National Space Sustainability Competition
The National Space Sustainability Competition invites 7th and 8th grade students to envision innovative solutions to one of space exploration’s greatest challenges: managing space debris.
About the Space Sustainability Competition
Sponsored by leading space industry partners, this competition challenges students to think critically and creatively about the growing need for sustainable practices in space. By developing new ideas and presenting them through models, business plans, and video pitches, students will explore how they can play a role in the future of space exploration.
Grand Prize
An Unforgettable Journey to Washington, D.C.
Go behind the scenes of space innovation with exclusive museum tours, meet leading experts in orbital debris, and explore where space policy and progress come to life.
Competition Overview
The Space Sustainability Competition invites teams of middle school students to design a solution that tackles the issue of space debris. Teams will work on:
- Developing an Engineering Solution: Students will design a concept to manage or reduce space debris using modeling software or physical representations.
- Creating a Business Plan: Teams will outline a strategy to commercialize their idea, including naming their product and creating outreach ideas to bring their solution to a broader audience.
- Presenting a Video Pitch: Each team will produce a 3-minute video summarizing their solution and showcasing their creativity, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial thinking.
Competition Timeline
The Space Sustainability Competition will kick off with the release of resources on December 1, 2024 including an introductory video and space sustainability guides for teachers. Submissions will be due by March 21, 2025 followed by judging and winner announcements in early May 2025.
December 1, 2024
Competition Kickoff
March 18, 2025
Team Registration Deadline
March 21, 2025
Submissions Due
May 2, 2025
Winners Announcement on National Space Day
Competition Goals
Engage students in understanding and solving real-world issues related to space sustainability.
Inspire interest in STEM and space-related careers, showing students that their skills have relevance in a global industry.
Encourage creative thinking and collaboration in designing solutions for complex challenges.
By focusing on the critical issue of space debris, the Space Sustainability Competition helps students discover that the space industry is much larger than they may have imagined, with career opportunities that span across diverse fields.
Addressing the Need for Space Sustainability
As humanity continues to explore and utilize space, orbital debris — also known as space junk — has become a pressing issue. Today, space debris poses risks to both active satellites and future missions, affecting industries and services that rely on satellite technology, from communication to weather forecasting.
With the space industry projected to grow significantly over the next few decades, solving the problem of orbital debris is essential for safe and sustainable space operations. Careers in the space sector offer exciting and rewarding opportunities, from engineering and technical roles to business, logistics, and communications. However, for the space industry to achieve sustainable growth, we need skilled, innovative thinkers prepared to tackle complex challenges — starting with students who are just beginning their educational journey in STEM.
Engaging Young Minds in Space Careers
The Space Sustainability Competition connects students’ interests in STEM with the practical skills required for a future in the space industry. By exploring the issue of space debris, students can see how various careers contribute to space missions and operations, highlighting the teamwork and diversity of skills that are essential for successful space exploration. While astronauts capture our imagination, the majority of space work is done on Earth by engineers, data analysts, biologists, machinists, and many others who enable space missions.
Through this competition, students gain experience in design, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship, positioning them well for future STEM careers. They’ll learn to think like engineers, develop ideas like entrepreneurs, and communicate like professionals, skills that are valuable not only in space but in any future career.
