Filipino students’ space experiment performed aboard ISS by NASA astronaut

• Photo from PhilSA

Filipino students from Rizal Technological University successfully saw their science experiment carried out aboard the International Space Station after a NASA astronaut performed the test inside the station’s Japanese Kibo module as part of the 2025 Asian Try Zero-G competition.

NASA astronaut Christopher Williams conducted the “Double Gyroscope” experiment on March 24, 2026, while finalists from across the Asia-Pacific region watched the live execution at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Tsukuba Space Center in Japan.

The experiment was developed by third-year astronomy students majoring in astrophysics from RTU — Christopher Tumamac, Ryan Andrew Doña, and Rose Ann Cezar — and was among 11 finalists selected from participating countries including Australia, Bangladesh, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates.

The project explored how paired gyroscopes behave in microgravity, particularly how opposite spinning motions could stabilize orientation systems used in spacecraft and satellites.

According to the student researchers, the experiment aimed to observe whether two gyroscopes spinning in opposite directions would cancel each other’s movement and keep the system stable in a zero-gravity environment. They also examined how slight differences in rotational force could gradually affect the direction of the device over time.

To test the concept, Williams repeatedly spun the gyroscopes while observing their movement aboard the ISS.

The Philippine team said the actual observations matched the hypotheses outlined in their study.

“ We are very thankful for this opportunity given to us by PhilSA and I hope in the next batches of ATZG, more Filipino students will apply so they can also experience proposing an experiment in zero-gravity, see their experiment carried out, and learn a lot,” the team said.

The Philippines joined the competition through the Philippine Space Agency, which serves as the country’s organizer for the Asian Try Zero-G initiative under its education and outreach programs.

PhilSA said Filipino student experiments have consistently reached the finals of the competition since 2022, with several experiments previously executed aboard the ISS by astronauts.

Team members Ryan Andrew Doña and Christopher Tumamac also presented their proposal at the JAXA Tsukuba Space Center before the live execution of the experiment.

During the event, JAXA Kibo Utilization Center Director Masaki Shirakawa and JAXA astronaut Norishige Kanai awarded certificates of recognition to the finalists.

The “Double Gyroscope” experiment was selected from 89 proposals submitted nationwide between Nov. 15, 2024 and Jan. 17, 2025 before becoming part of the Philippines’ official entries to the 2025 Asian Try Zero-G competition.

The Asian Try Zero-G program is part of the Kibo-ABC initiative led by JAXA to promote the use of the ISS Kibo module and expand youth engagement in space science and microgravity research across the Asia-Pacific region.