 By Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Students and educators to connect with a veteran NASA astronaut who flew four missions including STS-82 Space Coast, Florida — 2/22/2026 — The International Journey Spaceflight Experiments Program (IJSEP) will celebrate a historic milestone in global space education by hosting a special Space Talk with NASA Astronaut Steve Smith on February 25, offering all participants a rare opportunity to learn directly from a real spaceflight veteran.
The event, made possible through the collaboration of KSCIA – International Space Academy, International School, The Michaelis Foundation for Global Education and StemMed, will bring together students, and educators for an inspirational conversation with one of NASA’s most respected astronauts. Astronaut Steve Smith is a veteran of multiple space shuttle missions, including STS-82, a landmark mission that serviced the Hubble Space Telescope and played a critical role in advancing one of humanity’s greatest scientific achievements. His experience conducting complex operations in orbit makes him an ideal role model for students participating in IJSEP, a program that empowers young learners to develop real scientific experiments designed for microgravity research and potential spaceflight. This Space Talk will reinforce IJSEP’s mission of connecting youth with authentic space experiences and real scientific role models, while motivating students to see themselves as future engineers, scientists, and explorers. “One of the greatest lessons I learned in space is that extraordinary achievements are never accomplished alone. They are built through teamwork, preparation, curiosity, and the courage to believe that something bigger is possible, ” said Astronaut Steve Smith, veteran NASA astronaut and STS-82 mission specialist. “Programs like IJSEP are powerful because they give students the chance to think like real scientists, collaborate across borders, and realize that their ideas truly matter. Today’s classrooms are shaping tomorrow’s missions, and I’m honored to be part of a program that inspires young minds to reach beyond Earth.” The Space Talk will serve as a key celebration of the unprecedented collaboration achieved through IJSEP, as hundreds of schools and students unite in a global effort to transform classroom ideas into experiments designed for space. “Through IJSEP, students are gaining hands-on experience in scientific thinking, research development, and teamwork. This program proves that space is no longer a distant dream, but a reachable classroom for the next generation”, said Jefferson Michaelis, IJSEP Program Coordinator. For more information about the IJSEP, click here
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 Connecting scientists, educators, and students to develop experiments designed for spaceflight Space Coast, Florida — 02/10/2026 — The Michaelis Foundation for Global Education proudly announces a historic milestone in global space education through the International Journey Spaceflight Experiments Program (IJSEP), as hundreds of schools join an unprecedented international collaboration between students, educators, and renowned space scientists, to develop real scientific experiments designed for microgravity research and potential spaceflight.
As a key driving force behind IJSEP, The Michaelis Foundation has played an active and strategic role in expanding access to space research opportunities for young students, supporting schools through mentorship, coordination, international partnerships, and the creation of high-impact educational experiences that bring space science closer to classrooms. IJSEP is transforming STEM education by giving students the rare opportunity to think, plan, and work like professional scientists. More than a competition, IJSEP is a rigorous scientific journey where participants engage in the full research process, from hypothesis development and experimental design to review, refinement, and finalist selection. Today, the IJSEP Scientific Review Board officially announced the Top 10 experiment finalist teams, recognizing the most innovative and promising student-led proposals submitted this year:
“This is a milestone that will be remembered in the history of space education,” said Jefferson Michaelis, IJSEP Program Coordinator. “What these students have achieved proves that space is no longer a distant dream, it is a reachable classroom.” “At The Michaelis Foundation, we believe every student deserves the chance to dream beyond their circumstances,” said Carla Michaelis, Co-Founder of The Michaelis Foundation. “IJSEP is proving that when young people are given mentorship, structure, and access to real scientific challenges, they rise to the occasion in extraordinary ways. Watching these students develop experiments designed for spaceflight is not only inspiring, it is a powerful reminder that the future of space exploration is being built in classrooms today.” To celebrate this pioneering accomplishment, all registered participants will be invited to attend a special Space Talk with Astronaut Steve Smith on February 25. This inspirational event will provide students and educators with direct access to a spaceflight veteran, reinforcing the program’s mission of connecting youth with authentic space experiences and real role models. IJSEP continues to grow as a powerful global model for educational innovation, proving that when students are given the right tools, mentorship, and opportunity, they can contribute meaningfully to real scientific advancement and future space missions. |
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February 2026
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