Everything You Need to Know about Space for Humanity
Humans have lived and worked onboard the International Space Station for more than 17 years. There, they have developed and demonstrated new technologies, advanced scientific knowledge, and achieved research breakthroughs that would simply not be possible on Earth.
Here’s everything you need to know about the work of Space for Humanity and how the organization supports scientific advancement.
Space for Humanity’s mission is to train the leaders of tomorrow.
By expanding access to space and embracing a culture of interconnectedness, Space for Humanity’s ultimate goal is to guide the next generation towards a more harmonious world. The organization’s core values are:
Kindness. Space for Humanity aims to foster love, wellbeing, and humility.
Integrity. The organization accepts full responsibility for everything it says and does.
Transparency. Space for Humanity supports openness and visibility within its own organization, the work it carries out, and the space economy as a whole.
Free expression. Space for Humanity fully expresses itself, while at the same time honoring and respecting others, in the hope of creating space for others to do likewise.
Accessibility. Space for Humanity promotes inclusivity within the space economy, striving to create a level playing field for all. It encourages inclusivity so that humankind can unite and work towards its greatest challenges together.
Abundance thinking. The organization is committed to sharing resources and success among all people.
Perseverance. Space for Humanity pledges persistence in all it sets out to accomplish, regardless of difficulty, with a particular focus on long-term, sustainable goals.
Space for Humanity supports local and global community building.
Through its impact advocates, citizen astronauts, and members of Mission Control, Space for Humanity presents and participates in a variety of different humanity-led events and social impact ambassadorship programs.
Space for Humanity identifies 17 key social responsibilities on its website.
They are: no poverty; zero hunger; good health and well-being; quality education; gender equality; sanitation and clean water; clean, affordable energy; economic growth and decent work; innovation, infrastructure, and industry; reduced inequalities; sustainable communities and cities; responsible production and consumption; climate action; life below water; life on land; strong institutions and peace and justice; and partnerships for the goals.
Space for Humanity believes that science in space can benefit life on Earth.
Scientific breakthroughs achieved at the International Space Station could facilitate long-range space exploration. In addition, many have the potential to benefit life on this planet. The International Space Station itself is the product of contributions from over 230 people from 18 countries. Its unique microgravity lab has been used to conduct more than 2,400 groundbreaking research investigations.
Space for Humanity supports students who are designing, building, launching, and operating experiments at the International Space Station. It also runs a Space Station Ambassador Program which incorporates more than 600 enthusiasts and educators in the shared pursuit of space exploration.
The Space Station Explorers program facilitates student participation.
Supported by Space for Humanity, this educational International Space Station program enables students to take part in several learning activities, many of which are free. The organizers hope that, in exploring space, they can inspire participants to find innovative solutions for real-life challenges, both here on Earth and in space.
The 2020 Space Station Explorers Genes in Space Competition is open to students in grades 7-12. Its objective is to design experiments using DNA analysis to solve real-world challenges in space exploration.
Sponsored by Boeing, Math for America, MiniPCR, ISS National Laboratory, and New England Biolabs, the competition runs through fall and early spring. Students may compete individually, or in teams of up to four to develop proposals for DNA experiments. Winning experiments are conducted on the International Space Station.
Important scientific advancements have been achieved through previous Genes in Space competitions. For example, in 2015, Anna-Sophia Boguraev’s winning experiment looked at how spaceflight affects human immune cells. In April 2016, when Boguraev’s experiment was carried out on the International Space Station, it became the first test of polymerase chain reactions to be conducted in space.
Space for Humanity invites supporters to participate in a number of ways.
Supporters can influence the future of humanity in several key ways. By giving to Space for Humanity, patrons help train the leaders of tomorrow, expanding spaceflight, and cultivating a global movement to facilitate a more harmonious world.
Space Humanity’s recent successes include: receiving 3,700 Astronaut Applications from citizens of more than 100 nations; creating scores of alliances as well as 14 official partnerships; producing content in over 30 different languages; sponsoring and hosting 10 major events; and participating in more than 30 different events across the United States, United Kingdom, and Russia as well as regions including Latin America and Africa.
Space for Humanity invites interested parties to join its team. Participants can utilize their unique abilities to create interest, awareness, and support of the organization’s mission.
