Mission X 2026–2027: train like an astronaut!
Get ready to launch your students on an inspiring adventure where space exploration meets health, fitness, and nutrition. By joining the Mission X 2026–2027 school project, your class will train like real astronauts through a dynamic mix of physical activity and scientific discovery.
Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut invites students to dive into hands-on challenges and fitness activities inspired by authentic astronaut training. Along the way, they will discover what it takes to live and work in space, while making exciting connections to health, science, and everyday life on Earth. Mission X is recommended for students aged 5 to 14 years old.
Register now and take your students on an unforgettable training adventure!
Why join Mission X as a teacher or educator?
Mission X is flexible enough to be integrated into your lessons and curriculum, while also working very well in non-formal learning environments such as science museums and after-school activities.
By taking part, your students will:
- Explore STEM in an engaging and creative way through challenges linked to health, nutrition, and space
- Strengthen key skills such as teamwork, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving
- Be inspired by real ESA astronauts and spark curiosity about life and work in space
- Get a glimpse of future careers in science, technology, engineering, and space exploration
- Earn an official Mission X certificate of participation
What is Mission X?
Mission X is a free, international educational project that challenges students to train like an astronaut through a combination of physical exercises and scientific investigations. The project is available in multiple languages, led by ESA, the European Space Education Resource Offices (ESERO), and national partners.
At the heart of Mission X is the goal of sparking curiosity and engaging students through a range of interactive activities, combining fitness missions with scientific investigations.
The fitness missions combine physical exercise with scientific learning, helping students understand why staying active is so important, just as astronauts must maintain their strength throughout missions in a microgravity environment. Along the way, participants put their strength, endurance, coordination, balance, spatial awareness, and more to the test.
Students can also carry out scientific investigations exploring a broad range of health-related topics, such as balanced nutrition, human biology, the effects of microgravity on movement and coordination, and the physics behind space travel.
Teachers can draw on a wide range of ready-to-use resources available on the Mission X website, including physical activity videos featuring John McFall, a member of the ESA astronaut reserve, as well as scientific resources such as ‘’Living Bones, Strong Bones’’, now presented in a new layout. These materials help educators bring the project to life through engaging, practical activities that are easy to use in classroom.
All activities are aligned with key educational standards, ensuring that Mission X supports and enhances formal classroom learning.
Mission X is intended for students up to 14 years old, although the activities can also be adapted to suit other age groups and skill levels.
The Walk to the Moon Challenge
While the Mission X activities are accessible year-round, each school year, from September to August, student teams can join the Walk to the Moon Challenge.
By completing Mission X activities and submitting their results online, teams earn “steps” that help the Mission X mascots, Luna and Leo, virtually walk the 384,400 km distance from Earth to the Moon.
Participants receive a certificate and a special celebratory message from an ESA human spaceflight expert.
Train like ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet: Mission X ambassador for 2026–2027
We are happy to share that ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet will be the ambassador for Mission X this year. Through his experience as an astronaut and former ISS commander, Thomas embodies the spirit of health, fitness, and human space exploration that inspires Mission X participants. He is also preparing for his next mission, having been selected to command a private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, currently planned for 2027.
How to apply?
Participation in Mission X is open worldwide to individuals or teams of students aged up to 19 years old but recommended for students aged 5 to 14 years old. The activities may be submitted by registered teachers or educators.
Key dates:
Submissions open: 10 September 2026
Final deadline: 15 August 2027
Special message from an ESA human spaceflight expert: Spring 2027
For full project details and to start training, visit: Mission X – Train Like an Astronaut