Mission 21 is Community’s First SSEP Flight Opportunity: Yellow
Mission 21 is Community’s at Least Second SSEP Flight Opportunity: Green
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SSEP Mission 21 to ISS
Experiment Design Competition and Selection of Flight Experiments: Fall 2025
Flight to ISS: projected launch TBD
The 22 communities profiled below are providing the opportunity for hundreds of grade 5-16 students to design and propose real microgravity experiments for flight aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of SSEP Mission 21 to ISS – the 23rd SSEP flight opportunity.
Each community conducts a local Flight Experiment Design Competition with student teams designing microgravity experiments across multiple disciplines. Each team submits a formal research proposal, vying for an experiment slot reserved just for their community in a real research mini-laboratory scheduled to fly on the International Space Station. The Mission 21 to ISS community leadership project that across the network of 22 communities a minimum of 4,200 students will be fully engaged in experiment design, and a minimum of 540 flight experiment proposals from student teams will be received.
Hundreds more grade preK-12 students are being given the opportunity to participate in SSEP Mission 21 to ISS community-wide programming, which includes the design of Mission Patches to fly aboard ISS. Through community engagement activities, together with microgravity experiment design, a total of TBD schools in 14 States, 2 Canadian provinces and Ukraine are taking part in Mission 21 to ISS.
Mission 21 includes four communities in Florida; two in Arizona and California; and one in Colorado, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin.
Twleve communities are focusing on university undergraduates – Pasadena, California; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Melbourne, Florida; Orlando, Florida; St. Petersburg, Florida; Tampa, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; Lowell, Massachusetts, Omaha, Nebraska; Asheville, North Carolina, Athens, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Many Mission 21 communities have participated in prior SSEP missions. Mission 21 is the:
- ninth mission for iForward-Grantsburg, WI
- sixth mission for Edmonton, AB, Canada
- fifth mission for Ukraine; Albany, NY
- fourth mission for Glendora, CA; Pittsburgh, PA – CCAC
- third mission for Mesa, AZ; Colorado Springs, CO; Athens, OH
- second mission for Melbourne, FL
More generally, Mission 21 to ISS is made possible through the involvement of TBD Local Partner institutions, including school districts, corporate foundations, universities, community foundations, and companies, and which are providing both underwriting and material and human resources.
The level of partnership is remarkable, and speaks to what a team of partners at the local, state, and national levels can do together in STEM education.
Visit the SSEP In the News page and the In Our Own Words page to gain an understanding of program impact over all SSEP missions conducted to date.
Quickly Scroll to Individual Communities
- Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Mississippi Mills, Ontario, Canada
- Ukraine
- Mesa, Arizona
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Glendora, California
- Pasadena, California
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Melbourne, Florida
- Orlando, Florida
- St. Petersburg, Florida
- Tampa, Florida
- Kailua, Hawaii
- New Orleans, Loouisiana
- Lowell, Massachusetts
- Omaha, Nebraska
- Albany, New York
- Asheville, North Carolina
- Athens, Ohio
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – CCAC
- San Antonio, Texas
- iForward-Grantsburg, Wisconsin
Noteworthy: this is the sixth SSEP flight for Edmonton
Program Scope
Number of participating schools: TBD; experiment design and mission patches: TBD; mission patches only: TBD
Experiment Design Competition
Expected Minimum Number of Students Fully Engaged in Experiment Design: 800 (grades 6-9)
Expected Minimum Number of Student Team Proposals: 20
SSEP Community-wide Engagement Program
Mission Patch Art and Design Competition(s): TBD competitions; (grades TBD)
Partner Institutions
Edmonton Public School Board
SSEP Mission Participation
Mission 21 to ISS
Mission 19 to ISS
(see Mission 19 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 18 to ISS
(see Mission 18 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 17 to ISS
(see Mission 17 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 14 to ISS
(see Mission 14 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 13 to ISS
(see Mission 13 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
SSEP Community Program Directors
Wendy Lam
wendy.lam@epsb.ca
Greg Wondga
Greg.Wondga@epsb.ca
Program Scope
Number of participating schools: TBD; experiment design and mission patches: TBD; mission patches only: TBD
Experiment Design Competition
Expected Minimum Number of Students Fully Engaged in Experiment Design: 150 (grades 5-6)
Expected Minimum Number of Student Team Proposals: 40
SSEP Community-wide Engagement Program
Mission Patch Art and Design Competition(s): TBD competitions; (grades TBD)
Partner Institutions
R. Tait McKenzie PS
Mississippi Mills Area Schools
Upper Canada District School Board
SSEP Mission Participation
Mission 21 to ISS
SSEP Community Program Directors
Laura Costello
laura.costello@ucdsb.on.ca
Miranda Lexmond
miranda.lexmond@ucdsb.on.ca
Noteworthy: this is the fifth SSEP flight for Ukraine
Program Scope
Number of participating schools: TBD; experiment design and mission patches: TBD; mission patches only: TBD
Experiment Design Competition
Expected Minimum Number of Students Fully Engaged in Experiment Design: 500 (grades 5-12)
Expected Minimum Number of Student Team Proposals: 100
SSEP Community-wide Engagement Program
Mission Patch Art and Design Competition(s): TBD competitions; (grades TBD)
Partner Institutions
Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
SSEP Mission Participation
Mission 21 to ISS
Mission 19 to ISS
(see Mission 19 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 18 to ISS
(see Mission 18 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 17 to ISS
(see Mission 17 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 16 to ISS
(see Mission 16 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
SSEP Community Program Directors
Yana Cheishvili
ym@man.gov.ua
Dr. Yevhen Kudriavets
yevhen.kudriavets@mon.gov.ua
Noteworthy: this is the third SSEP flight for Mesa
Program Scope
Number of participating schools: TBD; experiment design and mission patches: TBD; mission patches only: TBD
Experiment Design Competition
Expected Minimum Number of Students Fully Engaged in Experiment Design: 600 (grades 4-12)
Expected Minimum Number of Student Team Proposals: 50
SSEP Community-wide Engagement Program
Mission Patch Art and Design Competition(s): TBD competitions; (grades TBD)
Partner Institutions
Mesa Public Schools
SSEP Mission Participation
Mission 21 to ISS
Mission 19 to ISS
(see Mission 19 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 18 to ISS
(see Mission 18 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
SSEP Community Program Director
Shane Bycott
sabycott@mpsaz.org
Program Scope
Number of participating schools: TBD; experiment design and mission patches: TBD; mission patches only: TBD
Experiment Design Competition
Expected Minimum Number of Students Fully Engaged in Experiment Design: 300 (grades 5-12)
Expected Minimum Number of Student Team Proposals: 20
SSEP Community-wide Engagement Program
Mission Patch Art and Design Competition(s): TBD competitions; (grades TBD)
Partner Institutions
Paradise Valley Unified School District
SSEP Mission Participation
Mission 21 to ISS
SSEP Community Program Directors
Pamela Fulk
pfulk@pvschools.net
Bhawna Verma
bverma@pvschools.net
Noteworthy: this is the fourth SSEP flight for Glendora
Program Scope
Number of participating schools: TBD; experiment design and mission patches: TBD; mission patches only: TBD
Experiment Design Competition
Expected Minimum Number of Students Fully Engaged in Experiment Design: 100 (grades 9-12)
Expected Minimum Number of Student Team Proposals: 10
SSEP Community-wide Engagement Program
Mission Patch Art and Design Competition(s): TBD competitions; (grades TBD)
Partner Institutions
Glendora Unified School District
SSEP Mission Participation
Mission 21 to ISS
Mission 19 to ISS
(see Mission 19 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 18 to ISS
(see Mission 18 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 17 to ISS
(see Mission 17 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
SSEP Community Program Directors
Daniela Kent
dkent@glendora.k12.ca.us
Kristy Espino
kespino@glendora.k12.ca.us
Dr. Jennifer Prince
jprince@glendora.k12.ca.us
Program Scope
Number of participating schools: TBD; experiment design and mission patches: TBD; mission patches only: TBD
Experiment Design Competition
Expected Minimum Number of Students Fully Engaged in Experiment Design: 40 (grades 13-16)
Expected Minimum Number of Student Team Proposals: 10
SSEP Community-wide Engagement Program
Mission Patch Art and Design Competition(s): TBD competitions; (grades TBD)
Partner Institutions
Pasadena City College
SSEP Mission Participation
Mission 21 to ISS
SSEP Community Program Directors
Jared Ashcroft
JMASHCROFT@pasadena.edu
Paula Kirya
kiryapaula@gmail.com
Noteworthy: this is the third SSEP flight for Colorado Springs
Program Scope
Number of participating schools: TBD; experiment design and mission patches: TBD; mission patches only: TBD
Experiment Design Competition
Expected Minimum Number of Students Fully Engaged in Experiment Design: 30 (grades 13-16)
Expected Minimum Number of Student Team Proposals: 10
SSEP Community-wide Engagement Program
Mission Patch Art and Design Competition(s): TBD competitions; (grades TBD)
Partner Institutions
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
SSEP Mission Participation
Mission 21 to ISS
Mission 19 to ISS
(see Mission 19 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 18 to ISS
(see Mission 18 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
SSEP Community Program Directors
Lynnane George
lgeorge2@uccs.edu
McKenna Lovejoy
McKenna.Lovejoy@PikesPeak.edu
Noteworthy: this is the second SSEP flight for Melbourne
Program Scope
Number of participating schools: TBD; experiment design and mission patches: TBD; mission patches only: TBD
Experiment Design Competition
Expected Minimum Number of Students Fully Engaged in Experiment Design: 60 (grades 13-16)
Expected Minimum Number of Student Team Proposals: 15
SSEP Community-wide Engagement Program
Mission Patch Art and Design Competition(s): TBD competitions; (grades TBD)
Partner Institutions
Florida Institute of Technology
SSEP Mission Participation
Mission 21 to ISS
Mission 20 to ISS
(see Mission 20 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
SSEP Community Program Director
Andrew Palmer
apalmer@fit.edu
Program Scope
Number of participating schools: TBD; experiment design and mission patches: TBD; mission patches only: TBD
Experiment Design Competition
Expected Minimum Number of Students Fully Engaged in Experiment Design: 30 (grades 13-16)
Expected Minimum Number of Student Team Proposals: 10
SSEP Community-wide Engagement Program
Mission Patch Art and Design Competition(s): TBD competitions; (grades TBD)
Partner Institutions
University of Central Florida
SSEP Mission Participation
Mission 21 to ISS
SSEP Community Program Directors
Philip Metzger
philip.metzger@ucf.edu
Amy Gregory
Amy.Gregory@ucf.edu
Program Scope
Number of participating schools: TBD; experiment design and mission patches: TBD; mission patches only: TBD
Experiment Design Competition
Expected Minimum Number of Students Fully Engaged in Experiment Design: 20 (grades 13-16)
Expected Minimum Number of Student Team Proposals: 10
SSEP Community-wide Engagement Program
Mission Patch Art and Design Competition(s): TBD competitions; (grades TBD)
Partner Institutions
St. Petersburg College
SSEP Mission Participation
Mission 21 to ISS
SSEP Community Program Directors
Dr. Grace Moore
Moore.Grace@spcollege.edu
Erica Moulton
Moulton.Erica@SPCollege.edu
Program Scope
Number of participating schools: TBD; experiment design and mission patches: TBD; mission patches only: TBD
Experiment Design Competition
Expected Minimum Number of Students Fully Engaged in Experiment Design: 40 (grades 13-16)
Expected Minimum Number of Student Team Proposals: 11
SSEP Community-wide Engagement Program
Mission Patch Art and Design Competition(s): TBD competitions; (grades TBD)
Partner Institutions
University of South Florida
SSEP Mission Participation
Mission 21 to ISS
SSEP Community Program Directors
Saundra Johnson Austin
johnsonaustin@usf.edu
Sylvia Thomas
sylvia@usf.edu
Norma Alcantar
norma@usf.edu
Program Scope
Number of participating schools: TBD; experiment design and mission patches: TBD; mission patches only: TBD
Experiment Design Competition
Expected Minimum Number of Students Fully Engaged in Experiment Design: 140 (grades 9-12)
Expected Minimum Number of Student Team Proposals: 20
SSEP Community-wide Engagement Program
Mission Patch Art and Design Competition(s): TBD competitions; (grades TBD)
Partner Institutions
Kealakehe High School
SSEP Mission Participation
Mission 21 to ISS
SSEP Community Program Directors
Justin Brown
justin.brown@k12.hi.us
Zach Smith
s392-zachariah.smith@k12.hi.us
Noelle Lindenmann
noelle.royer@gmail.com
Program Scope
Number of participating schools: TBD; experiment design and mission patches: TBD; mission patches only: TBD
Experiment Design Competition
Expected Minimum Number of Students Fully Engaged in Experiment Design: 25 (grades 13-16)
Expected Minimum Number of Student Team Proposals: 10
SSEP Community-wide Engagement Program
Mission Patch Art and Design Competition(s): TBD competitions; (grades TBD)
Partner Institutions
Tulane University
SSEP Mission Participation
Mission 21 to ISS
SSEP Community Program Directors
Cynthia (Cindy) Ebinger
cebinger@tulane.edu
Program Scope
Number of participating schools: TBD; experiment design and mission patches: TBD; mission patches only: TBD
Experiment Design Competition
Expected Minimum Number of Students Fully Engaged in Experiment Design: 50 (grades 13-16)
Expected Minimum Number of Student Team Proposals: 10
SSEP Community-wide Engagement Program
Mission Patch Art and Design Competition(s): TBD competitions; (grades TBD)
Partner Institutions
University of Massachusetts, Lowell
SSEP Mission Participation
Mission 21 to ISS
SSEP Community Program Directors
Sam DiVasto
Samuel_DiVasto@student.uml.edu
Supriya Chakrabarti
supriya_chakrabarti@uml.edu
Program Scope
Number of participating schools: TBD; experiment design and mission patches: TBD; mission patches only: TBD
Experiment Design Competition
Expected Minimum Number of Students Fully Engaged in Experiment Design: 30 (grades 13-14)
Expected Minimum Number of Student Team Proposals: 10
SSEP Community-wide Engagement Program
Mission Patch Art and Design Competition(s): TBD competitions; (grades TBD)
Partner Institutions
Metropolitan Community College
SSEP Mission Participation
Mission 21 to ISS
SSEP Community Program Directors
Pam Petersen
pjpetersen@mccneb.edu
Cathy Brunkhorst
cmbrunkhorst@mccneb.edu
Noteworthy: this is the fifth SSEP flight for Albany
Program Scope
Number of participating schools: TBD; experiment design and mission patches: TBD; mission patches only: TBD
Experiment Design Competition
Expected Minimum Number of Students Fully Engaged in Experiment Design: 600 (grade 8)
Expected Minimum Number of Student Team Proposals: 50
SSEP Community-wide Engagement Program
Mission Patch Art and Design Competition(s): X competitions; (grades TBD), (grades TBD)
Partner Institutions
City School District of Albany
SSEP Mission Participation
Mission 21 to ISS
Mission 19 to ISS
(see Mission 19 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 18 to ISS
(see Mission 18 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 17 to ISS
(see Mission 17 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 16 to ISS
(see Mission 16 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
SSEP Community Program Director
Amanda Powers
apowers@albany.k12.ny.us
Program Scope
Number of participating schools: TBD; experiment design and mission patches: TBD; mission patches only: TBD
Experiment Design Competition
Expected Minimum Number of Students Fully Engaged in Experiment Design: 39 (grades 13-14)
Expected Minimum Number of Student Team Proposals: 14
SSEP Community-wide Engagement Program
Mission Patch Art and Design Competition(s): TBD competitions; (grades TBD)
Partner Institutions
Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College
SSEP Mission Participation
Mission 21 to ISS
SSEP Community Program Directors
Shannon Bonomi
shannonbonomi@abtech.edu
Noteworthy: this is the third SSEP flight for Athens
Program Scope
Number of participating schools: TBD; experiment design and mission patches: TBD; mission patches only: TBD
Experiment Design Competition
Expected Minimum Number of Students Fully Engaged in Experiment Design: 40 (grades 13-16)
Expected Minimum Number of Student Team Proposals: 10
SSEP Community-wide Engagement Program
Mission Patch Art and Design Competition(s): X competitions; (grades TBD), (grades TBD)
Partner Institutions
Ohio University
SSEP Mission Participation
Mission 21 to ISS
Mission 19 to ISS
(see Mission 19 community profile, and flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 18 to ISS
(see Mission 18 community profile, and flight and honorable mention experiments
SSEP Community Program Directors
Sarah E. Wyatt
wyatts@ohio.edu
Corey Beck
beckc1@ohio.edu
20. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – CCAC
Noteworthy: this is the fourth SSEP flight for Pittsburgh – CCAC
Program Scope
Number of participating schools: TBD; experiment design and mission patches: TBD; mission patches only: TBD
Experiment Design Competition
Expected Minimum Number of Students Fully Engaged in Experiment Design: 120 (grades 13-14)
Expected Minimum Number of Student Team Proposals: 30
SSEP Community-wide Engagement Program
Mission Patch Art and Design Competition(s): X competitions; (grades TBD), (grades TBD)
Partner Institutions
Community College of Allegheny County
SSEP Mission Participation
Mission 21 to ISS
Mission 19 to ISS
(see Mission 19 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 18 to ISS
(see Mission 18 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 17 to ISS
(see Mission 17 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
SSEP Community Program Directors
Justin Starr
jstarr@ccac.edu
Francis Cartieri
fcartieri@ccac.edu
Noteworthy: this is the third SSEP flight for San Antonio
Program Scope
Number of participating schools: TBD; experiment design and mission patches: TBD; mission patches only: TBD
Experiment Design Competition
Expected Minimum Number of Students Fully Engaged in Experiment Design: 235 (grades 7-12)
Expected Minimum Number of Student Team Proposals: 20
SSEP Community-wide Engagement Program
Mission Patch Art and Design Competition(s): X competitions; (grades TBD), (grades TBD)
Partner Institutions
North East Independent School District
SSEP Mission Participation
Mission 21 to ISS
Mission 19 to ISS
(see Mission 19 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 18 to ISS
(see Mission 18 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
SSEP Community Program Directors
Denise Martinez-Ruiz
druiz22@neisd.net
Chris Wilson
Cwilso4@neisd.net
22. iForward-Grantsburg, Wisconsin
Noteworthy: this is the ninth SSEP flight for iForward-Grantsburg
Program Scope
Number of participating schools: TBD; experiment design and mission patches: TBD; mission patches only: TBD
Experiment Design Competition
Expected Minimum Number of Students Fully Engaged in Experiment Design: 250 (grades 5-12)
Expected Minimum Number of Student Team Proposals: 60
SSEP Community-wide Engagement Program
Mission Patch Art and Design Competition(s): X competitions; (grades TBD), (grades TBD)
Partner Institutions
Grantsburg School District
SSEP Mission Participation
Mission 21 to ISS
Mission 19 to ISS
(see Mission 19 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 18 to ISS
(see Mission 18 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 17 to ISS
(see Mission 17 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 16 to ISS
(see Mission 16 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 15
(see Mission 15 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 14
(see Mission 14 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 13 to ISS
(see Mission 13 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
Mission 12 to ISS
(see Mission 12 community profile, flight and honorable mention experiments, and flight mission patches)
SSEP Community Program Co-Directors
Constance Quade
constance.quade@iforwardwisconsin.com
Laura Kavajecz
laura.kavajecz@iforwardwisconsin.com