Space Foundation Announces National Space Day STEM Competition for Middle School Students

Written by: Space Foundation Editorial Team

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Nov. 20, 2025 — Space Foundation, through its strategic initiative Space Workforce for Tomorrow (SWFT), today announced the Space Sustainability Competition, which challenges middle school students to develop creative and practical solutions for sustainable living in orbit and on the moon. The competition runs from Monday, Nov. 16, 2025, to Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at 5 p.m. MST, with winners announced on National Space Day, Friday, May 1, 2026.

Sponsored by leading space industry partners, this innovation competition invites 6th through 8th grade students to envision solutions to one of space exploration’s greatest challenges: living beyond Earth. The competition’s focus areas range from habitats and food systems to tools, recycling methods such as reusable rockets and alternative fuels, and new power sources. Students will bring their ideas to life through a mission brief, a physical, technical or 3D model, and a video pitch showcasing their “space company” and solution.

“Middle school students have an incredible capacity for creativity, and the Space Sustainability Competition gives them a real chance to shape the future of living and working beyond Earth,” said SWFT Executive Director Melanie Stricklan. “Whether they’re designing habitats, finding new ways to manage resources or imagining how we’ll power missions in deep space, their ideas matter. We want students to see that the space workforce needs thinkers, builders and problem-solvers from every background and that their journey can start today.”

Humanity’s push into orbit and onto the Moon brings challenges that require innovative solutions, from building habitats and growing food to managing rockets, fuel, water, energy and waste. As the space industry expands, addressing these needs is essential to safe and sustainable activity beyond Earth. The competition helps students connect STEM learning with real-world space problems and highlights the wide range of careers that support space missions. Through the competition, students develop skills in design, problem-solving and communication that prepare them for future STEM pathways.

To learn more about the Space Sustainability Competition, prizes offered and to register for the competition, visit https://bit.ly/42SGawV.

About Space Workforce for Tomorrow (SWFT)

Space Workforce for Tomorrow (SWFT) is a flagship Space Foundation initiative uniting the nation’s leading space companies to close the STEM talent gap and build a workforce prepared for the rapidly growing space economy. Supported by and in partnership with the world’s leading space organizations, SWFT inspires future innovators, equips emerging talent with real-world skills, and sustains a motivated, mission-driven technical workforce from education through career advancement—strengthening America’s leadership in space and ensuring a strong pipeline of talent ready to shape the nation’s future beyond Earth.

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Media Contact:

Zakary Watson
Director, Communications
Space Foundation
719-362-8152
zwatson@spacefoundation.org

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