Central Space Design Competition
Each spring, nearly 200 high school students from across the Central U.S. gather at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, to take part in a dynamic, industry-style space settlement design challenge.
Over the course of the weekend, students join 50-person teams that function as mock aerospace companies. Guided by mentors from the space industry, each team responds to a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) by developing and presenting a comprehensive 30-minute design proposal to a panel of judges with real-world engineering experience.
The top-scoring team earns the opportunity to advance to the International Finals held at the Kennedy Space Center, where they’ll compete with winners from around the globe.
Regional Director
-
Director of Central US
Johnson Space Center Competition
Hayley Spears, Director of Central US
2026 Early Registration
Teacher/School Early Registration Form – 2026 Johnson Space Center
