In September, ESA’s school projects are back for another exciting school year. Mark the dates in your diary and start planning for engaging, interdisciplinary ways to bring space into the classroom while helping students develop a broad range of STEM skills and competences.
Coordinated by ESA with the national European Space Education Resource Offices (ESEROs) and other partners, the projects feature hands-on STEM activities tailored to various age groups and levels. Although primarily designed for classroom use, the projects are modular and flexible enough to support both formal and informal learning settings, including science museums, clubs, and after-school activities. By using space as a context for exploring real-life applications of science and technology, the projects are designed to engage and challenge students, spark curiosity, and help them build critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. From physics and chemistry to biology and coding, there is something for every young space explorer!
Stay tuned for more details on each school project coming up in September. Country-specific information will be available in the respective project and ESERO websites.
2026-2027 school projects overview
For a full timeline of each project, visit the individual project websites. Please note that some projects are still open for submissions. Full, updated information for the 2026–2027 school year will be available on the school project websites by the end of August.
|
Project |
Sub-category |
Recommended for * |
Open to |
What are students expected to do |
Registration opens |
Registration closes |
|
5 to 13 years old |
To complete Earth sciences related activities and collect badges. |
7 September 2026 |
6 August 2027 |
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|
14 to 19 years old |
To investigate a local environmental problem, also making use of satellite data. |
2 April 2027 |
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|
– |
5 to 14 years old |
Worldwide |
To train like an astronaut and learn the key elements to keeping fit and staying healthy in space and on Earth. |
10 September 2026 |
15 August 2027 |
|
|
9 to 16 years old |
To write a computer program in Python that runs on one of the Astro Pi computers on board the International Space Station. |
14 September 2026 |
22 March 2027 |
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|
12 to 19 years old |
22 February 2027 |
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|
– |
14 to 19 years old |
ESA Member States and Associate Members that organise national competitions |
To design, build and launch a soda can-sized satellite in one your National Competition. |
16 September 2026 – In some cases earlier: Check National Competition for dates |
Check dates of each National Competition |
|
|
– |
5 to 16 years old |
To design a future space habitat for astronauts on the Moon or beyond with a design tool of your choice. |
18 September 2026 |
26 July 2027 |
*Note: The recommended age range is intended as guidance only and does not define eligibility. Please refer to the relevant project page for the applicable eligibility rules.
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