The WBA Education Program

Contact analogcreweducation@gmail.com if you would like to participate in the program

Learn More:

We’re thrilled to announce the Mission Educators for the Analog Crew Education (ACE) Project!

In collaboration with the World’s Biggest Analog (WBA) Mission, these educators will spend the next three months connecting students to real-time space science. They’ll guide classrooms through parallel experiments with analog crews and explore both the technical and human sides of space exploration, showing that disciplines like physics, robotics, psychology, and sociology all play an equal role in shaping our future beyond Earth.

The ACE Project is about building a more inclusive and interdisciplinary space community, one that reflects the diversity of thought, background, and curiosity that space exploration truly requires.

  • 35 Educators

  • 11 Countries

  • 6 Continents

  • ~2,700 Students 

  • 1 Mission 

To the educators stepping into this mission — welcome.
To our partners and supporters — thank you.
This is just the beginning.

With appreciation,
The ACE Project Team

COSMIC REGION
SIMULATED SPACE STATION 

PROJECT GOAL
To create an extraordinary, interactive, hands-on program for students and the general public that promotes interest in science, space, astronomy, and technology in a unique and innovative way. The main part of the project will be a specially constructed "Analog Station with a Mission Control Center for Simulated Space Missions", which will serve as the setting for a newly developed program of simulated space missions and related activities — including our entirely new educational initiative.
We will become a “Cosmic Region” and part of the analog astronaut research community.

THE STATION WILL OFFER:
• Simulated space missions
• Thematic workshops
• Lectures
• Educational excursions
• Presentations
• Exhibitions
• Space-themed competitions –  teamwork challenges focused on various areas of science

THE STATION
The analog station will consist of two separate spherical modules, each with a diameter of 7 meters. These two main segments will be connected by a passageway, an entrance section, and a utility area with bathrooms.
In these restricted conditions, the crew of astronauts will be part of simulated space missions to the Moon and Mars. These missions will be monitored and supported by a Mission Control Team, based at the Simulated Mission Control Center.

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
The Mission Control Center will be located in the main building of the Rožňava Observatory. The center will be mobile — meaning the simulated missions can be monitored and managed remotely from anywhere in Slovakia or even from abroad. Progress in this field is only possible through cooperation. Organizations from other regions and countries can join this unique simulated space program.

PROJECT LOCATION
Rožňava Observatory
 Gemer Cultural and Educational Centre
The project is implemented with financial support from the Košice Self-Governing Region within the framework of the call: “Traditions Inspire Innovation.”

Project Supervisor 
Dr. Michaela Musilová

Project Development, Architecture and Visualization of the Simulated Space Station
Gemer Cultural and Educational Centre – Department of Astronomy

PROJECT STATUS UPDATE
Work on the project is currently in full swing — both on the analog station (its individual structural segments) and on the Mission Control Room too.
After the installation of technologies and equipment, the project will culminate in a grand opening of the station is scheduled for autumn 2025. 
The first phase of the project, throughout 2025, will focus mainly on creating the hardware — the physical infrastructure for carrying out exceptional simulated space activities and launching the very first trial missions and activities at our station.
The development of the simulated mission program and other activities (i.e. the "software" of the station), as well as fine-tuning the station’s operations, will take place later in 2025 and throughout 2026. During this second phase, we plan to launch the first full-scale, fully functional simulated space missions.

FOR AMBITIOUS INDIVIDUALS
If you are inspired by our innovative vision, interested in astronomy, science, and space simulation activities, speak English at a communicative level and if you want to gain new experiences not available in Slovakia — we invite you to join us.

Contact
Zdeněk Molnár
hvezdaren@gos.sk
+421 918 244 901 (Mon–Fri, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM)
www.gos.sk/hvezdaren
Facebook: hvezdarenroznava @Hvezdáreň Rožnava Observatory