Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #30734: Science Soars with Gerst Flying Classroom 2

What happens when you take the classroom into space? You get the Gerst Flying Classroom 2, an ESA initiative that brought educational science directly from the ISS into student lives. Led by German astronaut Alexander Gerst, this project aimed to ignite curiosity by exploring physics and materials science in microgravity.

Gerst performed demonstrations onboard the ISS showing phenomena like fluid dynamics, granular material behavior, and surface tension—offering real-world visuals for classroom science lessons. One highlight was the bouncing of metal balls on a soft surface in microgravity, showing how different materials interact without the interference of gravity.

Back on Earth, these demonstrations were linked to experiments students could perform in class, like comparing granular materials under different conditions. The program included lesson plans and teacher guides to ensure the activities aligned with educational standards.

By merging education and orbital science, Gerst Flying Classroom 2 enabled students to feel like real scientists. It showed that even the ISS could serve as a lab bench for student discovery—making space a truly shared environment for learning and innovation.

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