Down To Earth: Space Science For Community Change
Use innovation from the International Space Station to solve real-world environmental challenges in your community.
In October 2024, Science Friday is partnered with the ISS National Laboratory to launch a free month-long program and ignite a curiosity for science that’ll burn brighter than a rocket booster.
Calling all budding environmentalists, space enthusiasts, and Earth-bound innovators! Get ready for an out-of-this-world adventure to combat climate change in your own backyard. We’re looking for the next generation of scientists and engineers to solve real-world problems and combat climate change by using cutting-edge space technology in exciting and novel ways. No space suit required!
Designed for middle-school students, Down To Earth is an anywhere, anytime program for everyone, regardless of prior knowledge of space research. With our online program, you’ll get hands-on with engaging weekly design challenges while exploring exciting STEM career paths with real astronauts and space experts. Down to Earth provides all the materials you’ll need to propel your cosmic creativity into orbit!
What cutting-edge innovation from space can you harness to transform your community? The answer may be floating 250 miles above your head.
Got questions? Need disability or language accommodations? Send us an email at educate@sciencefriday.com.
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Down to Earth: Design Challenge Missions
Written by veteran educators, each Down to Earth activity include a brief hands-on investigation, background information about related science and technology on the ISS, and an exciting design challenge connected to real-world problems you can solve in your community. Designed for middle school-aged learners, these activities require inexpensive, easy-to-find materials, and can be completed in 45-90 minutes so they’re easy to use anywhere, anytime. Each includes the worksheets, handouts, presentations, assessments, and extensions needed to make it easy to implement Down To Earth projects and activities in your learning space.
💪 Mission Stellar Health: Train Like An Astronaut, by Sandy Roberts
Get ready to train like a space explorer! Discover how astronauts stay fit in the weightlessness of space and explore cutting-edge tech on the ISS that keeps their bones, muscles, and lungs strong. You’ll design innovative solutions to help your community stay healthy as the climate changes.
🌡️ Mission Sensor Watch: Cool Your Community, by Tiffany Lucey
Join the mission to beat the heat! Explore how the ISS monitors the Earth’s surface with high-tech sensors to track rising temperatures. With this knowledge, you’ll investigate heat patterns in your neighborhood and design a cool solution to combat “heat islands.”
💧 Mission Rehydrate: Clean Water For A Thirsty Planet, by Kathy Ceceri
Dive into the world of water conservation! Learn how astronauts on the ISS recycle every drop of water and how space tech is helping to solve Earth’s water challenges. You’ll investigate different materials to design a filter that cleans water efficiently.
🤖 Mission Tech Force: Robots For A Sustainable Future, by Jennifer Swanson
Gear up for an engineering adventure! Explore how robots assist astronauts on the ISS with critical tasks, from docking shuttles to installing equipment. Then, design a robot to tackle climate change, clean up pollution, or build greener, more eco-friendly communities.
Robots for a Sustainable Future!
Plus, to make implementation as easy as can be, Down to Earth activities include additional resources for educators and parents, such as a materials list, lesson plan, slide deck, assessment tools, and extension activities. Got questions? Need disability or language accommodations? Send us an email at educate@sciencefriday.com.
We encourage you to share you work in the Down To Earth Community Lab so that others can be inspired.
Want more? Try some fantastic space-themed Science Friday activities to spark your cosmic curiosity. Or download a list of great Science Friday ISS stories to enjoy. (We’ve included a graphic organizer for podcast analysis as well!) And, of course, visit the International Space Station Laboratory website for great educational activities, too.
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Down To Earth: Mission Control Live!
During the initial run of Down to Earth we hosted special online live events: Mission Control Live! These fun, interactive sessions provided the opportunity to meet real experts and learn what it’s like to work in space science. All the events are available on Science Friday’s YouTube channel! Download our Scientist Q&A graphic organizer to help your learners share their thoughts.
🚀 Friday, October 4, 1:45 – 2:15 pm ET / 10:45 – 10:15 pm PT
In our first Mission Control Live! we’ll meet special guest Dr. Michael Wong, an astrobiologist and planetary scientist at Carnegie Science’s Earth & Planets Laboratory. He studies planetary atmospheres, habitability, biosignatures, and the emergence of life across the Universe. What do you want to know about life beyond the Earth?
🧑🚀 Friday, October 11, 1:45 – 2:15 pm ET / 10:45 – 11:15 am PT
Meet a veteran of the International Space Station! Special Guest Cady Coleman is a retired NASA astronaut and the author of Sharing Space: An Astronaut’s Guide to Mission, Wonder, and Making Change. Learn what it takes to be a NASA astronaut. What do you want to know about living in space?
🛰️ Friday, October 18, 1:45 – 2:15 pm ET / 10:45 – 11:15 am PT
In addition to working on her PhD, astrobiologist Emilie Lafleche is also an analog astronaut. What’s that? Analog astronauts simulate multi-week Lunar and Martian missions so scientists can research the effects on humans and test technology before it’s launched into space. How do scientists prepare for space from Earth?
🤖 Friday, October 25, 1:45 – 2:15 pm ET / 10:45 – 11:15 am PT
Dr. Julia Badger headed up the team that built Robonaut—a humanoid robot that helps humans explore space—for the ISS. Now, she’s the Autonomy and Vehicle Systems Manager (VSM) system manager for the Gateway program at NASA-Johnson Space Center, working to put our first space station in orbit around the Moon. How can robots make life better for humans everywhere in the Universe?
Got questions? Need disability or language accommodations? Send us an email at educate@sciencefriday.com.
We’re celebrating the 25th year of Lights On Afterschool to shine a light on the need for high-quality, hands-on afterschool STEM programs for all children. Together we can help the next generation of scientists learn, thrive, and succeed. Find an event near you, or host one of your own with free educational resources at Science Friday. Join us in recognizing all that afterschool programs do to help young people prepare for a bright future!
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Down To Earth Office Hours
Sandy Roberts, SciFri Education Program Manager, will be hosting office hours next week, when you can ask your questions in person, offer feedback, and get tips on implementing Down To Earth activities in your learning space. Join her on Zoom at one of the following times:
- Monday, October 28, 6:15 pm ET / 3:15 pm PT
- Tuesday, October 29, 3:15 pm ET / 12:15 pm PT
- Tuesday, October 29, 6:15 pm ET / 3:15 pm PT
- Wednesday, October 30, 6:15 pm ET / 3:15 pm PT (note time change)
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What To Expect When You Participate
Here’s what participants enjoyed as part of the original Down to Earth experience in October 2024:
- A Month of Out-of-This-World Activities: Science Friday will launch a new Down to Earth Mission each week in October. You’ll solve real-world problems that connect space research to careers and community, from staying healthy to protecting the environment. Each new activity will include a hands-on investigation, background information on related STEM topics, and an exciting design challenge. Additional materials for educators will make planning, implementation, and assessment easy.
- Fun Online Events with Space Experts: Join Science Friday each week for Mission Control Live—a fun, interactive session where you’ll meet real experts and learn what it’s like to work in space science! Each Friday from October 4-25, from 1:45 to 2:15 pm ET, you’ll get to ask questions, dive into cool space topics, and discover the newest Down to Earth design challenge. Get ready to blast off into creativity! Be sure to subscribe to the SciFri YouTube channel so you don’t miss anything.
- Mission Control Newsletter: Stay on course with the exclusive Down to Earth newsletter, featuring event reminders and links to everything you need for experiments and design challenges, plus additional ideas, tips, and resources directly from Science Friday Mission Control.
- Down To Earth Community Lab: Join your fellow space explorers to ask questions, share out-of-this-world ideas, and forge new friendships in a family-friendly online environment. Whether you’re a caregiver, facilitator, educator, or learner, this is the perfect launchpad for coming together as a stellar community. Join now!
Bookmark this page for easy access to all the activities and recordings. Got questions? Need disability or language accommodations? Send us an email at educate@sciencefriday.com.
Special thanks to the ISS National Laboratory and the Center for Advancement of Science in Space™ (CASIS™) for funding Down to Earth. Working together with NASA, the ISS National Lab aims to leverage the space station to inspire the next generation.
Meet the Writer
About Sandy Roberts
@KaleidoscopeSciSandy Roberts is Science Friday’s Education Program Manager, where she creates learning resources and experiences to advance STEM equity in all learning environments. Lately, she’s been playing with origami circuits and trying to perfect a gluten-free sourdough recipe.