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Two members of the MVIPER team controlling bubble injection in the fluid during microgravity while monitoring the process via camera
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About the ESA Academy Experiments programme

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ESA / Education / ESA Academy Experiments programme

The ESA Academy Experiments programme supports student teams in developing their projects from concept to operation. It provides guidance on engineering practices, project management and risk mitigation, while offering access to various platforms for conducting scientific and engineering experiments. This programme is offered to university students from ESA Member States, Associate Members, and Canada on a yearly basis to give a unique and well-rounded introductory experience in the professional world of research and development of space science and technology disciplines.”

Artery in Microgravity experiment floating inside the Columbus Laboratory on the International Space Station moments before Josh Cassada commissions it
Artery in Microgravity experiment floating inside the Columbus Laboratory on the International Space Station moments before Josh Cassada commissions it

The programme offers multiple platforms for teams to conduct their engineering or scientific experiment, these are:

Team GRASP testing their gecko-inspired adhesive gripper on their robotic arm, mounted on one of the platforms in the Orbital Robotics Lab in ESA ESTEC
Team GRASP testing their gecko-inspired adhesive gripper on their robotic arm, mounted on one of the platforms in the Orbital Robotics Lab in ESA ESTEC

Please be advised that the platforms open to receive proposals for each edition of the Experiments Programme change from one year to another. We invite you to check the Announcement of opportunities for the ESA Academy Experiments Programme 2025/2026 to see which platforms are open for applications in each cycle.

This article also outlines the different phases of the programme. The portfolio of available platforms on offer will increase in the future to accommodate more diverse research and technological development projects. 

Space Rider is Europe's reusable transportation system
Space Rider is Europe's reusable transportation system

Moreover, if this programme has piqued your interest, you can access the ESA Academy Experiments Programme Call for Proposals activity on ESA Learn, the ESA Education and Community Platform. There, you will find the slides from the information session of the last open call, as well as a course with further details on the programme, the platforms, and the timeline from that call.

Please note that the available platforms and timeline may change from year to year, so this information should not be considered valid for future calls.

Team SCAMPI in ESA ESEC preparing their payload on the shaker before the vibration qualification test for a flight to the International Space Station
Team SCAMPI in ESA ESEC preparing their payload on the shaker before the vibration qualification test for a flight to the International Space Station

The ESA Academy Experiments programme encompasses and replaces a multitude of programmes previously known as Fly-, Drop-, Spin-, Orbit-Your Thesis! and PETRI.

To meet ESA Director General’s objectives, set out in ESA’s Agenda 2025, the ESA Education Office is implementing a long-term vision called Space for Education 2030 which will better prepare and engage today’s youth for space related jobs and activities of the future.