You may be wondering why May the 4th is such a big deal—or maybe you already know because you’re a Star Wars fan! The movie line “May the force be with you” is such a strong theme throughout the Star Wars series that fans have adopted the similarly sounding date, May the 4th, as a day to celebrate the iconic films. Meaning good luck or good will, “May the force be with you” is said 16 times in seven Star Wars movies and has been repeated by countless moviegoers ever since.
For more than 40 years, the Star Wars franchise has been entertaining children and adults with visions of action heroes and a special blend of futuristic science and space. Science and space go hand-in-hand at the ISS National Lab, where experiments are being conducted approximately 240 miles above our planet. The ISS provides access to a microgravity environment, a unique vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme conditions of space—all of which offer research opportunities unlike anything available here on Earth.
So, as Yoda would say, the big question is, “Ready are you?” to:
- Learn about some of the experiments that recently launched to the ISS National Lab on SpaceX CRS-14
- See how Lucasfilm worked with the ISS National Lab to design a Star Wars-themed ISS National Lab mission patch
- Read more about unique the ISS National Lab partnerships—such as those with the creative minds behind Star Wars and Marvel comics—that showcase ISS National Lab achievements and inspire the next generation to learn about space-based research
