{"id":193,"date":"2026-05-11T23:36:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T23:36:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tampamovingjournal.com\/?p=193"},"modified":"2026-05-11T23:36:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T23:36:07","slug":"apollo-beach-to-the-stars-third-graders-artwork-heads-to-the-international-space-station-on-spacex-mission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tampamovingjournal.com\/?p=193","title":{"rendered":"Apollo Beach to the stars: Third grader’s artwork heads to the International Space Station on SpaceX mission"},"content":{"rendered":"

APOLLO BEACH, Fla.<\/strong> – <\/span>Eeshan Kallu isn’t your average third grader.\u00a0<\/p>

While his classmates at Dorothy C. York Innovation Academy in Apollo Beach are busy building homemade solar stoves to learn about radiant energy, Kallu is preparing for a “field trip” that is literally out of this world.<\/p>

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The backstory:<\/p>

As part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) Mission 21, Kallu entered a competition to design an official mission patch.\u00a0<\/p>

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“Art is, like, one of my favorite subjects, and science is also one of my favorite subjects,” Kallu explained.\u00a0<\/p>

Kallu’s teacher, Darcy Lane, noticed his dual passion early on, noting that he frequently draws constellations and remains one of her most curious students.<\/p>

The winning design<\/h2>

Kallu’s winning design features an astronaut and a rocket floating freely against a backdrop of the moon and stars \u2014 a visual representation of the freedom of microgravity.<\/p>

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“So first, I started with, like, an astronaut, a rocket, and in the background I did the stars, the moon,” Kallu explained. “They all represent space, but like the things that actually represent microgravity, there was the astronaut and the rocket floating freely.”<\/p>

Dig deeper:<\/p>

Kallu is left with some scientific questions of his own about his patch.\u00a0<\/p>

Kallu wonders if the thickness of the paper or the vibrancy of the colors will change after being exposed to the environment of the ISS.\u00a0<\/p>

Whether the ink fades or the texture shifts, one thing is certain: Kallu will soon hold a piece of history in his hands.<\/p>

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The SSEP Mission 21 isn’t just about art; it’s a massive logistical undertaking.\u00a0<\/p>

The patches must meet strict physical requirements to fly \u2014 typically 3.5-inch by 3.5-inch squares of paper.<\/p>

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The International Space Station, seen from orbit (NASA photo)<\/span> <\/p> <\/div><\/div>

Once Kallu\u2019s artwork reaches the International Space Station, it will spend approximately four to six weeks in orbit.<\/p>

When it returns to Earth, it won’t just be a drawing anymore; it will be returned to Kallu with an official certificate embossed on it, proving it traveled through the vacuum of space.<\/p>

“Like, it’s just going to feel very exciting, like happy and joyful for me,” Kallu said. “Like, it’s just a big event that’s going to happen.”<\/p>

Kallu wasn’t the only winner in the Bay Area.\u00a0<\/p>