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Portugal, welcome to America’s space program!  In the photo: Duarte Januário, Amélia Cardoso, Fernanda Costa, Elsa Alves, Rafael Silva e João Ribeiro, Maria Pinto, Laura Cesário, Mariana Pinheiro e Ana Beatriz Gomes Portuguese Students Reach the Final Stage with Groundbreaking Research in Regenerative Medicine The Carolina Michaelis school, located in Porto, has gained international recognition as its students’ experiment was chosen by the the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE) Review Board in the U.S as the winner of the International Journey ISS Expedition – Mission 19. The experiment, titled “The Effect of Microgravity on the Osteogenic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome,” will be sent to the International Space Station (ISS) and tested by astronauts under microgravity conditions. This historic achievement is the result of a dedicated alliance bringing together an international team committed to STEAM and Space education. It highlights collaborations among Portugal, Brazil, and the U.S. to deliver global educational experiences through the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP). The initiative connects young learners and educators to space science, fostering scientific practice and advancing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills. The Role of International Collaboration This groundbreaking project owes its origins to Science Days and a pivotal trip by Jefferson Michaelis and Carla Michaelis to Portugal, which was supported by the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon, the U.S. Commercial Service, and the U.S. Department of Commerce. These collaborations laid the foundation for an enduring partnership that has brought the International Journey ISS Expedition to Portugal, opening new doors for students and teachers to engage in cutting-edge space research. About the International Journey - ISS Expedition The International Journey - ISS Expedition is an educational initiative under the SSEP, coordinated by the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE) and the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education. Sponsored in Brazil and Portugal by the KSCIA - International Space Academy, R-Crio Stem Cells, the Michaelis Foundation for Global Education, and ANADEM. This project provides students with the opportunity to develop scientific experiments that will be sent to the International Space Station (ISS), offering practical experience in space science. “Our mission is to connect students with space science, giving them the chance to experience the scientific method in a real-world context. This project replicates the demands of real aerospace industry programs. Students are being prepared to tackle real-world challenges,” said Giovanna Hueb, co-director of the International Journey ISS Expedition in Brazil and Space Education Outreach lead at KSCIA. The program engages 9,800 students from 21 global communities in an educational competition. In Brazil and Portugal alone, more than 200 students from over 20 institutions participated. Ultimately, only one experiment from the Brazil-Portugal cohort was selected to be launched aboard the Dream Chaser Demo-1, Sierra Space's first robotic resupply mission to the ISS. Educational Excellence and Global Impact The schools involved in this initiative integrate STEAM and space education into their curriculums, preparing students for 21st-century challenges. KSCIA - International Space Academy, headquartered at the Space Life Science Lab in Cape Canaveral, plays a pivotal role in advancing space education globally. José Carlos Filho, LATAM Country Manager at KSCIA, emphasized: “We are preparing these students to face the challenges of 21st-century science. The experience of developing experiments in microgravity conditions places them in a unique position to understand the complexity of modern science.” Jefferson Michaelis, President of the Michaelis Foundation for Global Education, added: “The mission of the Michaelis Foundation has always been to promote access to STEAM & Space knowledge for everyone. Through initiatives like this, we are not only encouraging scientific learning but also fostering collaboration among schools from different countries. This unity is key to shaping future leaders in science and technology.” Innovations in Regenerative Medicine In collaboration with R-Crio Stem Cells, the project highlights regenerative medicine—a field that complements traditional aerospace research in physics, engineering, and chemistry. “Historically, physics, engineering, and chemistry have been strong areas in aerospace research. We are delighted to introduce and encourage projects that also include major areas such as biology/regenerative medicine, bioengineering, and mechanobiology,” said Roberto D. Fanganiello, Scientific Director of R-Crio and Professor at Université Laval in Quebec City, Canada. Teamwork and Dedication Elsa Alves, supervising teacher at Carolina Michaelis School, expressed her pride: “Our team of students and teachers is overjoyed that our experiment proposal has been selected to go to the ISS. We will have an astronaut conducting our experiment in microgravity. It’s fantastic! After days of anticipation, this has been the best Christmas gift.”  Ana Beatriz Oliveira Gomes (12° série), João Paulo Machado Ribeiro (12° série), Laura Coimbra Cesário (11° série), Maria Rita Valongo Pinto (11° série), Mariana De Almeida Pinheiro (12° série), Rafael Silva (12° série) The team’s experiment, titled The Effect of Microgravity on the Secretome of Bone Cells, was born from the students’ curiosity after attending classes on regenerative medicine, offered by researchers from R-Crio and the i3S Institute.
The project aims to understand how microgravity influences biological processes such as osteogenesis, paving the way for advancements in both space and terrestrial health. “The choice of research topic came after attending, via videoconference, excellent regenerative medicine classes taught by researchers from R-Crio. One of the concepts covered in the lectures was osteogenesis. The students were very curious to better understand the concept. They read several scientific articles and received guidance from teachers and researchers from R-Crio (Brazil) and i3S (Portugal).” The study investigates changes in the secretome—a set of molecules, including proteins, secreted by bone cells. The research seeks to understand how microgravity affects the secretome and how this could influence cellular growth and differentiation, contributing to innovative solutions to combat bone mass loss faced by astronauts on long-duration missions. Science that transforms For the team, participating in the project represents more than an academic achievement. Elsa Alves highlights the importance of experiencing the scientific method and designing an experiment that could be executed by astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS): “This project is extremely important for students to understand how the scientific method works, to grasp the extensive effort researchers invest to make new discoveries that advance scientific knowledge and, in this case, the conquest of space. In this specific project, students learned new concepts that allowed them to design an experiment, controlling variables, which could potentially be conducted by an astronaut on the ISS, in microgravity. It’s truly spectacular.” Project phases
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