NSS Student Contests & Competitions

NSS Gerard K. O’Neill Space Settlement Contest

Named in honor of space settlement pioneer Dr. Gerard K. O’Neill, the annual NSS Gerard K. O’Neill Space Settlement Contest invites students up to 12th grade from around the world to design permanent, free-space human habitats in orbit rather than on planetary surfaces. Inspired by O’Neill's groundbreaking 1970s Princeton thought experiments and his vision of "Islands in Space," this global competition fosters STEAM education through student submissions spanning engineering designs, research papers, artwork, and literature. Submissions open each December with a deadline of February 15, offering international students opportunities to win cash prizes—including the $5,000 Herman Rubin Memorial Scholarship—and showcase their winning work directly to attendees at the annual International Space Development Conference (ISDC).

NSS “Live in a Healthy Space” Design Competition

The National Space Society’s “Live in a Healthy Space” Design Competition challenges middle and high school students (ages 12–18) to design a vital component of future space habitation: an Agricultural Module. Focused on food production, nutritional health, and supporting ecosystems, the contest encourages cross-curricular STEAM innovation across engineering, biology, culinary arts, and design. Entries qualify as standalone projects or as integrated modules within the NSS Gerard K. O’Neill Space Settlement Contest. All qualifying participants receive certificates and an invitation to present at ISDC, with top entries earning merit recognition and the Grand Prize winner or team receiving a $2,500 scholarship.

Information for Contest Students at ISDC 2027

The remainder of this page is for students who have taken part in the NSS Gerard K. O'Neill Space Settlement Contest and/or the Live in a Healthy Space Competition. Selected contest students will be given an opportunity to present their projects during a Poster Presentation session. Selected student teams will be given a chance to compete for one of the several 10-minute slots available to give an Oral Presentation to the many scientists and commercial space conference attendees. All teams or individual entrants wishing to give an Oral Presentation about your NSS contest project to ISDC attendees must submit a video of their team (or individual) giving the presentation in the manner that they would present their project at the conference. More information below.

Note: All NSS contest students attending ISDC must register on BOTH the NSS Contest Student Registration form AND the ISDC Conference Registration System. Please follow this link to the Student Registration page where you will find registration instructions.

International Invitation Letters

Submit this form to request an Invitation Letter for students, teachers, parents and adult chaperones.

Recognition Ceremony

All students will attend the Recognition Ceremony on Sunday, May 30, 2027. The NSS Gerard K. O'Neill Space Settlement Contest Grand Prize Winners will have the honor of presenting at the Saturday dinner, and the Live in a Healthy Space Competition Grand Prize Winners during the Sunday dinner.

Oral Presentations

Due to the limited number of slots available, students wishing to give a 10-minute oral presentation will need to submit a video of their team presenting their project. Students will be pre-selected to showcase the most inspirational and creative projects. 

NOTE: Presentations must be submitted before April 14, 2027.
Any questions regarding the oral presentations are to be sent to isdc.students@nss.org. 

Poster Presentations

A limited number of student teams will be assigned a poster session day and time during the conference. Confirmed teams are expected to stand beside their posters and communicate with conference attendees. Posters must have their title & email contact also labelled on the back of the poster and it must be visible when rolled-up (e.g. by sticker, marker or printed).