---
title: "Astronauts on the ISS Are About to Get Slimed — for Science"
description: "Nickelodeon is sending a batch of its iconic slime to the astronauts aboard the ISS to be used for experiments, which will be filmed and later broadcast."
date: "2019-07-12"
modified: "2019-07-12"
authors:
  - name: "Kristin Houser"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/kristin"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/astronauts-iss-slime-science"
categories:
  - "International Space Station"
  - "NASA"
  - "Off-World"
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "education"
  - "iss"
  - "nickelodeon"
  - "stem"
  - "the digest"
---

# Astronauts on the ISS Are About to Get Slimed — for Science

![Nickelodeon is sending a batch of its iconic slime to the astronauts aboard the ISS to be used for experiments, which will be filmed and later broadcast.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/astronauts-iss-slime-science.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Shutterstock/NASA/Victor Tangermann\</em\>*

## I Don't Know

Nickelodeon is trying to get kids excited about [STEM](<https://futurism.com/expert-we-need-to-change-how-we-teach-stem-subjects-to-young-people>) — by [sliming some astronauts](<https://www.issnationallab.org/press-releases/spacex-crs-18-mission-overview/>).

A batch of the [green goo](<https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/movies-tv/a25439643/nickelodeon-slime-facts/>) that first rose to fame on Nickelodeon's "You Can’t Do That on Television" TV series back in the '80s will head to the [International Space Station](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/astronauts-bake-cookies-international-space-station>) aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft expected to launch July 21.

Once on board, the slime will serve as the basis for a series of filmed experiments, which will be broadcast later via Nickelodeon’s television and streaming platforms.

## Kid Stuff

According to principal investigator Mark Weislogel, the experiments won't be on quite the same level as those typically conducted aboard the ISS — instead, they'll target an elementary and middle school audience.

"The content is meant to spark an interest in microgravity research," Weislogel said in [statement](<https://www.issnationallab.org/press-releases/spacex-crs-18-mission-overview/>), "and help students learn about STEM topics such as fluid flow and materials engineering."

The ISS astronauts will get a chance to have a little fun with the slime, too, according to a [*CNET* story](<https://www.cnet.com/news/spacex-is-going-to-deliver-nickelodeon-slime-to-the-space-station-for-science/>) — by playing slime pong with paddles, tossing around slime-filled balloons, and, of course, spraying the green goo at each other.

**READ MORE:** [SpaceX is going to deliver Nickelodeon slime to the space station for science](<https://www.cnet.com/news/spacex-is-going-to-deliver-nickelodeon-slime-to-the-space-station-for-science/>) \[*CNET*\]

**More on the ISS:** *[Astronauts Are Planning to Bake Cookies on the Space Station](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/astronauts-bake-cookies-international-space-station>)*

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinjhouser>)