Walk to the Moon Challenge begins
- Register as a Team Leader.
- Register your Team(s).
- Create a plan of action for your Team(s) and gather materials for the challenge activities.
Challenge your students to complete real astronaut-inspired training missions that combine physical activity with scientific investigation and get them ready to train like space explorers do!
Train like an astronaut!
- Recommended for 5 to 14-year-olds
- Sign up with a team leader
- Receive a certificate
- Open from 10 September 2026 to 15 August 2027
Recommended for ages 5 to 14
From individuals to a whole team
Sign up with a team leader
Walk to the Moon Challenge Are you a teacher, educator or parent?
Guide your students on STEM adventure by letting them train like astronauts with Mission X. Each school year, from September to August, teams of students up to 14 years old can participate in the Walk to the Moon Challenge. Teams from across the world complete Mission X activities and submit them online to earn steps. The project has an open format, meaning that students can complete physical and scientific activities designed by ESA, national ESEROs, or come up with their own ideas. Steps submitted by all participating teams help the Mission X mascots, Luna and Leo, walk 384,400 km – the distance from Earth to the Moon. If you would like to implement Mission X as part of your curriculum, have a look at the activity examples available online.
Mission X is a project run by ESA, the UK Space Agency and the national ESEROs. Participants will receive a certificate and a Special Celebratory message from ESA. Additionally, teacher trainings, national events and summer camps are held in multiple countries. You can read more about Mission X in your country by checking out your country page in the menu bar at the top of this page.
Are you a student?
Find classmates or friends to join your team and a teacher, educator or parent who can supervise and submit your team’s project. Select the activities that best fit your team and get moving!
Your activities can range from:
- Completing astronaut-inspired fitness challenges
- Exploring the science behind healthy eating and nutrition
- Investigating how the human body adapts to space
- Designing fun experiments that test strength, endurance, or balance
- Recording and tracking your team’s progress to help “Walk to the Moon”
Engage Young Learners in STEM, Health & Nutrition Activities
Join ESA Reserve Astronaut John McFall in a new series of videos for Mission X
Walk to the Moon Challenge Timeline
Mission Activities
- Complete your Mission X activities from September until August.
- Submit your activities on the website and earn steps!
Celebrate your achievement
- A Team Certificate and a Team Leader Certificate will be made available in the Team Overview for you to download.
Mission Complete
- Receive a special celebratory message from ESA when Luna and Leo reach the Moon.*
- The website closes for activity submissions.
*Available to all teams that have submitted at least one activity.
Why Join the Challenge
Teaching STEM Using the Excitement of Space Exploration
Free Teaching Resources
Explore inspiring hands-on STEM activities aligned with educational standards, designed to captivate and educate young minds with a focus on health and nutrition.
Motivating Learning Challenge
Energise your learners with the Walk to the Moon Challenge - a fun, goal-driven activity that rewards them with a certificate and a Special Celebratory message from ESA.
Flexible Implementation
Integrates effortlessly into any environment - classrooms, science museums, or after-school programs. Perfect for enhancing curricula, special events, workshops, or clubs.
Global Reach
A global initiative available in multiple languages. Use the top menu to find your country page, discover local events, and connect with your national organiser.