Send a Postcard to Space
A student postcard exemplar. (Source: Club for the Future)
A student postcard exemplar. (Source: Club for the Future)
How does this align with my curriculum?
Project Overview
Thanks to a partnership between Let’s Talk Science and Club for the Future, Canadian students are invited to design a postcard that will be sent into orbit. Now is your chance to own something that has been to space and back. There is no deadline for this project, the earlier you submit your postcards, the earlier they will return.
Integrating this activity into your teaching
There are many ways you can use this activity with your students.
If you are participating in the Tomatosphere™ Investigation or the Living Space project, you can use this activity to further students' thinking about the needs of humans in space.
Go further with the Imagine Future Careers lesson which prompts students to imagine careers that will be needed in the future to facilitate human habitation in space.
This project is also a great stand-alone activity. It is a fun craft or mindfulness activity that also sparks reflection and creativity.
How to participate
You must register to participate in this project. Once you have registered, you will gain access to the postcard template and detailed instructions. See the FAQ section below to learn why you must register. — Register
After registering, print your postcard(s) using the template. Draw or write your answer to the prompt “What jobs will be needed to feed astronauts on the Moon or Mars?” on the blank side of the postcard. Fill out the fields on the other side of the postcard and add a stamp.
If you are in Canada, you will send your postcard to Let’s Talk Science. Let’s Talk Science will send all Canadian postcards to Club for the Future. Club for the Future will send the postcards into low Earth orbit on the Blue Origin New Shepard rocket.
Upon return, each postcard will get stamped with the Club’s official “Flown to Space” stamp.
Participate with your class, school, or community group!
Organizations can participate in the project as well. In fact, mailing postcards in bulk helps save on mailing costs and since each postcard will get returned directly to the participants, there are no complicated logistics to returning postcards to participants.
The New Shepard Rocket
FAQ
Our funders want to know that our projects are reaching youth. By registering, you are helping to ensure we can continue to bring you free activities like this.
As this is an ongoing project, we accept postcards throughout the year. However, the earlier you send them, the more likely it is they will return before the end of the school year. We send postcards to space every few months as the Blue Origin launch schedule allows.
No, only one person from the group needs to register for the project.
Due to the complicated logistics of getting to space, as well as delays in shipping due to COVID-19, there is likely to be a significant delay between when you send your postcards and when you get them back. It is probable postcards will not be returned before the end of the school year. As long as the address is present, the postcards will be returned directly to students.
Let’s Talk Science might be able to help you. Please contact tomatosphere@letstalkscience.ca to discuss your situation.
Anyone who wants to own a postcard that has been to space can participate!
Yes, students learning virtually or those who are being homeschooled can participate in the project. If you are not sure how to implement the project with your virtual classroom, contact tomatosphere@letstalkscience.ca.
The address on the back of the postcard is the address to which the postcard will be returned once it has flown to space. Students will need the help and permission of their parents to put their home address on the postcard. If this is an issue, you can ask students to address their postcards to their school address instead. This means schools will take on the responsibility of returning postcards to students. Please note that postcards may not be returned in the same school year they were sent to space.
Neither Let's Talk Science nor Club for the Future will collect students' mailing addresses or other personal information on their postcards. Addresses on the postcards will be used only by the postal service to deliver the postcards.
- The recommended postcard size is 90 × 140 mm (3.6 × 5.6 inches). Please use a thick paper, such as cardstock to print your postcards. The maximum size is 114.3 × 152.4 mm (4.5 × 6 inches).
- All Space Mail is subject to the Club for the Future Privacy Policy.
- Space Mail content reflects the views and opinions of the author and does not reflect the position of Club for the Future (CFTF) or Blue Origin. Space Mail sent to CFTF shall contain no inappropriate, immoral, illegal, or otherwise unacceptable imagery, text, or other subject matter.
- CFTF has no obligation to fly any Space Mail. Space Mail chosen for flight will be flown at a date and time selected by CFTF, which is subject to change and cancellation at any time without prior notice.
- I understand and agree that the text, photographs, drawings, and/or creations contained in or affixed to the Space Mail or other CFTF events or activities may be used in the production of promotional materials, on their respective website, and for other purposes that CFTF or Blue Origin deems appropriate, and that such materials may be distributed to the public and displayed publicly one or more times and in different formats, including but not limited to print, online and video-based marketing, advertising, and fundraising, and in publications and promotional videos as related to CFTF or Blue Origin and its affiliates.
For the full list of terms and conditions, see Space Mail Terms and Conditions.
Why do I have to register?
Our funders want to know that our projects are reaching youth. By registering, you are helping to ensure we can continue to bring you free activities like this.
Is there a deadline to submit postcards?
As this is an ongoing project, we accept postcards throughout the year. However, the earlier you send them, the more likely it is they will return before the end of the school year. We send postcards to space every few months as the Blue Origin launch schedule allows.
If I am participating with a group, does everyone need to register?
No, only one person from the group needs to register for the project.
How long will it take to get my postcard back from space?
Due to the complicated logistics of getting to space, as well as delays in shipping due to COVID-19, there is likely to be a significant delay between when you send your postcards and when you get them back. It is probable postcards will not be returned before the end of the school year. As long as the address is present, the postcards will be returned directly to students.
Shipping logistics are a barrier to my groups’ participation. Can I still participate?
Let’s Talk Science might be able to help you. Please contact tomatosphere@letstalkscience.ca to discuss your situation.
Who can participate in the project?
Anyone who wants to own a postcard that has been to space can participate!
My students are learning at home. Can my class still participate in the project?
Yes, students learning virtually or those who are being homeschooled can participate in the project. If you are not sure how to implement the project with your virtual classroom, contact tomatosphere@letstalkscience.ca.
Why do I/my students need to put home address information on the postcard?
The address on the back of the postcard is the address to which the postcard will be returned once it has flown to space. Students will need the help and permission of their parents to put their home address on the postcard. If this is an issue, you can ask students to address their postcards to their school address instead. This means schools will take on the responsibility of returning postcards to students. Please note that postcards may not be returned in the same school year they were sent to space.
Neither Let's Talk Science nor Club for the Future will collect students' mailing addresses or other personal information on their postcards. Addresses on the postcards will be used only by the postal service to deliver the postcards.
What are the Rules and Regulations?
- The recommended postcard size is 90 × 140 mm (3.6 × 5.6 inches). Please use a thick paper, such as cardstock to print your postcards. The maximum size is 114.3 × 152.4 mm (4.5 × 6 inches).
- All Space Mail is subject to the Club for the Future Privacy Policy.
- Space Mail content reflects the views and opinions of the author and does not reflect the position of Club for the Future (CFTF) or Blue Origin. Space Mail sent to CFTF shall contain no inappropriate, immoral, illegal, or otherwise unacceptable imagery, text, or other subject matter.
- CFTF has no obligation to fly any Space Mail. Space Mail chosen for flight will be flown at a date and time selected by CFTF, which is subject to change and cancellation at any time without prior notice.
- I understand and agree that the text, photographs, drawings, and/or creations contained in or affixed to the Space Mail or other CFTF events or activities may be used in the production of promotional materials, on their respective website, and for other purposes that CFTF or Blue Origin deems appropriate, and that such materials may be distributed to the public and displayed publicly one or more times and in different formats, including but not limited to print, online and video-based marketing, advertising, and fundraising, and in publications and promotional videos as related to CFTF or Blue Origin and its affiliates.
For the full list of terms and conditions, see Space Mail Terms and Conditions.