling and illustrating how the tilted Earth revolves around the Sun causing changes in seasons. Students should understand the scale of the solar system and the Earth’s revolution around the Sun before this topic is addressed.

Tides This topic addresses TEKS 8.7C, relating the position of the Moon and Sun to their effect on ocean tides. Students should understand the cause of lunar phases, and have an introduction to the concept of gravity, before tackling this topic.

Electromagnetism, light-year, spectroscopy, imaging This topic addresses TEKS 8.8 (C and D) with activities to build student understanding of the spectrum, light years, and how we measure distances.

Characteristics of objects in the Solar System Looking at the planets, moons, Sun, comets, and asteroids: discussing with respect to images and spectra.

Cracking Up: Plate Tectonics Explore the relationship between landforms, earthquakes, and plate tectonics, through an examination of the data.

Characteristics of the Universe These resources and activities are geared toward meeting the 8th grade TEKS 8.8 A-E, and build upon the content included in Components of the Solar System and Electromagnetism, Light Year, Spectroscopy

Nature of Science These resources focus on understanding how science works and what a hypothesis and theory are.

Living in the Solar System This topic includes TEKS 7.9 A and B, and connects to and reinforces 6.11 A and C.

Natural Resources and Ecosystems This topic includes TEKS 7.8 A, B, and C — the impacts of natural catastrophes on ecosystems; watersheds; and weathering, erosion, and deposition by Texas ecoregion.

Planning a Workshop This topic included discussions on planning workshops, with a focus on the 1 hour CAST workshops.

Topographic Maps and Satellite Images STEP Scientist Mentors

STEP Scientist Mentors

Overarching Discussion and Resources:

  STEP Participant Initial Input   Science / Earth and Space Science Concept Inventories   Creating a Workshop: Notes from Facilitators’ and Teachers’ Perspectives

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50 STEM Projects For Middle School: Structures, Experiments, Discussions, Challenges, DIYs, And Games

April 4, 2024 //  by  Stephanie Ledford

STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math! This exciting topic puts your students at the center of learning by encouraging exploration and innovation to solve problems. By doing so, we are creating tomorrow’s cutting-edge leaders, ready to make new discoveries and advances that we couldn’t even dream up! Check out these awesome STEM projects that are perfect for middle school to cultivate the next generation of scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematical innovators!

1. Scaling Up Candy Wrappers

Teach your kids about increasing the scale of an image by using grids. This activity works well with candy wrappers or cartoon characters, as these are things every middle schooler is interested in! You can also use this idea to teach them how to use grids to decrease the size of their drawings.

Learn More: Fast Times Of A Middle School Math Teacher

2. Leaning Tower of Pasta

Have your students practice their engineering skills with this fun activity using pasta and marshmallows! They’ll learn about concepts like compression and tension as they try to build the tallest and strongest structures! Dial up the competitive spirit with a prize for the winning team!

Learn More: Teach Engineering

3. Toothpick Bridge

Another creative engineering project for your middle schoolers is this toothpick bridge project. Your kiddos will only need glue and toothpicks to design and build some awesome bridges. They’ll earn extra points if their bridges are strong and can hold a lot of weight!

Learn More: Instructables

4. I Breathe What?

If you are looking for an activity that combines engineering and science then look no further! Your kids will build pollution detectors out of card, string, and sticky tape, to put in different areas. They’ll then collect these and use a magnifying glass to examine all of the different particles that have been caught. The results may be surprising!

Learn More: YouTube

5. Backyard Weather Station

Teach your students about how we’re able to measure and predict weather patterns using weather stations. After making their own predictions about what the weather will do, your budding meteorologists will build their own weather stations complete with a weather vane, barometer, rain gauge, and thermometer!!

Learn More: eGFI

6. One Million Dollar Project

Show your middle school students the value of the dollar with this fun math assignment! They’ll delight in planning how they’d spend one million dollars, but it won’t be all about fun and games! They’ll need to take real-life expenses into consideration, such as paying for college and buying a house. They’re sure to appreciate their weekly allowance that much more!

Learn More: 4mula Fun!

7. Protect Your Body, Filter Your Water!

Having access to clean water is a huge concern for many people around the world, so being able to filter dirty water to make it drinkable is invaluable! Put your kiddies’ engineering skills to the test as they work out the best way to create their own water filters using a sieve and some activated charcoal.

8. Paper Roller Coasters

Who doesn’t love a roller coaster? This fun STEM challenge will have your little engineers use paper, card stock, and tape to build their own roller coasters. Next, they’ll roll a marble along the track and see if it makes its way to the end! They’ll be amazed at what kind of thought goes into their local fun park!

9. Fire Snake

This is one of those science experiments your students will remember for many years to come! Set up this experiment by lining a bowl with sand, then add sugar and baking soda on top. Next, saturate the mixture with some lighter fluid, then have your kiddies stand back as you light it up! They’ll be amazed by the interactions of the different elements and love the final product!

Learn More: Surviving a Teacher’s Salary

10. Alka Seltzer Lava Lamp

Add this one to your simple STEM projects folder straight away! Have your kiddos combine food coloring, vegetable oil, and water in a clear jar or bottle, then start the show by adding an Alka Seltzer tablet! The way the different elements interact in this fun, simple experiment will be awe-inspiring for your class.

Learn More: Fun Learning for Kids

11. Ice Cream in a Bag

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Who knew there was science involved in making ice cream? Get your learners to combine and seal half and half, sugar, and vanilla in a zip lock bag, then place this into a bigger bag filled with ice and salt. After a good shake, their ice cream is ready for a taste test!

Learn More: The Best Ideas for Kids

12. Paper Airplane Challenge

There are tons of STEM challenges you can do with your students involving paper airplanes. They’re probably bored of seeing whose airplane will fly the furthest, so why not shake things up by seeing whose can carry the most cargo? They’ll be having so much fun that they won’t even realize they’ve become engineers!

Learn More: Kids Activities

13. Fidget Spinner Challenge

While fidget spinners may have momentarily driven teachers crazy, they can actually be a great learning opportunity!! Use them to teach your class about the engineering design process; from having your kids create their own design to using math concepts for budgeting the cost of building one, they’re sure to have fun with this one!

Learn More: Momgineer

14. Comparing Slime And Other Polymers STEM Activity

A great STEM activity that’s sure to excite your little scientists is one that involves slime! In this project you can make slime and other polymers and non-Newtonian fluids then compare the properties of each! What a perfect way to get your class talking about and practicing scientific investigative processes!

Learn More: STEAM-Powered Family

15. No Valve in Vain

Your kids will be inspired to learn that biomedical engineers design things that not only assist people but also keep them alive! In this STEM activity, you’ll teach your class how to create a one-way valve like the ones found in our hearts. They’ll see how this simple concept ensures that our blood continues to pump around our bodies.

16. Balloon Powered Car

Look no further for your next STEM project than the balloon-powered car! Using various crafting or recycled materials, your kiddies will build their cars and learn how an axle allows the wheels to turn as the balloon propels their cars across the room! There are so many different concepts you can cover in this one STEM challenge!

Learn More: Teaching Science

17. Elephant Toothpaste

Let your kiddos discover how some hydrogen peroxide can turn some everyday materials into elephant toothpaste! They’ll combine dish soap and food coloring with the peroxide, then add yeast to kick things off! This exciting chemical reaction isn’t one they’ll forget in a hurry!

Learn More: Fractus Learning

18. Bath Bombs

In this fun experiment, your kiddos will form hypotheses about how water temperatures will affect the eruptions of bath bombs. After they’ve made their predictions, they can fill up a tub with some water and get to testing! If you have time, you could have them create their own bath bombs for this project!?

Learn More: Argo Food Service

19. Candy Crystals

Creating these gorgeous lollies with your learners is sure to delight! Who knew that growing your own rock candy was so easy? Have your them create a mixture of sugar, water, and food dye, then submerge their prepared sticks and wait for the magic to happen! They’ll be amazed as they watch their candy crystals grow before their eyes!

Learn More: Better Life Blog

20. Marble Speed Trap

Toys + science = FUN! Use LEGOs and marbles to review and reinforce the concept of velocity with your kiddies. They’ll build their very own speed trap in this engaging activity using some light sensors which will measure the speed that the marble travels down the track! There’ll be no slowing these scientists’ learning down, that’s for sure!

Learn More: Blog She Wrote

21. Cell Phone Stand

One thing we all have in our pockets these days is a cell phone. And why not make it the main attraction in this fun STEM activity? Have your kids use the design process to reimagine a common cell phone stand and then have them bring their visions into reality by using various crafting materials from around the classroom.

Learn More: Scientific American

22. Cloud in a Bottle

Inspire your future meteorologists with this unbelievable experiment! Using just a clear bottle, a few drops of water, and a match they’ll get to see firsthand how water condenses to form a cloud!

Learn More: The Water Project.org

23. Snickers Rock Models

Did you know that a simple Snickers bar can be used to represent three kinds of rock? Have your kiddos explore the layers of this delicious candy bar and experiment with applying pressure and heat to discover the effects these have on sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rock. 

Learn More: Organized Homeschooler

24. Windmill STEM Challenge

Engage your kids’ engineering mindsets with this windmill construction challenge, based on the story of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. They’ll use recyclables to explore, design, test, and refine models of windmills. This is an awesome way for them to explore future careers in STEM.

Learn More: Carly & Adam

25. Layers of The Ocean And Density

STEM activities are a great way to bring abstract scientific concepts, such as the layers of the ocean, to life for your students! This activity uses sand, salt, and water to make a mini-ocean in a glass. Your class will measure the different densities of these materials and discover how this relates to the ocean’s layers. 

Learn More: Homeschool Momgineer

26. Bouncy Naked Eggs

Shell-less eggs are sure to fascinate your students, whatever their age!  Give your learners an unboiled egg to put in some vinegar for about 24 hours; the result is a shell-less bouncy egg! Take this classic experiment a step further by predicting and testing which egg is the bounciest.

Learn More: Science Sparks

27. Glowing Eggs

Let your kiddies take the “naked egg” experiment to the next level with just one more ingredient–the ink from a highlighter! Add the ink pad from a highlighter to vinegar, then add the egg Once the shell has dissolved, take the egg to a dark room and shine a light on it! Talk about a glow-up! 

Learn More: Frugal Coupon Living

28. The Science of Sound Waves

Visualizing scientific concepts like sound waves can be tricky! However, with just a spoon, some string, and a ruler, your students will start to get the idea. First, have them tie a spoon to the end of two lengths of yarn and hold the yarn to their ears. Next, tap the spoon and watch the “Ah ha!” moment in real-time!

Learn More: KC Edventures

29. How Does a Leaf Breathe?

No lungs? No problem! Have your kids put a leaf in a bowl of water, set it in the sun, and watch as the magic of photosynthesis happens. Seeing the oxygen bubbles form on the surface of the leaf will show them this process in real-time! 

30. Ping-Pong Ball Launcher

Get your kiddos outside with this fun rocket ball launcher experiment! Using a recycled plastic bottle and some rubber bands, your kiddos will learn about a ton of important STEM concepts such as the transfer of energy, inertia, and velocity. Create your basic prototype then let them tinker with the design to make improvements!

Learn More: Frugal Fun 4 Boys

31. Marble Energy Transfer

Build your kiddos’ understanding of how energy is transferred between objects in this intriguing marble experiment! Using their prior knowledge of potential and kinetic energy, they’ll make predictions about what will happen to the marbles when they collide and how far they will travel.

32. LEGO Wrecking Ball

What’s better than building a LEGO tower? Using it to knock things down! For all your future engineers, it’ll be a hit to build some functional machines during a STEM design challenge! Using just a golf ball, some string, and a few LEGOs, task them with constructing a wrecking ball that’ll knock over anything standing in its way!

Learn More: LEGO Librarian

33. DIY Phone Amplifier

Check, one, two, three! Your music lovers will love this one. They’ll get to have a dance party in class, but must first they’ve got figure out how to amplify the music from a phone. Using only recyclable materials, have them build a device that’ll turn up the tunes!

Learn More: Mum In The Madhouse

34. Catapult Circuit Challenge

Ready, aim, fire! Have your kiddos engineer catapults from simple materials in this classic STEM activity. You can extend this activity by challenging them to complete several tests and get the perfect collapse! They’ll need to truly follow the engineering design process, revisiting and tweaking their machines in the pursuit of efficiency!

Learn More: Vivify STEM

35. Space Lander Challenge

In this incredible activity for your middle school kids, they’ll integrate physical science concepts and their problem-solving skills. They’ll be tasked with the real-world problem of developing a stable spacecraft that protects the “astronauts” inside upon landing. It’ll only take a few simple materials and some marshmallows to prepare!

36. Index Card Challenge

This simple activity is the perfect icebreaker for your middle school kids and also incorporates STEM. First, split your learners into groups and give them a couple of minutes to write things they have in common on index cards. Next, they must race against each other to build the tallest card tower possible!

Learn More: Beakers And Ink

37. Saving Sam

Saving Sam is a STEM challenge for your table groups with a team-building element! Your kiddos have got to work together to save poor Sam, the gummy worm but they’ll only be allowed to use paperclips to flip his capsized boat and get his lifesaver on! This activity highlights the importance of sharing ideas respectfully, as they would in future STEM fields.

38. DIY Smartphone Projector

Your middle school students will explore concepts of projection and magnification as they work to create a functioning movie projector. After creating the projector from just a magnifying lens and box, your students can vote on which movie to watch as they test out their creation!

Learn More: The STEM Laboratory

39. Pinball Machine Challenge

Are there any pinball wizards in the room? Take your kiddies back to the days of arcades with this super fun pinball machine engineering activity. Have them design a functional pinball machine, complete with flippers, a plunger, and score holes, and prompt them to consider STEM concepts like the laws of motion, force, and velocity!

Learn More: Teach Student Savvy

40. Simple Machine Bird

Strengthen your learners’ engineering mindset as they build a mechanical bird complete with levers and gears! All you’ll need is some cardboard, popsicle sticks, and some plastic gear sets to challenge them to construct a bird that is able to flap its wings! This cool STEM activity will build an understanding of how simple machines are built.

41. Water Pipelines

Connect your classroom STEM lessons with future career pathways through this introduction to water pipelines! Your kiddies will use their problem-solving abilities to move water from a reservoir through straw pipelines! Can they get the water from A to B without any leaks?

Learn More: Teachers Are Terrific

42. Earthquake Structures

Can your students build an earthquake-proof structure? Guide them as they investigate the properties of stable structures and then use simple materials to create multi-level buildings that can withstand a Jello earthquake! This fun STEM activity is a super hands-on way to shake things up for your middle schoolers!

43. Thaumatrope

During this STEM lesson, you’ll teach your students the scientific magic behind a classic toy from the old days; the thaumatrope!  First, your kiddos will trace or draw designs on the two sides of a cardstock circle. Then, after learning about “persistence of vision,” they’ll add rubber bands and spin their creations to see them in action as the two images blend together.

Learn More: What We Do All Day

44. Pringles Ring

Amaze your kiddos with this feat of friction and gravity as they work to construct rings of only Pringles chips. By carefully placing the chips in the correct pattern, they’ll be able to form a solid ring that stands without support! Amazing, right? The best part is that their creation becomes an edible reward in the end!

45. Light Painting

Light painting may seem like just a fun social media trend, but on a deeper level, it is an exploration of camera exposure and light! Turn out the lights, set your camera on a long exposure mode, and show your kiddos what types of images they can create with just a torch or glow stick! 

Learn More: Pink Stripey Socks

46. Video Game Coding

Before delving into your classroom unit on video game engineering,  challenge your kids to complete the same type of tasks in a hands-on way. Encourage them to think through their overall layout, familiarize themselves with commands, and figure out what they’ll need to incorporate into a purposeful game design.

Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers

47. Design a Video Game

Introduce your learners to basic game coding concepts with this super offering! The software is right at their fingertips with Google CS First for them to learn how to create simple racing games. and as it meets ISTE standards! What a fun and practical resource to help your middle schoolers meet the STEM curriculum. 

Learn More: Google CS First

48. Lightbot Coding

Lightbot is another fantastic online resource for building your students’ understanding of coding. They will get to practice their skills in relaying commands, making loops, and utilizing their critical thinking skills on this interactive platform. This a great choice for a STEM block or as an activity for your early finishers! 

Learn More: Light Bot

49. Printable Debugging Game

Debugging is an important principle of coding that your kiddos should learn early on. Grab this quick and easy debugging practice printable to tap into their critical thinking skills. It’s sure to show your kids the importance of thorough, error-free coding, which is critical for a future career in computer science!

Learn More: iGame Mom

50. Digital Artist

Looking for an awesome online resource that combines art and technology? Code has numerous coding games and activities to teach your students the basics of code and Artist is no exception!! Your class will be totally engaged as they follow the on-screen coding instructions to create increasingly difficult shapes. They’ll be coding pixels to create masterpieces in no time!

Learn More: Code  

NASA Funds Research Projects Advancing STEM Career Development

JPL is supporting seven projects in the MOSAICS program, which helps build relationships between college faculty and NASA researchers while providing mentorship for students.

NASA has awarded $6 million to 20 teams from emerging research institutions across the United States supporting projects that offer career development opportunities for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students.

This is the third round of seed funding awarded through the agency’s MOSAICS (Mentoring and Opportunities in STEM with Academic Institutions for Community Success) program, formerly the Science Mission Directorate Bridge Program. The program seeks to expand access to NASA research opportunities in the science and engineering disciplines, as well as to NASA’s workforce.

“The STEM workforce continues to grow, and today’s students, studying at a variety of higher-education institutions — community colleges, primarily undergraduate institutions, and minority-serving institutions — are the STEM workforce of tomorrow, who will work to solve some of our biggest challenges at home while answering some of our biggest questions about our universe,” said Padi Boyd, director of MOSAICS at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Exposing today’s students to the incredibly inspiring and cutting-edge discoveries made through NASA’s space science people and resources ensures that these students get the training they need to persist in STEM careers, while fostering enduring collaborations between NASA researchers and faculty at a wide range of institutions.”

We've Got Some Space for You

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate MOSAICS program funds research projects building relationships between college faculty and researchers at the agency while providing mentorship and training for students in STEM disciplines. The projects support teams at academic institutions that historically have not been part of the agency’s research enterprise — including Hispanic-serving institutions, historically Black colleges and universities, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions, and primarily undergraduate institutions.

The program previously awarded seed funding to 11 teams in February and 13 teams in April. This third cohort brings the total number of projects funded to 44 teams at 36 academic institutions in 21 U.S. states and territories, including Washington and Puerto Rico, in collaboration with seven NASA centers. A new opportunity to apply for seed funding is now open until March 28, 2025.

The following projects were selected as the third cohort to receive seed funding:

“Bridging Fundamental Ice Chemistry Studies and Ocean World Explorations”

Principal investigator: Chris Arumainayagam, Wellesley College, Massachusetts

NASA center: NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Southern California

“Planetary Analog Field Science Experiences for Undergraduates: Advancing Fundamental Research and Testing Field Instrument Operations”

Principal investigator: Alice Baldridge, Saint Mary’s College of California

NASA center: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

“Building an FSU-JPL Partnership to Advance Science Productivity Through Applications of Deep Learning”

Principal investigator: Sambit Bhattacharya, Fayetteville State University, North Carolina

NASA center: NASA JPL

“CSTAT: Establishing Center for Safe and Trustworthy Autonomous Technologies”

Principal investigator: Moitrayee Chatterjee, New Jersey City University

NASA center: NASA Goddard

“Development of Biomechanics Simulation Tool for Muscle Mechanics in Reduced Gravity to Enhance Astronaut Mission Readiness”

Principal investigator: Ji Chen, University of the District of Columbia

NASA center: NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston

“NASA Next Level”

Principal investigator: Teresa Ciardi, Santa Clarita Community College District, California

“Controlled Assembly of Amphiphilic Janus Particles in Polymer Matrix for Novel 3D Printing Applications in Space ”

Principal investigator: Ubaldo Cordova-Figueroa, Recinto Universitario Mayaguez

NASA center: NASA’s Glenn Research Center, Cleveland

“Development of a Non-Invasive Sweat Biosensor for Traumatic Brain Injury Compatible With In-Space Manufacturing to Monitor the Health of Astronauts”

Principal investigator: Lisandro Cunci, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Pedras

NASA center: NASA’s Ames Research Center, Silicon Valley, California

“Examining Climate Impacts of Cirrus Clouds Through Past, Present, and Future NASA Airborne Campaigns”

Principal investigator: Minghui Diao, San Jose State University Research Foundation, California

NASA center: NASA Ames

“CSUN-JPL Collaboration to Study Ocean Fronts Using Big Data and Open Science Structures in Coastal North America”

Principal investigator: Mario Giraldo, California State University, Northridge

“Accelerating Electric Propulsion Development for Planetary Science Missions With Optical Plasma Diagnostics”

Principal investigator: Nathaniel Hicks, University of Alaska, Anchorage

“Advancing Students Through Research Opportunities in Los Angeles (ASTRO-LA)”

Principal investigator: Margaret Lazzarini, California State University, Los Angeles

“Bridging Toward a More Inclusive Learning Environment Through Gamma-ray Burst Studies With Machine Learning and Citizen Science”

Principal investigator: Amy Lien, University of Tampa, Florida

“Hampton University STEM Experience With NASA Langley Research Center: Polarimetry for Aerosol Characterization”

Principal investigator: Robert Loughman, Hampton University, Virginia

NASA center: NASA’s Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia

“Aerocapture Analysis and Development for Uranus and Neptune Planetary Missions”

Principal investigator: Ping Lu, San Diego State University

NASA center: NASA Langley

“Pathways From Undergraduate Research to the Habitable Worlds Observatory”

Principal investigator: Ben Ovryn, New York Institute of Technology

“Point-Diffraction Interferometer for Digital Holography”

Principal investigator: James Scire, New York Institute of Technology

“From Sunbeams to Career Dreams: Illuminating Pathways for NMSU Students in Solar-Terrestrial Physics in Partnership With NASA GSFC”

Principal investigator: Juie Shetye, New Mexico State University

“CONNECT-SBG: Collaborative Nexus for Networking, Education, and Career Training in Surface Biology and Geology”

Principal investigator: Gabriela Shirkey, Chapman University, California

“Multiplexed Phytohormone and Nitrate Sensors for Real-Time Analysis of Plant Responses to Pathogenic Stress in Spaceflight-Like Conditions”

Principal investigator: Shawana Tabassum, University of Texas, Tyler

NASA center: NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Learn more about the MOSAICS program at:

https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/smd-bridge-program/

News Media Contact

Alise Fisher

NASA Headquarters, Washington

202-358-2546

[email protected]

The Fall cohort application deadline is August 25, 2024.  

Click here to apply.

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10 Business Project Ideas for High School Students

With colleges going test-optional and test-blind, there’s a lot you can do to improve your chances and strengthen your profile while still in high school apart from your test scores. One way to do this is by conducting an independent business project. These projects can help bolster your resume and enhance applications for research programs and internships by showcasing your ability to apply theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios. Business projects help develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial skills. They also provide tangible outcomes that stay on your profile as a mark of competence and initiative.

In today’s blog, we’ve listed ten business project ideas that you can consider undertaking to expand your horizons and gain valuable experience:

1. Conduct a market research study

What to do:  Identify a product or service of interest and design a market research study to assess consumer preferences and market viability. Begin by defining your target demographic and constructing a survey that includes a mix of quantitative and qualitative questions . Utilize digital tools like Google Forms  or SurveyMonkey  to distribute your survey online, and consider setting up interviews or focus groups for more in-depth data collection. Analyze the data using software like Excel to identify trends and consumer preferences that can inform business strategies.

Skill sets:  Analytical thinking, data collection, and interpretation skills.

Ideal if:  You have an interest in marketing, data analysis, or entrepreneurship.

Drawbacks:  Can be time-consuming and requires access to a target audience.

Tips:  Utilize online survey tools and social media to reach a broader audience; clearly define your research questions before you begin.

2. Develop a business plan

What to do:  Choose a business idea, then research and develop a detailed business plan. Start by conducting a market analysis to assess the demand for your product or service.  Outline your business structure, design a marketing strategy, and develop an operations plan that details the logistics of how your business will run. Prepare financial projections including an income statement, cash flow forecast, and a break-even analysis. Use business planning software like LivePlan   to structure your plan and ensure all critical elements are included.

Skill sets:  Strategic thinking, financial planning, and creative marketing.

Ideal if:  You’re an aspiring entrepreneur or are interested in learning about the startup ecosystem.

Drawbacks:  Requires a deep understanding of various business aspects and can be complex.

Tips:  Use business plan software or templates to guide your structure; seek feedback from business educators or mentors.

3. Run a social media marketing campaign

What to do:  Select a business or create a hypothetical product and plan a comprehensive social media marketing campaign. It’s even better if you can get your hands on a real brand’s social media back end, like a business run by your guardian(s) or a teacher or mentor ! Identify which platforms are most popular with your target market, such as Instagram for a younger audience or Facebook for an older demographic. Develop a content calendar, and create engaging posts that include images, videos, and hashtags. Use scheduling tools like Buffer   or Hootsuite   to maintain a consistent posting routine. Analyze engagement through platform analytics to adjust strategies and improve interaction rates.

Skill sets:  Digital marketing, content creation, data analysis.

Ideal if:  You are serious about making a career in marketing, advertising, or digital communications.

Drawbacks:  Success heavily depends on an understanding of platform algorithms and audience behavior. You also need to execute campaigns (which requires funds) to truly learn what strategies work and which fail.

Tips:  Keep up-to-date with trends on each platform; use free analytics tools to track your campaign’s performance.

4. Conduct a financial literacy workshop

What to do:  Develop a series of financial literacy workshops aimed at educating peers about personal finance management. Topics can cover things like budgeting basics, the importance of saving, how to use credit responsibly, and the fundamentals of investing. You’ll need to prepare interactive presentations and hands-on activities like budgeting exercises or simulations of investment scenarios. You’ll also have to promote the workshop through school channels and social media and consider inviting a financial expert to provide additional insights.

Skill sets:  Public speaking, educational content creation, financial knowledge.

Ideal if:  You have a solid foundation in finance and are equally passionate about finance and education.

Drawbacks:  Requires an extremely thorough understanding of financial concepts, as well as the ability to break complex terminology down and explain it simply to a layman's audience.

Tips:  Use interactive tools like games or simulations to make learning more engaging.

5. Setup your e-commerce store

What to do:  Establish an e-commerce store by selecting a niche product line you are passionate about. Research potential suppliers or decide on making your products if feasible. Set up an online store using a platform like Shopify, which provides customizable templates and integrated payment systems.  Develop a marketing strategy that includes SEO optimization, email marketing campaigns, and social media advertising.  While you don’t have  to have a real, physical product to sell, your learning will be significantly greater if you do. It’ll also teach you to manage customer orders, track inventory using the platform’s built-in tools, and understand how logistics and supply chains work.

Skill sets:  E-commerce management, digital marketing, customer service.

Ideal if:  You have a strong interest in retail, entrepreneurship, and online business, and want to test the waters with online sales.

Drawbacks:  Initial capital is required for buying inventory and setting up operations; managing logistics can be extremely challenging and is one of the hardest things to learn at a young age.

Tips:  Start small with a few products; utilize drop-shipping to minimize upfront costs.

6. Conduct a sustainability audit for a local business

What to do:  Approach a local business and offer to perform a sustainability audit. Assess their current operations with a focus on energy usage, waste management, and sourcing policies. Research sustainable practices relevant to their business type, such as switching to energy-efficient appliances, implementing a recycling program, or using local suppliers.  Prepare a report that outlines your findings and provides recommendations for improvements, including potential cost savings and environmental benefits.

Skill sets:  Environmental science, research, business analysis.

Ideal if:  You are looking to understand sustainability practices in business, their practicality, application, and implementation.

Drawbacks:  Requires knowledge of environmental practices and business operations. Also requires access to a local business that is willing and interested in sustainability operations.

Tips:  Partner with environmental organizations for guidance; focus on cost-effective solutions that can apply to even small businesses.

7. Create an investment portfolio

What to do:  Use a stock market simulation tool to create and manage a virtual investment portfolio. Begin by setting investment goals based on hypothetical scenarios like saving for college or starting a business. Research various investment options including stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Allocate assets according to your risk tolerance and time horizon. Monitor the performance of your investments using the simulation tool’s analytics features, and make adjustments to your portfolio based on market conditions.

Skill sets:  Financial analysis, risk management, decision-making.

Ideal if:  You love finance, and economics, and want to understand how the stock market truly operates.

Drawbacks:  Has an extremely high learning curve if you’re unfamiliar with financial markets.

Tips:  Start with virtual trading platforms to practice without financial risk.

8. Conduct a business ethics case study

What to do:  Select a recent case involving ethical dilemmas in the business world. Research the background and the outcomes of the case.  Analyze the ethical issues involved, considering various stakeholders’ perspectives. Write a detailed report discussing the ethical, legal, and business implications of the case.  Consider presenting your findings to classmates or at a school conference to engage others in discussion about business ethics.

Skill sets:  Critical thinking, ethical reasoning, research.

Ideal if:  You have an interest in corporate law, ethics, or human resources.

Drawbacks:  Can be abstract and requires a nuanced understanding of ethical principles. There also may be a fair bit of legal research involved which can make for dry reading.

Tips:  Choose a relevant and timely issue; use real-world examples to ground your study.

9. Lead a customer service improvement project

What to do:  Identify a local business willing to collaborate with you to enhance their customer service. Start by gathering feedback from customers through surveys or direct interviews to identify areas for improvement. Analyze this data to develop actionable insights, such as streamlining the service process, enhancing staff training, or integrating new technologies for better service delivery. Implement the improvements and track changes in customer satisfaction.

Skill sets:  Analytical skills, customer relations, strategic planning.

Ideal if:  You’re interested in operational management and customer satisfaction.

Drawbacks:  Access to business and customer data might be restricted.

Tips:  Focus on businesses with which you or your family have a relationship to ease data access.

10. Create a nonprofit fundraising strategy

What to do:  Partner with a nonprofit organization to devise and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy. Start by understanding the organization's goals, budget, and previous fundraising efforts. Develop a mix of fundraising activities that could include online crowdfunding campaigns, charity events, and grant writing. Create promotional materials and utilize social media platforms to raise awareness and encourage donations. Evaluate the effectiveness of different strategies and make recommendations for future campaigns based on your results.

Skill sets:  Event planning, persuasive writing, strategic thinking.

Ideal if:  You want to understand nonprofit management, event planning, or how fundraising works for different organizations.

Drawbacks:  Fundraising can be quite challenging and results may vary widely. It’s also not a one-size-fits-all approach and requires custom solutions and a lot of trial and error.

Tips:  Leverage community events and social media to maximize outreach and impact; be clear about how funds will be used to encourage donations.

These business projects offer a range of experiences that cater to different interests and skill levels, providing valuable learning opportunities and a solid foundation for future career endeavors.

If you’re looking for an incubator program that helps you establish a developed startup in high school, consider the Young Founders Lab! 

The   Young Founders Lab   is a real-world start-up bootcamp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem.   You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X. 

You can access the application link   here !

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NYC middle school students are designing their own community youth space

By Hannah Kliger

Click here for updates on this story

    NEW YORK, New York ( WCBS ) — While many kids have spent their summer taking a much-needed break, a group of young people in East New York, Brooklyn, have been hard at work learning about building materials, scale, and interior design.

“It’s fun learning… it just helps you feel confident,” said 11-year-old Mi-kaila Davis, who is entering sixth grade.

Their 3D model of a new youth space at the Penn-Wortman Community Center reflects the things important to them: a clean modern space with tables to work at and bean bag chairs to lounge, a chalkboard for presentations, couches, and lockers for afterschool activities.

“Sometimes things happen that we don’t really have an input on. And it’s nice knowing that we had an idea on what was going to happen to our community center,” said 11-year-old Cheyanne Paris.

It’s not just a summer project

The space will be transformed based on the students’ designs this fall.

Amid ongoing construction work at the development is a five-week pilot program launched in two locations in Brooklyn and Queens.

More than a dozen students have been working with the Salvadori Center, which promotes science, technology, engineering, art, and math education.

“If we’re teaching things and they’re only through memorization or textbooks, it’s not going to come alive for kids. It needs to be practical. It needs to be relevant. And so what better way to be relevant than to actually get to re-envision your own community space?” explained Trenton Price, executive director of the Salvadori Center.

The kids presented their final design to a room of professionals and answered questions from a development company they got to tour as part of the experience.

“The youth here have watched a lot of construction happen, so this is giving them an opportunity to be a part of it and design a space for themselves,” added Gingi Pica, senior director of community investment at L&M Development Partners.

Leaders hope the experience in project-based learning can inspire future careers in STEAM.

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