In this activity and video, NASA astronauts and an astronaut trainer show you how to improve dexterity and coordination by assembling a puzzle.
Physical Activity
These "mission assignments" for students, available in English and Spanish, give detailed instructions for each activity as well as more advanced challenges, related NASA facts and safety guidelines.
Mission Handouts
Train Like An Astronaut is inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative, dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity and encouraging families across the country to commit to living healthier lives. Living and working in space requires NASA astronauts to be fit and eat right in order to perform at a high level.
Through the use of the astronaut exercises, children across America can train like an astronaut to reach their personal health goals. NASA supports the First Lady's cause and is excited to contribute to a healthier lifestyle for all Americans.
UPDATE: STEM UK has launched a brand new website for The International Challenge for Mission X. The USA program has stopped and is now archived on the NASA website.
Mission X: train like an astronaut is an international educational challenge, focusing on health, science, fitness and nutrition, which encourages pupils to train like an astronaut.
Information and Resources
Astro Charlie the Mission-X mascot. Teams of children exercise to earn points during their school lessons. These points are converted into steps that will virtually take Astro Charlie to the Moon, 478 million steps from Earth. 
Train Like an Astronaut is inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative, dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity and encouraging families across the country to commit to living healthier lives. Living and working in space requires NASA astronauts to be fit and eat right in order to perform at a high level.
Through the use of the astronaut exercises, children across America can train like an astronaut to reach their personal health goals. NASA supports the First Lady's cause and is excited to contribute to a healthier lifestyle for all Americans.
The International Challenge for Mission X
Mission X Train Like an Astronaut is a free educational program developed by space scientists and fitness professionals working with astronauts and space agencies across the world.
Mission X uses the excitement of space exploration to inspire students to learn about science, nutrition, exercise and space! It is aimed at students aged 8 to 12 but the activities can be adapted to suit other ages.
The international challenge for Mission X runs each year from January to May. During the challenge, countries from across the world encourage their students to complete the mission challenges. Each country is made up of teams who complete activities and track their points. At the end of the mission, all of the submitted points help the Mission X mascot, Astro Charlie, walk to the Moon!
Get started by downloading the Welcome Guide (for teachers).
2019 STEM Learning in UK
STEM Learning operates the National STEM Learning Centre and Network, alongside other projects supporting STEM education.
2019 Mission X: train like an astronaut is an international educational challenge, focusing on health, science, fitness and nutrition, which encourages pupils to train like an astronaut.
The perfect project for school teachers of pupils between 8 and 12 years old, Mission X is also ideal for educators who run science clubs, youth and community groups, after-school clubs and home educators. We provide a wealth of free resources to help educators teach the principles of health and exercise, using a space context. Many of the lessons and activities are linked to the science curriculum and have a clear focus on health and nutrition. The materials are available in a range of languages.
On this worldwide challenge, pupils practice scientific reasoning and teamwork whilst participating in hands-on STEM education and physical education activities targeting strength, endurance, coordination, balance and spatial awareness. For each activity completed, teams earn points which are submitted through the website. Each point earned helps the Mission X mascot, Astro Charlie, walk to the Moon.
Supported by the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency, ESERO-UK oversees the challenge and has launched a brand new website where people from around the world can learn more about the project, gather ideas to spark interest in space exploration and access the free teaching resources.
USA 2011-2018
About Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut
Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut program was active from 2011-2018
About Physical Activities
Public Downloads
All items are free to view, share, and download.
When available, we provide all our content with a Spanish version in our public download section. You can find additional material from sources listed in all our articles.
Download Train Like An Astronaut Let’s Move! Fitness Collection
Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut
About Let's Move! Initiative and Accomplishments 
About Lets Move Video About Mission X Train Like an Astronaut International Challenge Now STEM in UK About NASA physical activities Agility Astro-Course Agility Astro-Course Mission Handout Agility Astro-Course Mission Handout - Spanish Base Station Walk-Back Base Station Walk-Back Mission Handout Base Station Walk-Back Mission Handout - Spanish Building An Astronaut Core Building An Astronaut Core Mission Handout Building An Astronaut Core Mission Handout - Spanish Crew Assembly Training Mission Crew Assembly Training Mission Handout Crew Assembly Training Mission Handout - Spanish Crew Strength Training Crew Strength Training Mission Handout Crew Strength Training Mission Handout - Spanish Do a Spacewalk Do a Spacewalk Mission Handout Do a Spacewalk Mission Handout - Spanish Energy of An Astronaut Energy of An Astronaut Student Handout Energy of An Astronaut Student Handout - Spanish Explore and Discover Explore and Discover Mission Handout Explore and Discover Mission Handout - Spanish Hydration Station Hydration Station Student Handout Hydration Station Student Handout - Spanish Jump for the Moon Jump for the Moon Mission Handout Jump for the Moon Mission Handout - Spanish Living Bones Strong Bones Living Bones Strong Bones Student Handout Living Bones Strong Bones Student Handout - Spanish Mission Control Mission Control Handout Mission Control Handout - Spanish MissionX Overview Flyer Speed of Light Speed of Light Mission Handout Speed of Light Mission Handout - Spanish Taste in Space Taste in Space handout Taste in Space handout - Spanish Note: This is historical material “frozen in time”. The website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work.
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