Students in grades 5-12 can design and propose real microgravity experiments to fly in low-Earth orbit on the International Space Station in the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) Mission 9 to the International Space Station (ISS).

This STEM education opportunity immerses about 300 students in an authentic, high-visibility research experience. One experiment in each community is selected for flight to ISS.

The program nurtures ownership in learning, critical thinking, problem solving, and navigation of an interdisciplinary landscape, and communication skills — all reflective of the Next Generation Science Standards and reflective of the skills needed by professional scientists and engineers and the skills desired by 21st-century employers.

The inquiry deadline is April 30; schools and districts or other communities must commit by Aug. 31 for a nine-week experiment design phase and flight experiment selection by Dec. 17. Flight of the selected experiment to ISS is expected in spring 2016.

For more information, email SSEP Program Director Jeff Goldstein or call (301) 395-0770.