Astro Pi is an exciting brand that offers young people an incredible opportunity to conduct scientific investigations in space. Through the European Astro Pi Challenge, participants can write computer programs that run on Raspberry Pi computers aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Astro Pi computers, equipped with environmental sensors, were first sent to the ISS as part of British ESA astronaut Tim Peake's Principia mission in 2015-2016.

Since then, they have been used to run students' and young people's programs, with support from the ISS crew. In December 2021, upgraded Astro Pi VIS and Astro Pi IR computers, named after European scientists Nikola Tesla and Marie Skłodowska-Curie, arrived on the ISS. These computers were used for the Mission Zero and Mission Space Lab programs in the European Astro Pi Challenge 2021/22.

A total of 28,126 young people from 26 countries participated, with a 44% female representation. The Astro Pi Challenge has also garnered media attention, bringing more visibility to STEM education. Astro Pi is a collaboration between ESA Education and the Raspberry Pi Foundation.

ESA Education is responsible for the Agency's corporate education program, while the Raspberry Pi Foundation aims to empower young people through computing and digital technologies. Stay updated on Astro Pi's latest developments by subscribing to their newsletter