The European Space Agency and the ESERO network are opening five school projects for the 2026-27 academic year: Climate Detectives, Mission X, Astro Pi, CanSat, and Moon Camp. Together, the projects give students several ways to connect classroom learning with space science and technology.

Climate Detectives asks students to investigate environmental questions using satellite observations and ground measurements. Mission X uses astronaut-style fitness and science activities to explore how people stay healthy in space. Astro Pi lets students write Python programs for Raspberry Pi computers on the International Space Station.

CanSat moves students toward systems engineering. Teams design and launch a satellite that fits inside the volume of a soft-drink can, which forces them to make decisions about sensors, power, structure, and data. Moon Camp approaches space through habitat design, asking students to think about shelter, food, oxygen, waste, and sustainability.

The projects are different, but they share a useful design principle: students are given a real-looking constraint and asked to make something that responds to it. A satellite must fit in a limited space. A habitat must support life. A climate investigation must connect data with a local question.

For teachers, the new school-year launch provides a menu rather than a single prescribed route. A primary class can begin with observation and movement, while older students can work with code, sensors, and research data. The common thread is that students learn by making decisions about the world beyond the classroom.

Source: European Space Agency 2026-27 school STEM projects

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