Mini-Laboratories Prepared at i3S Set to Launch to Space

​Mini-laboratories prepared at i3S as part of Mission 19 of the Spaceflight Experiments Program will soon travel to the International Space Station (ISS), carrying student-led scientific research into orbit.

This international collaboration began with a strategic mission to Portugal led by Carla Michaelis and Jefferson Michaelis from The Michaelis Foundation for Global Education and KSCIA International Space Academy.

During their visit, the team traveled across multiple regions of Portugal, meeting with educational institutions, researchers, and representatives from Portuguese Space Agency to expand opportunities for Portuguese students and educators in the space sector.

Their efforts helped open the possibility for Portugal to participate in this type of international student spaceflight research opportunity on a level never achieved before.

Once they identified potential educational candidates to join this pioneering scientific project, the advancement of the initiative was made possible through the proactive financial and educational support of The Michaelis Foundation for Global Education and KSCIA International Space Academy, organizations that have been actively expanding access to space education and student research opportunities through global collaborations in science and space exploration.

The i3S Institute recently welcomed students and teachers from Escola Secundária Carolina Michaëlis for a very special milestone in Mission 19 of the Spaceflight Experiments Program: the preparation of the mini-laboratories that will support the selected experiment scheduled to fly to the International Space Station.​

During the visit to i3S, students, teachers, and researchers worked side by side in the preparation of two mini-labs: one that will travel to the International Space Station and another that will remain on Earth as an experimental control and support platform for future investigations. The activity was further enriched through live videoconference participation from partners at R-Crio and representatives from National Center for Earth and Space Science Education, who supervised and supported the entire preparation process.

The preparation of the mini-laboratories at i3S marked a critical phase of the project, giving students direct exposure to a real scientific research environment while allowing them to closely follow the preparation of samples that may soon travel into space. For the i3S team, the collaboration represents a unique opportunity to connect biomedical research with scientific education and space exploration.

Mission 19 of the Experiments Program is currently scheduled to launch on May 14 aboard the SpaceX CRS-34 mission. According to information provided by the program, the mini-laboratories are expected to remain in orbit for approximately four to six weeks before returning to Earth aboard the same mission. The exact return date has not yet been announced.

Representatives from The Michaelis Foundation for Global Education and KSCIA International Space Academy are expected to be present during the launch activities, reinforcing their commitment to supporting international educational initiatives that inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, researchers, and space explorers.

“We are honored and excited to participate in such an important experiment. Working closely with the students and teachers from Carolina Michaëlis School, welcoming them to i3S, and preparing the mini-laboratories together was a very special moment. It is a unique opportunity to demonstrate how science developed in the laboratory can go much further — literally into space,” said researcher Estrela Neto, a member of the project team.

Following the mission’s return to Earth, the mini-laboratories coming back from the ISS will be received and analyzed by the i3S research team. This phase will be essential for comparing the samples exposed to the space environment with those that remained on Earth, enabling new experiments and helping evaluate the effects of microgravity on the biological system under study.

More than a scientific experiment, this initiative created by a joint collaboration between The Michaelis Foundation and KSCIA further strengthens the long-standing partnership between i3S and Escola Secundária Carolina Michaëlis. For the students, it represents a rare opportunity to collaborate on an international project with real-world scientific application.

For i3S, it is a source of great pride to contribute to a mission that inspires new generations toward science, technology, biomedical research, and the future of space exploration.

Special thanks are also extended to the support provided by the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon, whose encouragement and engagement helped strengthen international collaboration throughout the initiative.