The ISS National Lab-sponsored contest received nearly triple the number of entries as last year, more than 2,700 entries from students in 35 countries

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., Feb. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Students from around the world saw their space-themed works of pen, paint, and poetry floating in the cupola of the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a contest to spark student interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers through the arts.

John Shoffner, a lifelong space enthusiast, aviator, entrepreneur, and pilot on Axiom Space’s 2^nd commercial astronaut mission to the space station, developed this unique student contest through his Perseid Foundation. In collaboration with the foundation, Axiom Space and the Limitless Space Institute helped to bring this opportunity to students worldwide through the sponsorship of the ISS National Laboratory^®.

In this second year of the contest, the Perseid Foundation received more than 2,700 entries of art and poetry from 35 countries depicting students’ ideas about what it is like to live and work in space. From these entries, Shoffner and a panel of judges selected four works of art and four poems, and then worked with NASA to transmit the winning pieces to the space station so crew members could print them. Winning works of art and poetry were each photographed in the cupola.

Shoffner has always loved space, art, and the combination of the two, and when he was 10 years old, he painted a picture of NASA astronaut Ed White. When Shoffner flew on Axiom Mission-2 (Axiom-2) as its pilot, he used his experience on the space station to excite kids about STEM learning. While on the orbiting laboratory, he recorded a message announcing the winners of the Perseid Foundation’s first space-themed art and poetry contest.

The foundation announced the second contest’s winners by sharing their photos and poetry on its website. The works returned to Earth in December at the conclusion of SpaceX’s 31^st Commercial Resupply Services mission for NASA. The winners will receive their space-station printed work of art and a certificate stating it has flown in space. Every student who entered the contest also received a digital participation certificate and a note from Shoffner.

Educational outreach and workforce development are key focus areas for the ISS National Lab. The success of future commercial low Earth orbit destinations requires a strong space industry workforce, and the ISS National Lab supports a number of educational outreach programs at every age level to help prepare the next generation of researchers, engineers, and explorers. The International Space Art and Poetry Contest is one way partners leveraged the ISS National Lab to engage youth across the globe to pique their interest in space and space-focused careers.

“For the second year in a row, the International Space Art and Poetry Contest has reignited my love for space beyond my wildest imagination. Bright minds from 35 countries around the world showcased wide-eyed curiosity, bright color, and aspirational words,” said Shoffner about this year’s contest. “I’m assured the future of the space program is in great hands.”

He concluded this year’s contest with a note for its participants: “Thank you, once again, for showing me the sky is not the limit,” he said.

To learn more about ISS National Lab educational partners and opportunities for students to leverage the orbiting outpost to ignite their curiosity, including an upcoming funding opportunity, please visit our website.

Download a high-resolution image for this release: Space Art & Poetry

About the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory:

The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Laboratory^® allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve quality of life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology, and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space^® (CASIS^®) manages the ISS National Lab, under Cooperative Agreement with NASA, facilitating access to its permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit our website.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CASIS^® accepts corporate and individual donations to help advance science in space for the benefit of humanity. For more information, visit our donations page.

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SOURCE International Space Station National Lab

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