International Space Settlement Design Competition

The **International Space Settlement Design Competition (ISSDC)** challenges high school students to work as engineering teams designing a realistic, large-scale space settlement. Over an annual competition cycle, participants respond to a detailed industry-style Request for Proposal (RFP), develop technical designs across systems (structures, life support, operations, automation, and more), and present their proposals to judges with aerospace and engineering backgrounds. Qualifying rounds may occur at regional, national, or online levels, leading to an international final event for top teams. This program is well-suited for students interested in **STEM**, especially aerospace, mechanical or systems engineering, architecture, computer science, and project management. Participants gain experience in: - **Collaborative problem-solving** under time constraints - **Technical communication**, including written reports and oral presentations - **Systems thinking**, integrating multiple engineering and human factors Involvement in ISSDC can strengthen college applications by demonstrating sustained interest in engineering, the ability to work in large, interdisciplinary teams, and experience tackling open-ended, real-world design challenges. Students who enjoy complex projects, leadership roles, and learning how large engineering organizations operate will find the competition particularly rewarding. For current details on qualification pathways, eligibility, and schedule, students should consult the official website: **http://spaceset.org/**.