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STARFLEET Sciences

Pathfinders Expedition Program

Inspired by real-life human space missions, the Pathfinders Expedition Program (PEP) conducts long-duration expeditions that any member of STARFLEET can participate in.

With space science becoming more accessible, PEP encourages members to participate directly in STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—through accessible citizen science and observational projects.

Expeditions range from planet and asteroid hunting to searching for comets, astrophotography, stargazing, and more. Participants’ efforts are credited in the Expedition Report in Event Horizon Magazine.

The frontier is waiting. Are you ready to explore?

Latest Expedition

PEP-4: Atlas Expedition

Sky Gazing

PEP-4 Atlas Expedition mission patch

For the fourth mission of the Pathfinders Expedition Program, STARFLEET mission specialists each selected a single object to observe and study for thirty days.

From the Moon and Sun to planets, stars, constellations, and nebulae, the Atlas Expedition challenged participants to observe their chosen object and document what they discovered over the course of the mission.

Mission
Sky Gazing
Start Date
July 20, 2026
Duration
30 Days

Explore the Atlas Expedition

Mission Archive

Previous Expeditions

Explore the previous missions of the Pathfinders Expedition Program.

PEP-3 Kepler Expedition mission patch
PEP-3

Kepler Expedition

Exoplanetary Research

Mission specialists used Planet Hunters TESS to examine telescope data and hunt for potentially undiscovered planets.

Explore Kepler

PEP-2 Hubble Expedition mission patch
PEP-2

Hubble Expedition

Astrophotography

STARFLEET astrocartographers spent a month capturing images of the night sky using a variety of astrophotography techniques.

Explore Hubble

PEP-1 Galileo Expedition mission patch
PEP-1

Galileo Expedition

Moongazing & Stargazing

The inaugural expedition challenged STARFLEET scientists to spend 30 days observing the night sky and documenting their findings.

Explore Galileo

Citizen Science

Explore. Observe. Discover.

PEP expeditions are designed to make scientific exploration accessible to STARFLEET members regardless of previous experience. Each mission provides a new opportunity to observe, investigate, and contribute while learning more about our universe.