ISS materials available

Please Note:

This list is preliminary and is not comprehensive. If experiments can be improved with materials not included in this list, that should be described.

Dedicated research hardware cannot be used for this program.

Allotted astronaut time may not exceed 30 minutes.

Earth observations are possible from the Cupola windows and other locations on Station. If the experiment requires specific geographic locations or specific day/night timing this should be specified.

Examples of Available Equipment:

Tools and Lab Equipment

Assortment of shop tools

Pipettes and syringes of various sizes

Repeater pipette

Plastic tubing and tube clamps

Lab equipment: test tubes, forceps, agar plates, filters

Digital multimeter

Wires, batteries, some electronics components

Temperature sensors

Heat sources, thermocouples

Light sources, measurement tools

Sound sources, measurement tools

Suction device

Low tension spring

Centrifuge

Ultrasound device

Scientific freezers

Microscope

Environmental and Measurement Instruments

Air temperature, humidity, and CO2 measurements

Velocicalc meter (measures airflow, relative humidity, pressure, temperature, air speed)

Remote sensing devices

Radiation sensors

Computer and Electronics

Laptop computers with standard office software

iPad Pro 3rd Generation (includes Sensor Play application for data logging)

Arduinos

Imaging

Still cameras

Video cameras

Lenses and Filters

Infrared camera

Containment and Attachment Items

Ziplock bags

Tethers, bungees

Rope, string, Velcro, clips, tape

Office and Paper Products

Paper products and writing implements

Office supplies

Foam and padding

Hygiene and Consumables

Hygiene products

Water, some lubricants

Water filtration

Liquid salt (kitchen)

Olive oil

Food and drink items

Crew Exercise Equipment

Bike

Treadmill

Resistance bands

Exercise tubing assembly

Misc. Experimental Materials

Waste leaf and plant trimmings from ongoing vegetation experiments

Objects of various masses

Various locations inside ISS, including cupola

Cold blocks (metal)

Crew ISSNL Educational Toy List

Exercise and Grip Tools:

Purple Dyna band (6)

Thera band (2)

Superband ½ inch (2)

Superband ¾ inch "medium"

Superband ¾ inch "heavy"

French hook (S, L, XL)

Grip Mastre

Grip Strength Dynamometer

Hand Grip

Pinch Gauge

Box with Lid

Hollow Aluminum Ball

Loop Ball

Loop Track

“Eggsercizer”

Steel Hollow Sphere

Travel Scrabble Kit

Plastic Slinky

Nerf Vortex

Mini Basketball Hoop

Trivia Cards

Inflatable Earth, Moon, Sun, Soccer Ball

Hand Pumps

Background information about the International Space Station and the current crew on board can be found here: https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/

frequently asked questions

Can I submit more than one proposal? Yes.

Are International teachers permitted to participate in this opportunity? International teachers should contact Space for Teachers to submit concepts. We will work to pair you with U.S. teachers for submission.

Can I propose experiments involving biomedical/physiological measurements (pulse, heart rate, visual acuity, etc.) Experiments that involve biomedical or physiological measurements cannot be proposed.

Can I interact with or instruct astronauts during the experiment? Experiments are recorded and will be shared with teachers after review by NASA. There is currently no real-time interaction with the astronauts during the experiments.

Can I ask that the astronaut make specific reference to my school? Within the constraints of time, the astronaut may be able to do a shoutout to your school and/or class.

Can I submit a collaborative proposal with another class/teacher? Yes, collaborative proposals are encouraged, but one educator must by the point of contact.

Will non-selected proposals be considered for future opportunities? Non-selected proposals can be resubmitted for consideration in future rounds, should they occur.

Will ISS FASTLab be offered again? This is TBD. \Who do I reach out to with questions about the program or my proposal? Please contact laura@spaceforteachers.org with any questions. Laura will route your question to the appropriate person for a response.

Does the FASTLab program offer downlink opportunities from ISS? Not at this time.

Does the ISS have X or Y available for use with my proposed project? The availability of materials and equipment can be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Generally, you should assume that any research facility or research equipment is not available for this opportunity. The Materials list gives the best indication of what you can plan to request.

Can I propose a demonstration, or does it have to be an experiment? If you have a great demo concept that hasn’t been performed before on Station, please do propose. However, please note that this opportunity is specifically intended for experiments that have a hypothesis and a measurement/observation element.

ISS materials available

frequently asked questions

Rubric and example proposals

INFO Session

ISS materials available

frequently asked questions

Rubric and example proposals

INFO Session

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