NASA is encouraging the public to contribute to human space exploration by participating in various citizen science projects that support research on life in space, space weather, and space farming. Volunteers can help from anywhere in the world without special qualifications or citizenship requirements, providing valuable assistance to NASA’s ongoing efforts to prepare for future missions.
Contributing to Space Weather Research
One available project is Space Umbrella, designed for participants with only a few minutes to spare. Volunteers learn to read data collected by NASA’s Magnetosphere Multiscale (MMS) mission, which has been studying Earth’s magnetosphere since 2015. By sorting data into categories based on spacecraft location relative to the magnetosphere, citizen scientists help researchers understand the interactions between solar storms and Earth’s protective magnetic field. This research is vital because solar storms can expose astronauts to harmful radiation, and understanding these events can aid in minimizing such risks on space missions.
Supporting Space Farming and Biological Research
Teachers and students in grades 6-12 can join the Growing Beyond Earth project, which collaborates with scientists from Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden to cultivate plant varieties being tested for astronaut food. Experiments aboard the International Space Station currently include leafy greens and chili peppers, providing insights into how plants grow in microgravity environments. Long-duration missions will require astronauts to grow their own food, making this research essential for future space farming.
For those with data analysis skills, NASA’s Open Science Data Repository Analysis Working Groups offer an opportunity to analyze experimental data on how various terrestrial life forms—from plants to mice and microbes—adapt to the low-gravity and high-radiation conditions of space. Participants join an international community that advances understanding of biological responses in spaceflight environments.
Engaging Amateur Radio Enthusiasts
Ham radio operators can join Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI), building and deploying low-cost personal space weather stations. These stations monitor ionospheric conditions affected by solar activity, contributing data to a central database that helps scientists study Sun-atmosphere interactions. This initiative broadens participation in space science by leveraging skills in amateur radio.
NASA offers many other projects across a range of scientific fields to enable public involvement in answering key questions about the universe, our solar system, and Earth. These citizen science programs provide an accessible way for individuals to help make space travel safer and more sustainable.
More information on available projects and how to get involved is available on NASA’s citizen science website.
Why it matters
Public participation in these projects helps NASA gather critical data to mitigate risks like solar radiation exposure, improve strategies for sustainable food production in space, and develop a deeper understanding of life sciences in microgravity. This collaborative research supports the success of future crewed deep-space missions, including long-term exploration beyond the moon.
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Sources
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