Back to School 2025-2026: 5 projects to inspire your students

Published 9 September 2025

This year, take your students’ learning beyond the classroom and into space!

The school-level projects, run by ESA and ESERO Ireland, immerse students in activities that mirror the collaborative, cross-disciplinary nature of real space missions. The projects not only deepen students’ understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects, but also help them develop essential skills and competences in teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

Get to know the 5 projects

With the projects, students can run their codes in space, design a space habitat, build and launch soda can-sized satellites, investigate Earth’s environment, and even train like an astronaut!

Explore each project, check key dates and find the perfect activity to discover with your students.

5 ESA projects to inspire your students

Astro Pi

Find out more about Astro Pi, what is involved, and how to take part.

Suitable for primary and secondary level students, with Mission Zero and the more advanced Mission Space Lab.

Information on Astro Pi

Moon Camp

Find out more about Moon Camp, what is involved, and how to take part.

Suitable for primary and secondary level students, challenging students up to 19 years old to design space habitats.

Information on Moon Camp

CanSat

Find out more about CanSat, what is involved, and how to take part.

Suitable for secondary level students at Transition Year and Senior Cycle, working in teams to build and launch a satellite the size of a soft drinks can.

Information on CanSat

Climate Detectives

Find out more about Climate Detectives, what is involved, and how to take part.

Suitable for primary and secondary level students, with Climate Detective Kids for primary classes and the more advanced Climate Detectives for second level classes.

Information on Climate Detectives