When Inna and Alexa first encountered NASA's STELLA instruments, neither expected the transformative journey ahead—from intimidation to innovation in just 10 weeks.

Students use Helio-STELLA to design lightweight radiation shields for Mars habitats, testing aluminum, water, and fabric barriers. Which materials block harmful UV while allowing light for plants to grow?

Inna Shapovalenko and Alexa Matson's collaborative journey with the STELLA project showcases how open-source engineering provides students with real-world skills through hardware design, software development, and community-driven innovation.

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.

The culmination of Bianca's calibration work may be a research paper that establishes STELLA's credibility as a scientific instrument rather than just an educational tool.

Elana Resnick brought something uniquely valuable to STELLA – the perspective of both a classroom teacher and university lecturer with deep expertise in physics, engineering, and robotics education.

Introduce students to the concept of spectroscopy and spectral signatures using the STELLA spectrometer.

Deepen students' understanding of how different wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum, particularly Near Infrared (NIR), can be used to assess plant health.

Use a STELLA instrument to assess how changing light levels during a solar eclipse affect spectral responses and temperature.