UK Space Design Competition 2012

Entries are now open for the UK Space Design Competition - an industry simulation experience open to all current secondary school students in the United Kingdom which will take place at Imperial College London on the weekend of 24 - 25 March 2012.

Selected school teams will travel to Imperial College London for the residential competition where they will join with fellow students from several other UK schools to form a simulated design company. This company will then have just 24 hours to design a space settlement for up to 10,000 inhabitants, taking into account several factors ranging from structural engineering and communications to entertainment, food production, construction timelines, and cost. On Sunday morning they will then present their final design proposal to a panel of expert judges in competition for a lucrative design contract from the Foundation Society.

Selected members of the winning company will be rewarded with a guaranteed, paid place at the International Space Settlement Design Competition, held annually at NASA’s Lyndon. B, Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, USA. All flights, ground transportation and accommodation for this trip will be provided by the Space Science and Engineering Foundation.

The main aim of the competition is to provide students with an opportunity to take part in a design simulation that exposes them to the joys and challenges of working in a large industrial team. Students will develop a space-based infrastructure that requires complex, challenging, and imaginative thinking that is hoped will fuel an increased interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Key dates for the competition are as follows:

To enter:

Students can enter in teams of between 8 - 12 people (plus one accompanying adult) and do not need to be affiliated with any particular institution (i.e. science clubs and societies can also enter independently from schools / colleges). To enter the initial stage of the competition teams must respond to the following Request for Proposal (RFP) from the Foundation Society:

This is a request by the Foundation Society for contractors to propose the design, construction and operation of a new residential unit for the Alaskol Lunar Settlement.

The new unit must comfortably accommodate a family of 4 people consisting of 2 adults and 2 children. Essential services and utilities are provided by the main Alaskol Settlement but your design should aim to be as self-sufficient as possible. Successful contractors will pay particular attention to any radiation shielding that may be necessary for the unit and the long term effects of lunar gravity.

Entries must be made in the form of a three-minute video presentation accompanied by a maximum of six PowerPoint slides.

For full details about the competition and how to enter, including a case study from one of last year's winners, please visit the UK Space Design Competition website.