
Mission X: Train like an astronaut
eam size: 2-30 members + mentor
Age of members: 6 – 14 years old
Launch date: 11 September 2024
Closing date: 11 August 2025
Website: Mission X https://trainlikeanastronaut.org/
Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut is an educational programme focused on learning about space, the human body and science. Children become astronauts during the mission. With the help of prepared methodologies, children exercise the same muscles as their real-life colleagues in space and learn the skills necessary to survive in space. The aim of the whole mission is to lead pupils to an active lifestyle, healthy eating and exercise.
It primarily targets children up to the age of 14. Activities can be completed in regular school lessons, after school clubs and in free time.
The programme is international and runs from January to May. The goal is to help astronauts Luna and Leo reach the moon. Teams earn points for completed activities, where each point is one kilometer on our astronauts’ journey. Points earned are uploaded to the website. There you will also find a range of videos and support materials to help motivate children to successfully complete Mission X. Teachers can use the forums on the website to find inspiration from colleagues around the world.
How to get involved?
Mission X starts on Wednesday 11 September 2024.
An example of a great involvement of the Czech team is the Club of gifted children LogIQ from Klatovy, which in the 2020/21 edition even held the top positions for a long time in the number of activities carried out across Europe.
Follow this website. Check back at the beginning of the school year for information on how to apply. When you sign up, we will provide you with the necessary worksheets for each activity, detailing the training and how it relates to actual astronaut training. In the meantime, you can check out the international Mise X website https://trainlikeanastronaut.org/cz/ and the English Mise X Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/trainastronaut/.
Brief description of training sessions
SPORTS DISCIPLINES IN THE GYM
Crew strength – strength training
(squats and push-ups). When you lift any object off the floor, get out of bed, or bend under a bench, you are using both upper and lower body muscles. Such activities help you keep your muscles and bones strong. In this workout, you will do push-ups and squats to develop and strengthen the bones and muscles of your upper and lower body.
Monthly walking – coordination training
(walking on all fours, “bear” and “crab” walking). You will try “bear” and “crab” walking, improve your muscle strength and coordination of your upper and lower body.
Superjumps – physical endurance training
(jumping rope). Jump rope exercise improves heart function and circulation, and increases physical endurance. Bones are strengthened even if you exercise using only your own weight – especially when running and jumping. Gradually, the heart and muscles are strengthened, and you can work, exercise and run longer without feeling tired.
A solid astronaut body – abdominal muscle training
(crunches and push-ups). Commander Crunch (Captain’s Lift) and Pilot Plank (Pilot’s Plank) exercises strengthen the abdominal and back muscles. These work together during most physical activities – sitting, standing, lying down, lifting objects, but also in moments when the body is almost at rest. We need them a lot when carrying heavy loads – like school bags.
Control your mission! – Balance training
(catching balls on one foot). To train balance and spatial orientation you will throw and catch the ball standing on one leg. Good balance and spatial orientation is important for normal walking, dancing, diving, athletics, skateboarding, bowling, skiing, cycling or jumping on a trampoline.
Movement astro-course – agility training
(obstacle course with cones). Many everyday activities require physical agility. You will train your motor skills by running between cones.
Climbing Mars Mountain – balance and coordination training
(activities on the gym ladder). Many daily activities, including simply walking up a flight of stairs, require good movement coordination and balance. During this training you will climb and scale the gym ladder(s) to improve your sense of balance and coordination of movements.
Fighting gravity – training the chest and back muscles
(squats and jumps with balls, throwing balls). While gravity is the same everywhere in space, on Earth or on the Moon, Mars or the Sun, gravity will vary depending on which celestial body we are moving the ball around on. You will practice with balls of different sizes and weights, simulating the gravitational conditions in space and on different planets.
Life in microgravity – training balance and coordination of movements
(somersaults, flips, stretching exercises). You will imitate astronauts who are upside down and perform acrobatic exercises. The somersaults will improve your body’s coordination, flexibility and balance. This will strengthen your back, abdominal and leg muscles.
OUTDOOR SPORTS DISCIPLINES
Orientation in space
Classical GPS does not work on the Moon, so it is important that the astronaut can navigate without it. If an astronaut goes on a longer exploration on foot, for example to collect samples, it is essential for him to be able to return to base in time.
Preparing for the spacesuit
There is neither water nor air on the Moon, so astronauts must wear special suits, called spacesuits, to protect them from the environment. For everything to work properly, the spacesuit needs to be thick and have special boots – there are lots of sharp rocks and dust on the Moon.
Collecting samples
When the astronauts first landed on the Moon, they were busy collecting enough samples of lunar rocks. The first crew to land on the Moon brought back over 22kg of samples. These were examined in laboratories on their return to learn as much as possible about our neighbour.
The journey to base – endurance training
(walking up to 1600 meters). If you are walking around the mall, walking through a museum or forest, or just walking from home to school and back, you are helping to keep your muscles, heart and lungs in good shape. Endurance training can only be done if the weather conditions are suitable, it can also be substituted with skating for example.
Space cyclist – leg muscle training
(cycling – 3 km). Cycling helps to strengthen the heart, blood vessels and lungs, increases endurance, exercises leg muscles and improves balance and coordination of movements. When cycling you will discover new places around your home and save the environment as you will not burn any petrol. It is an after-school activity. Outdoor riding can be substituted with, for example, an exercise bike.
DISCIPLINES IN CLASS
Space toilet
When astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) need to use the toilet, they must first get ready. The space toilet looks very different from the one we know on Earth. Why? Because on the ISS there is microgravity, which means that nothing falls but just floats. That’s why the space toilet works like a vacuum cleaner, sucking up urine and catching stool.
At the speed of light – reaction training
(eye-hand reaction, catching the ruler). In case of unexpected events, you need to be able to react quickly. Shortening the eye-hand reaction time can be trained by frequent practice and increased concentration. You will measure your reaction time while catching the ruler, practicing concentration and improving your reaction time.
Building a base – training dexterity
(jigsaw puzzles with difficult manipulation). You will quickly and correctly put together puzzles to practice dexterity and coordination of movements. Like the astronauts, you will wear gloves on your hands. Dexterity and proper coordination of hand movements is important when working in outer space.
SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES
Discover and explore
(aerobic exercise, measuring heart rate before and after exercise). Exercise is important for maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system, strong bones and strong muscles. There are two types of exercise – aerobic and anaerobic. Aerobic and anaerobic exercises combine with each other, both are very important for the human body.
Energy for astronauts
(healthy food pyramid, finding out the nutritional values of foods, energy and calorie consumption, diet design). Astronauts need a balanced diet that meets the energy and health requirements for being in space. Nutritionists in space agencies study the nutritional needs of astronauts and design their diets accordingly.
Enemy fat
(nutritional balance of food, “visible” and “invisible” fat in food). A balanced diet contains adequate amounts of fiber and nutrients (carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals). Fat is inappropriate in large quantities. Watch the information about fats on food packaging and make a list of appropriate and inappropriate ones. Food should also provide adequate energy and sufficient water.
Life-giving water
(hydration and dehydration of the body). Which foods and drinks ensure good hydration of the body and which cause dehydration? How much fluid should a person drink? Dehydration, or lack of water in the human body, can be a problem for adults and children. Since our bodies are made up of 50 to 70% water, it is essential to drink enough fluids to keep our bodies in optimal condition.
Documents for download [CZ]