Save the date for the updated ESA School Projects 2023-2024
After the conclusion of another inspiring school year together, ESA is happy to announce the updated 2023-24 School Projects! Enjoy this Summer and be ready for exciting new challenges starting in September. Choose your favourite project from training like an astronaut to investigating climate or building your own “micro-satellite.” Note down the kick-off dates and warm up to join in!
The European Astro Pi Challenge
Kick-off: 18 September
Suggested for: up to 19 years old
Have you ever dreamt of creating an experiment that could run in space? It’s easier than you think! All you need to do is write a computer program for our special Raspberry Pi computers, called Astro Pis, which are located on the International Space Station (ISS). In the Mission Zero challenge for beginners, you can collect colour and luminosity measurements and create your own pixel art image for the astronauts. For the more advanced Mission Space Lab challenge, there’s an exciting new activity planned for 2023/24 using the camera and sensors of an Astro Pi computer. Mission Zero will kick off on 18 September, and Mission Space Lab will begin on November 6th.
Astro Pi is run by ESA (with its ESERO network) in collaboration with the Raspberry Pi Foundation.
Find out more at Astro-pi.org.
CanSat
Kick-off: 19 September
Suggested for: 14 to 19 years old
What’s it like to make a real space project from A to Z? Work together as a team to imagine, build, launch and operate a CanSat to find out!
CanSat challenges high-school students to fit the key components of a satellite in the volume of a soda can.
National competitions are run annually by ESA’s ESERO offices, and other national partners. From school year 2023-24, the national winning teams will be welcomed by ESA at its ESTEC site for a brand-new learning and celebration event: ‘Space Engineer for a Day’, to take place at the end of June 2024.
Access the video
Find more information in cansat.esa.int.
Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut
Kick-off: 20 September
Suggested for: up to 14 years old
It’s time to get up, move your body, and train like an astronaut! In Mission X, you’ll learn the key elements to keeping fit and staying healthy in space and on Earth. Complete physical exercises and scientific investigations developed by scientists and astronaut trainers. Earn steps to help mascots Luna and Leo walk to the Moon.
Mission X is a collaboration between ESA and the UK Space Agency, facilitated by the ESERO network and other National Organisers.
Find more information in trainlikeanastronaut.org.
Moon Camp Challenge
Kick-off: 21 September
Suggested for: up to 19 years old
The 2023-2024 is bringing you a new and enhanced Moon Camp Challenge! Take on a new space adventurer role with your team and design a habitat on the lunar surface or go beyond the Moon and explore other worlds in our Solar System. Join the Moon Camp Challenge and design your project related to the human exploration of space in this more flexible and open format.
Your project can range from a scientific experiment, a hands-on project, a design of space infrastructures, a 3D design of an astronaut base, a 3D printing model, a virtual or augmented reality world and much more. Select the topic and format that best fits your team and get creative!
All teams that submit a project will receive a participation certificate and will be invited to participate in a final online event with an ESA astronaut and space experts.
More details will be announced in September, until then get inspired with the winning teams’ projects from 2022-23 at www.mooncampchallenge.org.
Moon Camp is a partnership between ESA (with its ESERO network) and the Airbus Foundation, in collaboration with Autodesk.
Climate Detectives
Kick-off: 22 September
Suggested for: up to 19 years old
Are you curious about our home planet and what we can do to protect it? Join Climate Detectives, explore your local environment and make a difference in understanding and protecting Earth.
This school year we have exciting updates and a new beginners category – Climate Detectives Kids. Complete activities focusing on climate or planet Earth, collect evidence and earn your Detectives badges!
Also the more advanced category is expanding in scope: you will have the opportunity to focus your investigations not only on climate but also on environment and sustainability on Earth. Identify your research question, collect your data, and share your results with the Climate Detectives community. At the end of the project, teams selected by the National Organizers will be invited by ESA for a learning and celebration event to take place in June 2024.
More details will be published soon, but until then get inspired with the amazing work done by the Climate Detectives Teams in 2022-2023 and visit the project gallery.
Climate Detectives is run by ESA in collaboration with its ESERO network.
ESA and its ESERO network are looking forward to another fantastic year of projects with you!