Down To Earth: Space Science For Community Change
Use innovation from the International Space Station to solve real-world environmental challenges in your community.
This October, Science Friday is partnering with the International Space Station 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. Simply register for Down to Earth and you’ll receive all the materials you’ll need 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.
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What To Expect When You Participate
Here’s what you’ll enjoy as part of the Down to Earth experience:
- 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!
- 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.
Register now for Down to Earth! Plus, bookmark this page for easy access to all the activities and recordings.
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Down To Earth Missions
Each Down to Earth activity will 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. Each will include additional resources for educators, such as a materials list, lesson plan, slide deck, assessment tools, and extension activities that make it easy to bring Down to Earth to your learning environment. Each Down to Earth challenge is designed for middle school-aged learners, requires inexpensive, easy-to-find materials, and can be completed in 45-90 minutes.
Mission Stellar Health: Train Like an Astronaut
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
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 Reuse and Rehydrate: Clean Water for a Thirsty Planet
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.
Can’t wait to get started? Try these fantastic space-themed Science Friday resources to spark your cosmic curiosity.
- Design A Glove Fit For An Astronaut – In this engineering design challenge, invent space gloves that will allow astronauts to collect samples on future missions to Mars.
- Bring The Artemis Mission Home With Hands-On Activities – Grab some supplies and try these hands-on STEM activities right at home to celebrate the Artemis mission to the Moon.
- Use Engineering To Design A Solar Space Probe – Get hands-on as you use the engineering design process to build a solar space probe to investigate the Sun.
Or visit the International Space Station Laboratory website for great educational activities.
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Special thanks to the International Space Station Laboratory for funding Down to Earth.
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.