2026 Qualifying Sign Up
This year’s challenge invites you to think beyond Earth and into one of the most extreme environments humans have ever considered. Teams will prepare detailed, realistic proposals to support the expansion of a pioneering settlement—designing systems that integrate human comfort, industrial production, and long-term sustainability.
Your job is to imagine the future as if you were living and working there already. Proposals must balance human factors, critical infrastructure, operations, safety, and commercial viability, all while meeting the standards of an ambitious client with high expectations.
This is not just a school project. It’s a simulation of what it feels like to be an engineer, scientist, or manager working on a real aerospace contract.
Who Can Participate
Open to students ages 14–18.
To qualify for the International Finals, participants must be at least 15 and no older than 19 by July 22, 2025.
Teams may be formed through schools, clubs, or independently.
Step into the future. Registration is open NOW!
Cost
$50 per team (paid at registration).
Scholarships are available with teacher support letters. These can cover the full registration fee if needed.
Key Dates
Proposal Due: March 1, 2026
Oral Defense: Weekends, April 1 – May 1, 2026
International Finals: July 2026 (U.S.-based; exact site to be announced)
Note: Each team advancing to the International Finals will have the opportunity to send up to 12 students to represent them in person at ISSDC.
Teams are responsible for arranging travel funding and visas.
The Qualifying Process
All teams submit a written proposal by the March 1 deadline.
The top 10 proposals will be invited to present a Zoom Defense of their design before a panel of technical judges.
The top 4 teams after the defenses will advance to represent their region at the 2026 International Space Settlement Design Competition (ISSDC).
What Makes This Challenge Unique
Without revealing full details, here are a few hints:
You’ll be expanding an existing orbital/atmospheric settlement—not building from scratch.
Your design must transform raw resources into usable products while supporting hundreds of new personnel.
Expect to address not only engineering and operations but also human life, family needs, and livability in one of the harshest environments known.
Safety, redundancy, and risk management are essential.
Scholarship Opportunities
We don’t want cost to be a barrier. A limited number of scholarships are available to cover the
$50 team registration fee.
To apply, students will need a short letter of support from a teacher or mentor.
Details are included in the registration form.