International Space Settlement Design Competition (ISSDC)
by Aerospace Education Competitions (AEC)
International Finals at NASA Kennedy Space Center
9,000 participants
The International Space Settlement Design Competition (ISSDC) is a global aerospace engineering challenge for high school students to design space settlements, fostering STEM skills and teamwork.
Mode
Hybrid
Fee
Free
Participation format
Team
Teams of 2 to 12
Duration
Qualifying rounds span several months, semi-finals are typically a weekend event, and international finals last multiple days.
Eligibility
Open to high school students in grades 8-12 (typically ages 14-18) who are enrolled in full-time high school education. Participants can be part of school-affiliated or independent teams.
- Grade level
- Grade 8 to 12
- Age range
- 14 to 18 years
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Academic requirement
- Enrolled in full-time high school education
- Prerequisites
- Strong interest in space, science, and engineering
- Ability to work effectively in a team
- Winners of Asian Regional Space Settlement Design Competition (ARSSDC)
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Certificate
Certificate from AEC, NSS, NASA
Participants receive certificates of participation, and winning teams receive certificates of achievement recognized by leading aerospace and educational organizations like Aerospace Education Competitions (AEC), National Space Society (NSS), and NASA.
Recognized by
Opens doors to
Significantly boosts college applications for competitive STEM programs at national and international universities, demonstrating advanced skills and dedication.
Career pathways
Directly prepares students for careers in aerospace engineering, space science, astrophysics, project management, and other STEM-related fields, significantly enhancing career prospects.
Recognition
International Recognition & Exposure
Skills your child builds
Key dates
Last edition
- Registration opened
- 5 Mar 2026
- Registration closed
- 1 Oct 2026
How to apply
- 1Teams must register with the competition organizers to receive the Request for Proposal (RFP) and other essential documents.
- 2Proposals are to be prepared in response to the RFP, detailing the space settlement design.
- 3Submissions must be in PDF format and submitted by the specified deadline.
Rules and guidelines
- Participation is strictly a team competition.
- Teams must register with the competition organizers to be considered for advancement.
- Proposals must adhere to the requirements outlined in the Request for Proposal (RFP).
- Submissions must be in PDF format and submitted by the deadline.
- Teams are typically grouped into competition companies for semi-finals and finals.
- Students invited to the ISSDC finals are responsible for their travel expenses to the USA.
- All participants must have explicit permission from a parent or legal guardian to compete.
Technology requirements
- Computer with reliable internet access for online registration, communication, and proposal submission.
- Specialized software for creating detailed design proposals and presentations, such as CAD tools, graphic design software, and presentation applications.
About this opportunity
The International Space Settlement Design Competition (ISSDC) is an annual global event that simulates working on an aerospace company's proposal team. High school students form 'companies' to design a space colony based on a Request for Proposal (RFP). This competition is supported by leading aerospace, engineering, and education organizations, including NASA.
Participants are typically high school students in grades 9 through 12, generally between 15 and 18 years of age. While most entrants are school-affiliated teams, independent teams are also welcome. Regional qualifying rounds, such as the Indian National SSDC, serve as a quarter-final for the international event, allowing students from across India to participate.
Students gain invaluable experience in space science, physics, mathematics, chemistry, environmental science, biology, computer science, writing, speaking, and art. The competition cultivates technical competence, management skills, teamwork, and the ability to prepare effective documentation. It also provides a deep appreciation for the intricate relationships between technical products and human needs.
The ISSDC culminates in international finals, frequently held at the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. Winning teams from regional competitions are invited to collaborate in multinational teams to design a new space settlement, presenting their detailed proposals to a panel of esteemed industry and academic experts.
Rounds and format
The competition is split into three main rounds: a qualifying round, a regional round, and the international finals. Qualifying rounds, such as the Indian National SSDC, involve teams submitting a 40-page proposal in response to an RFP. Winning teams from these qualifiers advance to the regional level and then to the international finals, where they collaborate in multinational companies to design a new space settlement and present their briefings to a panel of judges.
How entries are judged
Proposals are judged on their adherence to the Request for Proposal (RFP) requirements, the feasibility and innovation of the design, technical competence, management skills demonstrated, and the effectiveness of the presentation. Specific criteria include structural engineering, operations and infrastructure, human factors, automation, business development, and schedule and costs.
Selection process
Teams are selected based on the quality and comprehensiveness of their design proposals submitted during the qualifying rounds. For the international finals, a select number of students from winning regional teams are invited. In the International Space Settlement Design Competition (ISSDC), teams are evaluated much like real aerospace contractors bidding on a project. The judging panel (engineers, scientists, industry experts) assesses how well each “company” meets the Request for Proposal (RFP) requirements.
How to prepare
- Program Book with 'future history' information and RFPs
- Mentorship from industry professionals and former participants
- Sample proposals and design guidelines
Academic details
Difficulty: Advanced
What's covered
The competition involves designing a space settlement based on a detailed Request for Proposal (RFP). This covers various aspects including structural engineering, operations and infrastructure, human factors, automation, business development, and cost analysis. Students apply interdisciplinary knowledge to create feasible and innovative designs.
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