In December 2020, the Krasnoyarsk House of Science and Technology completed the Small Space Odyssey project.

The most important result of the project was the creation of unique copyright materials aimed at early career guidance of schoolchildren, the development of youth scientific and technical creativity and the involvement of adolescents in research activities, the construction of a continuous chain of high-quality professional education in the interests of high-tech industrial enterprises of the country. The project made it possible to increase the prestige of engineering specialties, arouse the desire for creative activity among young people, and form the participants' interest in such important industries as astronautics and the rocket and space industry, which have always been the pride of our country, the "locomotive" of the entire national economy and defense capability. A single team created during the project, which united schoolchildren, students of technical colleges, students of technical universities, astronauts, workers and veterans of the rocket and space industry to transfer experience and knowledge, made it possible to create a continuous system of additional professional education in the field of astronautics, to attract young people to research activities, to solve the problem of involving and retaining personnel for high-tech enterprises of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. The equipped headquarters of the project and a specialized site in the House of Science and Technology in the very center of Krasnoyarsk made it possible to attract participants from all over the city, which is problematic at the moment, since schools and universities are limited in space. As a result of the project, the House of Science and Technology has equipped a place where teachers and schoolchildren from all educational institutions of Krasnoyarsk can gather and hold events.

The installed modern equipment for conducting online events allows participants from remote cities and villages to join the process, which was tested during the project. The pilot-cosmonaut and lecturers from other cities got in touch with the participants. Moreover, the sudden onset of a pandemic did not stop the project. The use of distance learning tools and modern information technologies made it possible to significantly expand the geography of the participants, attracting schoolchildren and inmates of orphanages of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Moscow Region, the Yamalo-Nenets District and even the Donetsk People's Republic. Unique teaching materials developed, posted on the website and published under the guidance of pilot-cosmonaut A. Lazutkin solved the problem of methodological support of additional scientific and technical education of young people in the field of cosmonautics and natural science education. Through the Planet X educational program, a series of hands-on exercises were organized to explore the world around them. Classes were conducted in a playful way. The legend of the exploration of an alien (unknown) planet was used, which changed the atmosphere of learning. Practical exercises were perceived as a game of the future. The use of the technical means of the International Space Station in the program brought the game situation closer to the real one. The entire program of practical tasks consisted of blocks of pre-flight and flight tasks. The research work of schoolchildren was closely combined with the school curriculum. Botany, zoology, physics, chemistry - all these subjects are taught at school with only one purpose - to tell and show students how the world in which we live works. The Planet X program made it possible for schoolchildren to independently apply the knowledge accumulated at school in various disciplines to study (cognize) the world around them. On the one hand, this contributed to the consolidation of the theoretical material that is given in schools. On the other hand, this work allowed schoolchildren to feel the importance of knowledge in the life of a modern person. Thus, the project significantly increased the motivation to study school subjects in order to use them in the project.

A good effect was obtained due to the fact that schoolchildren from different localities were involved in the participation. Comparing the results of studies of the place where they live, with others, located hundreds or thousands of kilometers away, schoolchildren received a more complete picture of the world around them. It is safe to say that with a wide geographical coverage of study areas, schoolchildren have a broader perception of the world than when observing from their own home. It is hoped that in this case they will develop planetary thinking. Classes in orphanages made it possible to involve in the project that part of the schoolchildren who often do not have the opportunity to participate in such events as communication with real specialists of enterprises, and even more so with cosmonauts. Having completed projects and received feedback from an astronaut, the students gained confidence that they can achieve their dreams by joining the legendary conquerors of space. One of the criteria for assessing the significance of the implemented project can be considered the quantitative indicator of the project participants, the high number of visitors to the project website and the virtual space laboratory, as well as wishes to continue the project. Feedback from the participants was also used to evaluate the project.

Arseny Kuznetsov: “The MCO project is an interesting and unusual space-related project. MCO is a good start for the development of students who are interested in science. We went through various tasks and created our own project, which gave us invaluable experience. It was also planned to visit enterprises and museums of rocket and space technology, but due to the pandemic, this was not possible in full. But nothing, everything is still ahead. " Daria Dashkova: “I learned a lot at MCO, it was interesting to participate in project activities. The MCO is like a rocket, the main thing is to enter it and go on a space journey. " Vladislav Pashkovets: "This project allows you to visit the space of space, stars, planets and rocketry technology."

Serob Petrosyan: “MCO makes you feel like a part of a real space team. This project gave me new and cool friends. " Andrey Pridantsev: "MCO allows you to adjust the possible future." During the implementation of the project, the participants studied materials that help them decide on their future profession, “find their place in life”, and become successful researchers and engineers.

The report on the results of the project was adopted by the Presidential Grants Fund without any comments