8–12
Grades
Students worldwide
In partnership with
Beyond Space Technologies
Virtual Analog Astronaut Lab
Work With an Analog Astronaut.Execute a Space Mission.
A first-of-its-kind virtual lab where high school students design a space experiment, operate as Mission Control and work directly with an analog astronaut to execute it inside a simulated space habitat.
Winter 2026 · Fully Virtual · Applications Open
Winter
2026
This season’s mission
Live
Habitat ops
You run Mission Control
Online
From home
Join from anywhere
Not a space lecture
The Closest High School Students Can Get to a Space Mission
Analog astronauts conduct simulated space missions inside specialised habitats on Earth. In this one-of-a-kind lab, students work directly with a certified analog astronaut to design and execute their own experiment, giving them one of the closest possible experiences of what it takes to plan and operate a real space mission.
Develop the skills behind space-mission operations: experimental design, protocol writing, systems thinking, data analysis and real-time problem-solving.
How it works
Students progress from technical training and experimental design to protocol development, live execution and post-mission analysis.
See how students progress from technical training and experimental design to protocol development, live execution and post-mission analysis.
Mission phase
Train for the mission
01
Train for the mission
Learn how science and ops change inside a confined habitat — delays, resources, and human factors.
Habitat systems · experiment design · comms delay
Mission Control
Choose Your Mission Operations Role
After completing foundational training, students select a defined technical or operational role and work in specialist teams to design, prepare and execute the experiment. Each team owns a critical part of the process, and successful execution depends on how effectively they work together.
FLT
Flight Commander
Timeline, coordination, and shift handovers.
CAPCOM
CAPCOM
The voice between Mission Control and the analog astronaut.
SCI
Science Officer
Watches execution and evaluates incoming science data.
MED
Medical Officer
Tracks health, stress, and cognitive performance.
GSH
Ground Station Handler
Telemetry, signal, and mission data.
Outputs
Program Outcomes
By the end of the lab, students leave with tangible deliverables and defined technical competencies and a portfolio of working mission documents modelled on those used by real space-mission teams.
- Experiment proposalA research question, rationale, and method the analog astronaut can actually fly.
- Astronaut checklistStep-by-step ops a crewmember can execute — safety, timing, and abort paths included.
- CAPCOM packagesVoice loops, uplink notes, and comms the habitat can act on without a lecture.
- Ops & anomaly logsWhat ran, what broke, and how the team rewrote the procedure in the moment.
- Returned-data analysisRead the habitat downlink — images, samples, telemetry — and say what it means.
- Mission reportA flight-style closeout: findings, constraints, and how you’d fly it again.
- Debrief briefingStand up and present the mission the way a real ops team would.
When the experiment leaves the screen
Live Mission Operation
The certified analog astronaut executes the experiment inside the habitat while students operate as Mission Control, monitoring incoming data and adapting the protocol when required.
Students will:
- Track execution against the protocol
- Interpret observations and sensor data
- Diagnose anomalies
- Communicate revised instructions
- Evaluate the results
- 12:04:18Experiment package received
- 12:13:42Anomaly detected: sensor variance
- 12:21:09Revised protocol uplinked
Who should apply
Curious builders. Any field.
Designed for curious, motivated students who want to explore how science and engineering are used in real mission environments.
Prior experience in space science is not required. Show up ready to contribute, collaborate, and own mission deadlines.
- Aerospace
- Astronomy
- Biology
- Medicine
- Psychology
- CS / AI / ML
- Robotics
- Data science
- Environment
- Exploration
No prior space coursework required.
Skills you practise
01Experiment design
A testable question the analog astronaut can actually fly.
02Protocol writing
Turn research into steps another person can execute.
03Precise comms
Technical instructions CAPCOM can uplink without a lecture.
04Role teamwork
One seat, one job, one timeline — across Mission Control.
05Data analysis
Read logs, images, samples, and telemetry that return.
06Anomaly calls
Diagnose the break with incomplete information.
07Time pressure
Decide under delay, resource limits, and abort paths.
08Mission debrief
Stand up and present the flight the way ops would.
From idea to execution
Your mission journey
Four connected phases take the experiment from a question to physical execution and a debrief.
Swipe to explore phases
01–04
01Train
Prepare for the mission
Analog ops, human factors, and how research changes inside a confined habitat.
Experiment concept
02Design
Build a real experiment
A proposal and a step-by-step protocol an analog astronaut can actually fly.
Astronaut-ready protocol
03Operate
Run Mission Control
Take a seat. Guide the astronaut. Uplink when the procedure breaks.
Logs + observations
04Analyse
Debrief the mission
Read what returned. Present findings and how you’d fly it again.
Mission report
01Train
Prepare for the mission
Analog ops, human factors, and how research changes inside a confined habitat.
Experiment concept
02Design
Build a real experiment
A proposal and a step-by-step protocol an analog astronaut can actually fly.
Astronaut-ready protocol
03Operate
Run Mission Control
Take a seat. Guide the astronaut. Uplink when the procedure breaks.
Logs + observations
04Analyse
Debrief the mission
Read what returned. Present findings and how you’d fly it again.
Mission report
Outcomes
BuildUp student admits
Students from the BuildUp ecosystem progress to globally respected universities through research-first preparation, rigorous mentorship, and project-backed profiles.
Harvard University
Duke University
NYU
University of Oxford
UCLA
University of Warwick
LSE
King’s College London
Brown University
Carnegie Mellon University
USC
UC Berkeley
University College London
NUS
London Business School
Assessment
Assessment Across Three Stages
Student performance is evaluated throughout the program, from experiment readiness to live operations and post-mission analysis.
01/03
- 01
Before flight
Protocol Readiness Review
Assessment of the experiment proposal, scientific rationale, and operational checklist before mission approval.
- 02
On console
Mission Operations Review
Assessment of team performance during execution, communication, shift management, and anomaly resolution.
- 03
Closeout
Final Mission Debrief
Assessment of data analysis, conclusions, and recommendations following the mission.
Recognition
Credentials, Recognition and Opportunities
Virtual Analog Astronaut Lab Certificate
Students who successfully complete the program and fulfil their assigned mission responsibilities will receive a Virtual Analog Astronaut Program Certificate identifying their operational specialisation.
Internship with Beyond Space Technologies
The top 1% of performers will be selected for an internship with Beyond Space Technologies, giving them the opportunity to apply their skills through further work with the organisation.
Mentor Recommendation Letter
Exceptional performers will receive a personalised letter of recommendation from their program mentor, recognising their technical contribution and performance during the lab.
Lab Mentors
Mission Mentors
Learn from an analog astronaut and space researchers from Beyond Space Technologies whose work spans human spaceflight, bioastronautics, propulsion and mission systems.
Mentor
Arjun Dabas
CEO & Founder, Beyond Space Technologies · Space Researcher
Space researcher specialising in rocket propulsion and high-temperature materials. Certified by IIST, ISRO, IIT Bombay, and Stanford University in GNC and AI/ML. His research spans cryogenic engines, CMB radiation, quantum mechanics, and swarm robotics for deep-planetary missions. Lead author of Biofabricated Bone under Microgravity Conditions, presented at the International Space Congress.
Rocket PropulsionGNC · AI/MLSwarm RoboticsStanford · IIST · ISRO
Mentor
Raahil Sheikh
Analog Astronaut · CTO, Beyond Space Technologies · Chief Channel Editor, Springer Nature
Researcher at ISRO's U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Research Internship Awardee at IIT Bombay, and three-time NASA Citizen Scientist. His research spans orbital mechanics, computational fluid dynamics of compressible flows, spacecraft structural analysis, and bioastronautics — bridging engineering and life sciences to drive innovation in human spaceflight.
Orbital MechanicsCFDBioastronauticsISRO · IIT Bombay · NASA
Together, the Beyond Space Technologies team has designed and delivered multiple technical space programs, including BuildUp’s flagship Summer Space Lab. Their wider work spans space research, mission design and analog operations, supported by published research in the field.
Admissions
Application Process
We’re building a focused cohort of motivated students for a mentor-led analog mission experience.
Step 01
Apply
Submit a short application outlining your interests, background, and motivation.
Step 02
Interview
Shortlisted applicants are invited for a 1:1 conversation to assess fit and commitment.
Step 03
Final decision
Selected students receive an offer along with next steps for onboarding.
Limited seats. Selection based on application and interview. Admissions are rolling and spots will fill earlier.
Apply nowInstitutions represented
Our students are from
Schools and institutions represented across BuildUp programs worldwide. Join the mission and you are building alongside an ambitious group of peers.
Akshara International
Billabong High International
CNS Pune
Enko International Schools
Gems Modern Academy - Abu Dhabi
Indus Bangalore
International Academy
MIT Vishwashanti Gurukul
Mahindra United World College
Pathways World School
Pine View School
Riverside Academy - Qatar
Shri Ram School
TISB
Thomas Jefferson high School
Vidyagyan School
BD Somani
Bishops School Pune
Cygnus World School
Future Kids School Hyderabad
Heritage International School
Indus Pune
Kodaikanal International School
Mahindra International School
Oakridge International
Pestalozzi Education Center
Prudence School
San Mateo High School
Stonehill International School
The Doon School
Vidya Valley School
Woodstock School
Voices from past cohorts
Student experiences with BuildUp
BuildUp has worked with students worldwide across internships, research, and specialised labs. Here is what past students say.
Program details
Program Details
Everything students and families need to know before applying.
Tuition
$1,950
Program Dates
19 December 2026 – 9 January 2027
24 and 25 December and 1 January are program holidays.
Duration
3 weeks
Time Commitment
5–6 hours per week
Delivery
Fully online
Open to students worldwide
Eligible Students
Grades 8–12
Cohort Size
Limited to 50 students
Application Deadline
1 December 2026
Admissions are rolling and spots will fill earlier.
Format and Schedule
Weekend live sessions, supported by asynchronous work and weekly team meetings.
Student scheduling preferences will be collected during onboarding.
Next step
Apply for the Winter 2026 cohort · $1,950
Partnership
BuildUp Global × Beyond Space
Together, BuildUp Global and Beyond Space Technologies are making a complex mission environment accessible to students around the world.
BuildUp Global
BuildUp Global creates immersive career and industry experiences for school students. Through partnerships with companies, researchers and domain experts, students move beyond passive learning to work on structured, real-world projects with tangible outcomes. BuildUp programs have engaged students from more than 129 nationalities across internships, research experiences, career simulations and specialised industry labs.
Beyond Space Technologies
Beyond Space Technologies develops research-led learning and mission experiences across space science, engineering and human spaceflight. Its analog mission environment allows participants to explore the scientific, operational and human challenges involved in conducting research under simulated space conditions.
Applications open
Your mission begins on Earth
Spaceflight will belong to people who can pair scientific curiosity with operational discipline. This winter, fly an analog mission from home — not a lecture about one.
Winter 2026 applications are open to students worldwide.
01
Design the experiment
A protocol an astronaut can execute.
02
Join Mission Control
Take a seat. Run the timeline.
03
Direct the astronaut
Uplink when the plan breaks.
04
Analyse what returns
Debrief like a flight team.