Engineering & Science Discovery Through Affordable DIY Instrumentation
Engineering & Science Discovery Through Affordable DIY Instrumentation
STELLA (Science and Technology Education for Land/Life Assessment) is a force multiplier for NASA Missions and programs – it amplifies their impact by breaking down barriers that make satellite remote sensing seem inaccessible, transforming mission data from abstract numbers into tangible participatory science that develops the technical workforce Earth observation systems depend upon while creating thousands of mission-literate professionals who understand why NASA investments matter.
STELLA (Science and Technology Education for Land/Life Assessment) is a force multiplier for NASA Missions and programs – it amplifies their impact by breaking down barriers that make satellite remote sensing seem inaccessible, transforming mission data from abstract numbers into tangible participatory science that develops the technical workforce Earth observation systems depend upon while creating thousands of mission-literate professionals who understand why NASA investments matter.
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STELLA Highlights
University of Toledo Students to Launch NASA-Inspired Satellite to Monitor Lake Erie Algal Blooms
University of Toledo graduate and undergraduate students who are part of the Mission EARTH NASA Science Activation funded project, in collaboration with three high schools, are preparing to launch a satellite into space as part of the Dream Big Project, an initiative funded through Near Space Launch and the Don Wood Foundation.
Students Build AI-Powered Drone for Earth Observation | NASA SEES Internship Journey
Four high school students leveraged STELLA's accessible design, supportive community, and educational philosophy to build a sophisticated environmental monitoring platform.
NASA SEES Students Showcase EarthLens-STELLA Integration at AGU 2025
NASA STEM Enhancement in Earth Sciences (SEES) interns Nandini Khaneja, Neev Tamboli, Samuel Bawden, and Jordan Rodriguez, part of the SEES Earth System Explorers Team sponsored by NESEC and the Institute for Global Strategies presented their innovative EarthLens project at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting 2025, demonstrating exceptional technical achievement in developing a drone-and-app system that addresses limitations in existing citizen science tools.
STELLA Paper Published on STELLA Technology’s Impact on Remote Sensing Access and Workforce Development
NASA scientists and engineers, in collaboration with university researchers, have developed low‐cost lightweight remote sensing instruments that anyone can build and use to bring remote sensing science to communities beyond traditional professional scientists.
Garden City Community College Completes Pilot Course with NASA Acres
Garden City Community College (GCCC) in Garden City, Kansas has successfully concluded the first offering of Technology in Agriculture (AGRO-111), a course developed in collaboration with NASA Acres and Kansas State University and launched in Fall 2025.
Featured Videos
Students Build AI-Powered Drone for Earth Observation | NASA SEES Internship Journey
Four high school students leveraged STELLA's accessible design, supportive community, and educational philosophy to build a sophisticated environmental monitoring platform.
From Orbit to Earth: Agricultural Workforce Development using Real-Time Spectrometry
At Garden City Community College in Kansas, Assistant Professor Elisa Mai integrated STELLA spectrometers into her Technology in Agriculture course during fall 2025.
Petya in the Field
Watch Dr. Petya Campbell, a NASA Goddard research scientist with over 20 years of field experience, demonstrate how ground-based STELLA spectrometer measurements directly support NASA satellite missions by validating Earth observation data.
Student Voices: Real Engineering Success with STELLA Instruments
When Inna and Alexa first encountered NASA's STELLA instruments, neither expected the transformative journey ahead—from intimidation to innovation in just 10 weeks.
Helio-STELLA: Bridging Space Science and Education
Dr. Gerald Knezek and Dr. Fred McMahan share their experiences developing and implementing Helio-STELLA, a low-cost solar monitoring device designed for educational settings.










