Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #32510: SPQR: Teaching the Next Generation How to Return Samples from Space

What better way to train future aerospace engineers than by giving them real-world challenges—like building a satellite that returns to Earth with vital data? The SPQR (Small Payload Quick Return) Technology Educational Satellite, tested during Expedition 57/58, combined education and engineering excellence.

Under the guidance of NASA Ames and led by Ali Guarneros Luna and Marcus Murbach, university students worked side-by-side with experts to build and test the SPQR satellite. This wasn’t just a classroom simulation. It was a real spacecraft, launched from the ISS, with the mission of surviving reentry and delivering its payload to researchers on Earth.

The educational satellite taught students about thermal protection, aerodynamics, telemetry, and systems integration—skills they’ll use in tomorrow’s space missions. More importantly, it showed that even small satellites can serve big scientific purposes.

This project reflects NASA’s commitment to blending innovation with education, ensuring that tomorrow’s engineers are already building the future today.

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