SSEP will provide authentic immersion in a multi-faceted research experience, with students being asked to truly be part of America’s Space Program. Over 55 teams will be designing real microgravity experiments with real world constraints imposed by the operation of a flight certified microgravity mini-laboratory, and flight operations to and from low Earth orbit; teams will be required to write real research proposals and experience a formal proposal review and selection process; the effort will require self-directed learning, and nurture students’ skills in critical thinking, problem solving, seamless navigation across a trans-disciplinary landscape, communication, and team work; an interdisciplinary team of teachers will be immersed in the facilitation of an authentic project-based student research experience; a SUSD delegation can travel to the Smithsonian to attend their own research conference, reporting on experiment design and analysis of ground truth data, and the flight team reporting on flight results; through a mission patch art and design competition, grade K-12 engagement provides for a broader community-wide experience; and expected media coverage for this program will help provide visibility for SUSD strategic efforts in STEM and STEAM.