Student Experiment Reaches Space as Next Mission Launches

St. Petersburg College students are reaching new heights, literally.

An experiment developed by SPC students is now aboard the International Space Station (ISS), marking a milestone for the College's participation in the national Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP). And as one mission unfolds 250 miles above Earth, another is giving students across Tampa Bay the chance to leave their own mark on space exploration.

The student-designed experiment and mission patches launched aboard SpaceX's CRS-35 cargo mission on Oct. 13. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station shortly after 6:30 a.m., creating a spectacular pre-dawn display known as a "space jellyfish" that was visible across Florida and the Southeast.

The Dragon spacecraft docked with the ISS on Oct. 15, delivering the students' research alongside supplies and equipment for the orbiting laboratory.

The experiment will remain in orbit for approximately one month. Before it returns to Earth, an astronaut will conduct the experiment aboard the ISS while the SPC student team performs a matching experiment on the ground. After the space-based experiment returns, students will compare the results to see how microgravity may have affected their research.

The opportunity is part of SSEP Mission 21, a national initiative led by the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE) that allows students to participate in authentic scientific research conducted in space.

Next mission invites students to send artwork into orbit

While the Mission 21 experiment continues aboard the ISS, SPC is already preparing for its next spaceflight opportunity.

Through the SSEP Mission 22 Mission Patch Art & Design Competition, SPC is inviting college students and Pinellas County K–12 students to design artwork that could travel to the International Space Station.

The competition features two divisions: one for SPC students and another for Pinellas County students in grades K–12. One winning design from each division will be flown aboard the ISS and returned to Earth with official flight certification.

The mission's payload, named Armstrong, honors astronaut Neil Armstrong and the historic Apollo lunar landings. Students are encouraged to draw inspiration from space exploration while showcasing Tampa Bay's creativity, innovation and spirit of discovery.

To qualify, designs must measure exactly 3.5 inches by 3.5 inches and be created on a single sheet of standard paper using ink or digital media. Layered materials, cardstock, glue and tape are not permitted.

Entries must be submitted by Monday, Nov. 30, 2026.

Students can submit their artwork online or deliver completed designs to Grace Moore, SPC Assistant Dean for Natural Sciences, at the Clearwater Campus, NM Building, Room 213.

A committee of students, faculty and staff will evaluate the artwork based on mission relevance, community representation and overall design. SPC plans to announce the winning designs during a campus celebration as part of Science Week, Feb. 22–26, 2027.

The Mission 22 competition is made possible through funding from the SPC Foundation and aims to engage at least 100 participants in each division.

Together, the two missions demonstrate how SPC is connecting classroom learning with real-world opportunities in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM). From conducting research in microgravity to designing artwork that will orbit Earth, students are gaining opportunities to contribute to space exploration in ways that extend far beyond the classroom.

Students interested in entering the Mission 22 Patch Art & Design Competition can learn more and register here.

For additional information, contact Grace Moore at Moore.Grace@spcollege.edu or Jessica Curran at Curran.Jessica@spcollege.edu.

Learn more about SPC's Mission 21 student research.