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.

To qualify, you will participate in a brief but intense training program. During your training you will study the sun, the atom, radiation, electricity and magnetism, and the earth’s atmosphere. You will practice data-management skills, mission-related mathematics, and learn about some of the space station’s life-saving technology. These topics sound complicated, but you will read about them and talk about them in class. You will also sharpen your team-building skills. As a team you will become prepared and learn to share both knowledge and skills!

Your training goal will be to discover the role these various science, math, and technological topics play in the well being of the space station and its crew during a dangerous solar proton event.

At the successful completion of your training, after you achieve Mission Specialist status, you will be assigned to one of five e-Mission teams.

Each team plays a key role during e-Mission: Space Station Alpha. Your teams will work together and provide Mission Control with the assistance it needs to protect the space station and its crew from a growing solar storm. With the help of computers, the Internet, and a live video feed, you will assist Mission Control’s Flight Director who is stationed at the Challenger Learning Center. As specialists you will record and analyze data, monitor the status of key space station systems, and make recommendations to Mission Control regarding the procedures the astronauts must follow to avoid danger and save the space station.