Mission Space Lab
Rated Advanced, this international Astro Pi challenge is for teams of two to six young people aged 19 or under with a mentor. Teams write and test Python code that uses space-station sensor or camera data to calculate orbital speed. The main challenge is building a reliable scientific method, validating calculations and meeting strict program constraints.
Verified information
Competition details can change. Always confirm dates, eligibility and entry requirements on the official organiser's website.
Official website ↗OVERALL COMPETITION LEVEL
Advanced Level
6 evaluation dimensions have source-backed automatic scores; 0 dimensions need conflict review.
Competition overview
Key information
Eligible ages
Up to 19
School level
Teams of 2-6 young people aged 19 and under, supervised by a mentor
Registration method
School or Individual
Competition stages
Mentor registration, Python program development, submission, flight-status assessment, ISS deployment, data/certificates
Fee
Free
Online / in-person
Hybrid
Dates
Competition timeline
Registration opens
1 Sept 2026
Registration closes
Not yet announced by the organiser
Competition starts
Not yet announced by the organiser
Competition ends
Not yet announced by the organiser
Editorial perspective
Our Take
What is Mission Space Lab? Mission Space Lab challenges teams to write computer programs that solve a scientific task in space by gathering data to calculate the speed at which the International Space Station (ISS) is travelling as accurately as possible. Teams must write a program in Python that captures data from the Astro Pi computers’ sensors or camera about the orientation and motion of the ISS as it orbits the Earth. Then the program must use this data to calculate the speed of the ISS in kilometres per second (km/s). Who can take part? Mission Space Lab is suitable for young people who have some coding experience. You’ll solve a real problem in space, using a program you write using Python. Teams can use any macOS, Microsoft Windows, or Linux computer to write and test their Python program. The team must test their programs online using the “Astro Pi Replay Tool”, which works on Chrome, Safari, and Mozilla Firefox browsers. We do not provide Astro Pi computers for this challenge. But you can use your own Raspberry Pi computer to write and test the program using the Astro Pi Replay Tool.