The National Space Society (NSS) is calling for submissions to the 2026 NSS Gerard K. O’Neill Space Settlement Contest. Submissions must relate to free space settlements. Settlements may not be on a planet or moon, although support activities such as mining may be. Settlements must be permanent homes, not temporary work camps. Typically, what distinguishes an outpost from a settlement is generational habitation. Submissions may focus on one or a few aspects of space settlement and supporting systems, including mines, activities leading up to settlement (such as space hotels), economic and social issues, etc. The best submission, regardless of category, wins the grand prize. The submission will be hosted on the contest web site. Finally, the highest ranking entry whose student(s) attend(s) ISDC will receive the Herman Rubin Memorial Scholarship of $5,000 and give a talk at the conference.

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The National Space Society (NSS) is calling for submissions to the 2025 NSS Gerard K. O’Neill Space Settlement Contest. Submissions must relate to free space settlements. Settlements may not be on a planet or moon, although support activities such as mining may be. Settlements must be permanent homes, not temporary work camps. Typically, what distinguishes an outpost from a settlement is generational habitation. Submissions may focus on one or a few aspects of space settlement and supporting systems, including mines, activities leading up to settlement (such as space hotels), economic and social issues, etc. The best submission, regardless of category, wins the grand prize. The submission will be hosted on the contest web site. Finally, the highest ranking entry whose student(s) attend(s) ISDC will receive the Herman Rubin Memorial Scholarship of $5,000 and give a talk at the conference.

Read more about NSS Gerard K. O’Neill Space Settlement Contest 2025 on Contest Watchers.

The National Space Society (NSS) invites students worldwide up to 12th grade (18 years old) to prepare for the 2022 edition of the annual Space Settlement Contest. Submissions must relate to free space settlements. Settlements may not be on a planet or moon, although support activities such as mining may be. Settlements must be permanent homes, not temporary work camps. Submissions may focus on one or a few aspects of space settlement and supporting systems, including mines, activities leading up to settlement (such as space hotels), economic and social issues, etc. The National Space Society (NSS) invites all 2022 contest participants to the NSS 2022 International Space Development Conference (ISDC).

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The National Space Society (NSS) invites students worldwide up to 12th grade (18 years old) to participate in the 2021 edition of the annual Space Settlement Contest. Submissions must relate to free space settlements. Settlements may not be on a planet or moon, although support activities such as mining may be. Settlements must be permanent homes, not temporary work camps. Submissions may focus on one or a few aspects of space settlement and supporting systems, including mines, activities leading up to settlement (such as space hotels), economic and social issues, etc. The National Space Society (NSS) invites all 2021 contest participants to attend the NSS 2021 International Space Development Conference (ISDC) in Sheraton Gateway, Los Angeles, 27–30 May 2021.

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The National Space Society (NSS) invites students worldwide up to 12th grade (18 years old) to participate in the 2020 edition of the annual Space Settlement Contest. Submissions must relate to free space settlements. Settlements may not be on a planet or moon, although support activities such as mining may be. Settlements must be permanent homes, not temporary work camps. Submissions may focus on one or a few aspects of space settlement and supporting systems, including mines, activities leading up to settlement (such as space hotels), economic and social issues, etc. The National Space Society (NSS) invites all 2020 contest participants to attend the NSS 2020 International Space Development Conference (ISDC) in Dallas, TX, 28–31 May 2020.

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NASA Ames Research Center and National Space Society (NSS) invite students worldwide up to 12th grade (18 years old) to participate in the 2019 edition of the annual Space Settlement Contest. Submissions must relate to orbital settlements. Designs, original research, essays, stories, models, artwork or any other orbital space settlement related materials may be submitted. Settlements may not be on a planet or moon and must be permanent, relatively self-sufficient homes, not temporary work camps. The National Space Society (NSS) invites all 2019 contest participants to attend the NSS 38th annual International Space Development Conference (ISDC) in Arlington, VA, 6-9 June 2019.

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NASA Ames Research Center, San Jose State University, and the National Space Society (NSS) invite all students around the world up to 12th grade (18 years old) to participate in the 2017 edition of their annual Space Settlement Contest. Submissions must relate to orbital settlements. Designs, original research, essays, stories, models, artwork or any other orbital space settlement related materials may be submitted. Settlements may not be on a planet or moon and must be permanent, relatively self-sufficient homes, not temporary work camps. The National Space Society (NSS) invites all 2017 contest participants to attend the NSS 36th annual International Space Development Conference (ISDC) in St. Louis, USA, USA 25-29 May, 2017.

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NASA Ames Research Center, San Jose State University, and the National Space Society (NSS) invite all students around the world up to 12th grade (18 years old) to participate in the 2016 edition of their annual Space Settlement Contest. Submissions must relate to orbital settlements. Designs, original research, essays, stories, models, artwork or any other orbital space settlement related materials may be submitted. The National Space Society (NSS) invites all 2016 contest participants to attend the NSS 35rd annual International Space Development Conference (ISDC) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA 18-22 May, 2016.

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The annual NASA Space Settlement Contest has opened for entries for 2015 and all students up to 12th grade (18 years old) from anywhere in the world are invited to participate. Designs, original research, essays, stories, models, artwork or any other orbital space settlement related materials may be submitted. All contest participants will receive a certificate and an invitation to attend the National Space Society (NSS) 34rd annual International Space Development Conference (ISDC) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada 20-24 May 2015. Settlements may not be on a planet or moon — must be permanent, relatively self-sufficient homes, not temporary work camps. Settlers of this high frontier are expected to live inside large air-tight rotating structures holding hundreds, thousands, or even millions of people along with the animals, plants, and single celled organisms vital to comfort and survival.

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The annual NASA Space Settlement Contest has opened for entries for 2014. This annual contest, co-sponsored by NASA Ames and the National Space Society (NSS) is for all students up to 12th grade (18 years old) from anywhere in the world. The NASA Space Settlement Contest has been created to research space colonies and orbital settlements, through innovative space settlements designs developed by students. Individuals, small teams of two to five, and large teams of six or more are invited to submit designs, original research, essays, stories, models, artwork or any other orbital space settlement related materials.

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