Like the pioneers who trekked the wilderness of North America, space scientists have found frontier life in space charged with danger and mystery. They too must confront the unknown and overcome doubt to successfully advance the frontiers of science. But it's a team job, demanding that earth-bound scientists work hand in hand with the Astronauts. The teams of astronauts, scientists, engineers, and specialists working on the ISS program believe that the costs of success will be more than matched by the value of their discoveries.

To confront the life-threatening events aboard the Space Station, Challenger's Mission Control enlists teams of mission specialists, just like the students in your class, to help solve problems and avoid catastrophes.

You and your classmates can form this team. You'll spend several intense weeks exploring and studying the Sun, the space station and its life support systems, solar generated electricity, and radiation. When you're prepared, we'll link-up with you in your school, and together we'll conduct a life-saving mission. It's a challenge! The more you learn, the better you'll be prepared as a Mission Specialist for the e-Mission.

We are looking for problem-solvers, for students who can think "outside of the box," who are willing to learn and apply basic math and science skills to challenging real-life problems. Apply today, and you may qualify to become Mission Specialists and fly e-Mission: Space Station Alpha.

Is Space Station Alpha the Same as the ISS?
The ISS will go through 108 different configurations before it is finished. It is one of the most ambitious engineering feats ever undertaken. The entire structure is being assembled in space. Upon the completion of mission 5A in 2001, the International Space Station consisted of four modules linked together: the Functional Cargo Block (Zarya), the service module (Zvezda), a node called Unity, and the U.S. Laboratory (Destiny). Attached to these modules were the Z1 Truss segment and the P6 Solar Array. It is this early configuration of the ISS that we are calling Space Station Alpha.

Your e-Mission takes place on February 14, 2001, just after the space shuttle was launched to deliver a new crew into space.
On our website, the ISS becomes Space Station Alpha, a simplified version of the real thing. To help your specialist teams achieve success, this website contains everything you need. Of course, you will need to provide your own ingenuity, creativity, and mathematical and scientific abilities. If your curiosity leads you to other websites that contain information on the Space Station, make sure you adapt what you learn there to the "reality" we are calling Space Station Alpha.

Space Station Alpha could be your next destination.
If your application is accepted, you will be linked live to our staff at Mission Control. Your e-Mission will take place during the dangerous solar upheavals of February 14, 2001. The e-Mission: Space Station Alpha website has been carefully constructed to help new Mission Specialists prepare for their e-Mission. Good luck.