High School, Space Exploration Science Projects (40 results)

Space exploration is an exciting and wide-ranging area. Getting into space (and back down) is hard, involving rockets and launch vehicles, satellites, spacecraft, re-entry systems, landers and rovers, robots, and orbital mechanics, not to mention hypothetical technologies like space elevators and artificial gravity. To survive and thrive in space, we must understand many additional issues such as human performance in space, the space economy, and the science of astronomical bodies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w-QVXjGk3A

NASA Asteroid Database: What Can You Learn About Our Solar System?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Did you know that in addition to the Sun and planets, our solar system is filled with millions of asteroids, which are chunks of rock left over from the early days of its formation, or from collisions between larger objects like planets? Agencies like NASA track asteroids, not only because they might pose a threat to humanity by colliding with Earth, but because they can provide us with information about the history of our solar system, and even be useful for mining raw materials in space! In… Read more

Asteroid Mining: Gold Rush in Space?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

You've heard of gold mining and coal mining, but think outside the box...or the planet...what about asteroid mining? Scientists, engineers, and business people believe asteroid mining is feasible, and they are in the beginning stages of long-term plans to mine asteroids for valuable resources during space missions. You don't want to miss out on all the fun; in this science project, you will come up with your own scientific plan for an asteroid mining company. We will help get you started by… Read more

How the Cookie Crumbles... in Space

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever wondered what astronauts eat in space? What types of restrictions are there on the foods they can enjoy? It turns out that crumbs can be a huge problem on spaceships and space stations like the International Space Station (ISS). Crumbs can float around in zero gravity, squeeze into electrical panels, where they may cause fires, and get sucked into and clog air filtration systems. In this science project, you will investigate which ingredients are most important for creating the… Read more

A Simulator for Suborbital Spacecraft

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever wished you could fly to space? Space flight is getting more accessible thanks to reusable rockets that make getting to space much cheaper. Civilian astronauts can even buy tickets for a few minutes in space! But exactly how high is "space"? How do engineers predict how high a rocket will go and figure out how to make it land safely? Find out in this project as you explore the physics of suborbital space flight. Read more

Grow Plants in Microgravity with an Arduino Clinostat

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Can humans grow food in space? Can we grow plants on the Moon or on a space station? This is an important question to answer as humans look to expand our existence to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. In this science project you will build a clinostat, a device that can simulate microgravity right here on Earth and use it to explore the effects of microgravity on plant growth. Read more

Analyzing Impact Craters on Mercury

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever wanted to analyze data from a NASA spacecraft? In this science project you will use data from NASA's MESSENGER mission to measure the diameter and calculate the depth of impact craters on Mercury. You will then analyze that data for relationships between a crater's depth and diameter. This is your chance to perform a science project as a NASA researcher would! Read more

Recycle Urine into Drinking Water for Astronauts

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever wondered how astronauts eat and drink in space? Where does their food and water come from? Water, in particular, is quite heavy, so delivering it to space is incredibly expensive. Instead, on spaceships and space stations like the International Space Station (ISS), it is most efficient to recycle water. This includes recycling urine! In this science project, you will use methods similar to those used on the ISS to investigate how urine can be recycled into clean drinking water. Read more

Satellite Collision Detection: A Hands-On Coding Experience

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

Have you ever wondered what would happen if two satellites crashed into each other in space? While space may seem empty, Earth’s orbit is actually crowded with satellites and debris. In this project, you’ll step into the role of a space engineer, using real satellite data to model orbits, track their movement, and predict potential collisions. You’ll explore how gravity and speed affect a satellite’s movement and learn how scientists use simple math and code to prevent… Read more

Make a Model Rocket Land Vertically

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

Companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin are dramatically lowering the cost of space flight by designing reusable rocket boosters that land back on Earth. Getting a rocket to land vertically without any damage - and without using a parachute to slow it down - is quite a tricky physics problem! In this project you will modify your own model rocket so it can land vertically. Read more

Rocket Science: How High Can You Send a Payload?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Rockets are definitively an engineering challenge. These amazing gravity-defying machines have lifted test material, people, and even animals into space. Feel like building one yourself? In this science project, you will transform a water bottle into an aerodynamic bottle rocket with two compartments, one for the fuel and one for a payload. You will then test how well it performs when lifting mass vertically up into the air. Ready, set, soar! Read more

Explore Our Science Videos

Measure Pitch with Google's Science Journal App

Iteration in the Engineering Design Process

Titanic Survival Prediction with Python & KNN: A Step-by-Step Coding Tutorial