National
Space Sustainability
Competition Rules

Latest Revision: 10/5/2026

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NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. BY ENTERING, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE OFFICIAL RULES AND THE DECISIONS OF HOST, WHICH ARE FINAL AND BINDING IN ALL RESPECTS. THESE OFFICIAL RULES CONTAIN LIMITATIONS OF YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND REMEDIES, INCLUDING A RELEASE AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. PARENTAL/GUARDIAN PERMISSION IS REQUIRED TO ENTER THIS CONTEST. 

 

Contest Host: Space Foundation, 4425 Arrowswest Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80907 (the “Host”). 

 

Eligibility: 

To be eligible to participate (in each case as an “Eligible Participant”) in the SPACE SUSTAINABILITY COMPETITION (the “Contest”), you must satisfy the following criteria: 

• Be a current student in 6th–8th grade; and 

• Teams must consist of 2–4 students, supervised by a teacher (“Teacher”) or adult mentor (“Adult Mentor”). 

• Reside in the U.S. states and territories.  

• A parent or legal guardian over eighteen (18) years of age (a “Guardian”) must provide consent to enter the Contest and grant the rights set forth herein. 

 

Employees of the Host or their affiliates, advertising or promotion agencies, those involved in the production, development, implementation or handling of this Contest, any agents acting for, or on behalf of the above entities, their respective parent companies, officers, directors, subsidiaries, affiliates, service providers, prize suppliers, any other person or entity associated with the Contest (collectively, “Contest Entities”) and/or members of their immediate families (spouses, children, siblings, parents) and/or persons living in the same household as such persons, whether or not related, are ineligible to enter the Contest. 

 

Participation constitutes full and unconditional agreement to, and acceptance of, these Space Sustainability Competition Official Rules (the “Official Rules”). This Contest is subject to, and all Eligible Participants shall comply with, all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. 

 

Guardian Permission: 

Each Eligible Participant must have a Guardian to provide consent to the Eligible Participant’s participation in the Contest. By providing consent, the Guardian represents and warrants that: 

 

(i) the Guardian is the Eligible Participant’s parent or legal guardian and is at least eighteen (18) years of age; 

 

(ii) the Guardian has read, understands, and agrees to be bound by these Official Rules on behalf of the Guardian and the Eligible Participant; 

 

(iii) the Guardian has full legal authority to provide the required consent and to grant the rights contemplated by these Official Rules, including the rights relating to the Entry (defined below) and the Eligible Participant’s name, likeness, biographical information, statement, and voice; 

 

(iv) the Eligible Participant’s participation in the Contest and submission of the Entry comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and school or district policies, and the Guardian has obtained all permissions required for participation; and 

 

(v) all information provided by the Guardian or the Eligible Participant in connection with the Contest is truthful, complete, and accurate. 

 

The Guardian consents to the Eligible Participant’s participation in the Contest, the submission and use of the Entry, and the collection, use, and disclosure of the Eligible Participant’s personal information as described in these Official Rules and the Host’s Privacy Policy. The Guardian also consents to the use of the Eligible Participant’s name, likeness, photograph, biographical information, statement, and voice as described in the Publicity Release (defined below). 

 

GUARDIAN AGREES TO INDEMNIFY, DEFEND, AND HOLD HARMLESS THE CONTEST ENTITIES FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DAMAGES, LIABILITIES, COSTS, AND EXPENSES (INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANT’S PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST, THE SUBMISSION OR USE OF AN ENTRY, OR ANY BREACH OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES, INCLUDING THE GUARDIAN’S REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, OR AGREEMENTS HEREIN. 

 

Contest Period: 

The Contest begins on Monday, October 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. MT, and ends Friday, January 15, 2027, at 5:00 p.m. MT (“Contest Period”).  

 

Entry into the Contest: 

As used herein, “Entry” (and/or “Entries”) refers to all content an Eligible Participant submits in connection with the Contest (including, but not limited to, videos, models, briefs, descriptions, explanations, and other materials).  

 

To enter the Contest, complete the following steps: 

• Teacher/Adult Mentor of an Eligible Participant: 

• Access the Contest website (the “Competition Website”). 

• Complete and submit the electronic Guardian permission form. 

• Register for the Contest by providing your name and contact information, including email address, and the Eligible Participants’ information. Once registered, the Teacher/Adult Mentor may use their registration information and password to enter the Entry information. 

• The adult completing the Entry form is responsible for adhering to school policies and obtaining any required permissions from the applicable school, district, and Guardian. 

• Limit one (1) Entry per eligible team during the Contest Period. 

 

Each Entry must: 

Explore sustainable living in orbit through sustainable energy — designing innovative energy systems, technologies, and solutions that enable humans to safely live, work, and thrive in space while supporting long-term exploration and stewardship beyond Earth (the “Theme”); 

 

• Video Requirements: 

• Video Length: The video must be no longer than 3 minutes. Videos that exceed this length may be disqualified or have points deducted. 

• Video Content Requirements: 

• Mission Brief – Problem Overview: 

• Provide a clear explanation of the challenges of generating, storing, distributing, and using sustainable energy to support long-term human life in orbit. Highlight key issues such as reliable power generation, energy storage, efficiency, redundancy, environmental considerations, and the unique challenges of operating in the space environment. Explain why sustainable energy is essential for future commercial space stations, scientific research, and long-duration human spaceflight. 

• STEM Component – Solution Explanation: 

• Present a proposed solution that addresses this year's theme of Sustainable Living in Orbit Through Sustainable Energy. Your solution should demonstrate how sustainable energy can be generated, stored, distributed, or managed to support life and operations in orbit. Teams are encouraged to incorporate models, prototypes, technical drawings, CAD designs, animations, or other visuals to explain the science, engineering, and feasibility of their solution. 

• Video Pitch – Business and Implementation Plan: 

• Summarize how your proposed solution could be developed and implemented in a real-world orbital environment. Describe who would benefit from your innovation, potential partners or organizations that could support its development, and the broader impact on the future of sustainable space exploration. Explain how your solution contributes to safer, more efficient, and more sustainable human living and working in orbit. 

• Video Format and Quality:  

• Videos should be in landscape format and recorded in at least 720 resolution (higher resolutions preferred, if available) 

• Ensure clear audio quality so the Judges (defined below) can understand the pitch without background noise. 

• Video Presentation Style:  

• Teams are encouraged to be creative in presenting their ideas. They can use a combination of narration, visuals, and on-screen text to make their pitch engaging and easy to follow. 

• Team members may appear on camera, but it’s optional. The focus should be on the clarity of the idea and solution. 

• Video File Format 

• Acceptable formats include MP4 or MOV. Other formats may not be accepted. 

• The file size should be kept manageable to ensure smooth upload and accessibility. 

 

• Model Requirements:  

• Model Complexity and Length:  

• The digital model submission should effectively communicate the design without overwhelming detail.  

• Models should be easy to understand and focused on key components related to space sustainability.  

• The description document should not exceed 500 words to keep explanations concise. 

• Model Format and Quality: 

• Digital models should be created using software such as Tinkercad, SketchUp, or any design tool accessible to middle school students.  

• Export high-quality screenshots or renders (PNG, JPG, PDF) that clearly showcase the model's design and functionality. 

• Presentation Style: 

• Labeling and Clarity: Be sure to label key features in the model images or include callouts to indicate the model’s functionality. 

• Creative Representation: Teams are encouraged to creatively present their design, using digital techniques, props, or additional diagrams if needed, to make the model engaging and easy to follow. 

• File Format and Size: 

• Acceptable file formats include PDF (for documents), PNG, or JPG (for images). Other formats may not be accepted. 

• The file size should be kept manageable to ensure smooth upload and accessibility. 

 

• Brief Requirements: 

• Length: The mission briefing should be concise, with a maximum of three (3) pages to focus on the core sustainability aspects. 

• Brief Content Requirements: 

• Clearly identify the problem and your team's proposed solution. The issue should be easy to describe, and your solution should be clear and concise. 

• Provide a brief written explanation of how your solution works. This written explanation will be supplemented by your team's Model Requirement. 

• Provide a "Sustainability Snapshot," highlighting how your solution emphasizes sustainable orbital practices or sustainable practices for living and working in space.  

• File Format and Size: 

• Submit the brief in PDF format for easy access and compatibility. 

• If the brief includes visuals (e.g., logos, charts), ensure they are high-quality and integrated into the PDF document. 

• Organize the brief clearly, using headings and bullet points where appropriate to make the information easy to follow. 

• Keep the emphasis on how the solution could realistically contribute to long-term sustainable lunar presence and be clear about its potential value in the industry. 

• File Size: The file size should be kept manageable to ensure smooth upload and accessibility.   

 

Submission Process: 

All materials must be uploaded to the competition platform by the specified deadline. 

 

Each team must name their file in the following format: 

• TeamName_School_CompetitionYear_Deliverable Type 

• (e.g., SpaceSquad_WestMiddleSchool_2027_Mission Brief). 

 

Each Entry must: 

• Be the original work of the Eligible Participant and be created solely by the Eligible Participant; 

• Not have been previously published, submitted in another contest, or selected as a winner of another contest; 

• Not contain sexually explicit, pornographic, obscene, indecent, profane, vulgar, libelous, slanderous, defamatory, tortious, threatening, harassing, abusive, or otherwise objectionable material; 

• Not depict or promote alcohol, drugs, tobacco, firearms, weapons, violence, dangerous activities, or illegal activity; 

• Not infringe or violate any copyright, trademark, trade name, trade dress, logo, patent, publicity, privacy, moral, or other intellectual property or proprietary right of any third party, including through unauthorized use of music, photographs, video, artwork, or other third-party material; 

• Not contain personal identification or private information of any person other than the Eligible Participant, including a name, street or email address, telephone number, or other contact information, without that person’s express permission; 

• Not disparage, defame, or invade the publicity or privacy rights of any person, living or deceased, or otherwise violate any applicable law or regulation; 

• Not contain hate speech or content that promotes discrimination, intolerance, harassment, or harm against any person or group; 

• Not contain advertising, commercial solicitation, political messaging, fundraising, or an endorsement of any product, service, or political cause; 

• Not contain any virus, worm, malware, or other harmful code, or otherwise interfere with the operation of the Contest or the Competition Website; 

• Not be false, misleading, incomplete, illegible, corrupted, or submitted in a manner that violates these Official Rules; and 

• Be in full compliance with these Official Rules. 

 

ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANT AGREES TO INDEMNIFY, DEFEND, AND HOLD HARMLESS THE CONTEST ENTITIES FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DAMAGES, LIABILITIES, COSTS, AND EXPENSES (INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE ENTRY, THE ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANT’S PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST, OR ANY BREACH OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES, INCLUDING ANY CLAIM THAT THE ENTRY INFRINGES OR VIOLATES A THIRD PARTY’S RIGHTS. 

 

THE ENTRY IS SUBMITTED ON A GRATUITOUS, NON-CONFIDENTIAL BASIS AND WITHOUT EXPECTATION OF COMPENSATION. NO CONFIDENTIAL, FIDUCIARY, OR OTHER SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED BY SUBMITTING AN ENTRY, AND THE HOST HAS NO OBLIGATION TO USE, RETURN, OR ACKNOWLEDGE THE ENTRY. 

 

Entries must be received by 5:00 p.m. MT on Friday, January 15, 2027. All required Entry information must be completed in full to be considered. Proof of delivery or receipt of any kind of Entry will not be deemed by the Host as proof of Entry. Any attempted form of Entry other than as described herein is void. Each Entry will be judged on the criteria set forth below. Entries that contain information that is not reasonably pertinent to the judging criteria (described below), as determined by the Host in its sole discretion, or is otherwise in violation of these Official Rules will be disqualified. As determined by the Host, any Entry that includes obscenities, objectionable material, defames or invades the publicity or privacy rights of any person, living or deceased, or otherwise infringes upon any third party’s personal or proprietary rights, publicity rights, will be disqualified. Entries that are incomplete, illegible, or corrupted are void and will not be accepted. Normal time, toll, connection, and usage rates, if any, charged by your Internet service provider will apply. For your Entry to be valid, you must acknowledge reading, accepting, and agreeing to all terms and conditions set forth in these Official Rules. All Entry information is subject to the Host’s Privacy Policy: https://www.spacefoundation.org/space-foundation-web-privacy-policy/. 

 

The Host reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to waive any Entry requirement and to request that an Eligible Participant resubmit an Entry to correct a deficiency or comply with these Official Rules. An Entry that is not timely resubmitted as requested may be disqualified. 

 

Selection and Announcement of Winners: 

Eligible Entries will be judged by the Host’s designated representative(s) (collectively, the “Judges”). PLEASE NOTE THAT ELIGIBLE ENTRIES MAY BE REVIEWED ON A ROLLING BASIS AS THEY ARE RECEIVED. 

 

All eligible Entries will be judged by the Judges, who will select three (3) winners (each, a “Winner”). Entries will be judged based upon the following criteria:  

• Creativity and Innovation (25%); 

• Feasibility and Practicality (25%); 

• Technical Presentation (25%); 

• Mission Brief (15%); and 

• Video Pitch Quality (10%). 

 

Winners will be announced on Friday, May 7, 2027. 

 

All potential Winners will be contacted through the email address provided by the Teacher or Guardian. The failure to respond to the notification in a timely manner shall result in forfeiture of the Prize (defined below) and, in such case, an alternate potential Winner will be selected from among the remaining eligible Entries. 

 

Prize: 

The following prizes (each, a “Prize”) will be awarded to the winning Eligible Participants: 

First Place Prize: Each Eligible Participant on the first-place team will receive a $1,500 award and a CubeSat NEA Scout + Toolkit, with an approximate retail value (“ARV”) of $99. The total ARV per Eligible Participant is $1,599. Teams may consist of two (2) to four (4) Eligible Participants, resulting in a total First Place Prize ARV ranging from $3,198 to $6,396, depending on team size. 

Second Place Prize: Each Eligible Participant on the second-place team will receive a $1,000 award and a CubeSat NEA Scout + Toolkit, with an ARV of $99. The total ARV per Eligible Participant is $1,099. Teams may consist of two (2) to four (4) Eligible Participants, resulting in a total Second Place Prize ARV ranging from $2,198 to $4,396, depending on team size. 

Third Place Prize: Each Eligible Participant on the third-place team will receive a $500 award and a CubeSat NEA Scout + Toolkit, with an ARV of $99. The total ARV per Eligible Participant is $599. Teams may consist of two (2) to four (4) Eligible Participants, resulting in a total Third Place Prize ARV ranging from $1,198 to $2,396, depending on team size. 

Total Prizes: A total of three (3) team Prizes will be awarded. Because each team may consist of two (2) to four (4) Eligible Participants, the total ARV of all Prizes will range from $6,594 to $13,188, depending on the number of Eligible Participants on the three winning teams. 

All Prizes listed are subject to change at the discretion of Space Foundation. 

 

Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be modified/changed or exchanged for any other value, including monetary compensation.  

 

Prize Award Conditions: 

All potential Winners will be contacted through the email address provided by the Teacher or Guardian. The failure to respond in a timely manner to the notification shall result in forfeiture of the Prize. The Host will request, and each potential Winner agrees to provide confirmation of, Guardian permission/consent, an affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release covering eligibility, liability, advertising, publicity and media appearance issues, unless prohibited by law. A Prize will not be awarded until necessary information has been collected, and all properly executed forms are returned (“Verification”). Upon completion of Verification, a potential Winner shall become a Winner. If a Prize, or any portion thereof, cannot be awarded for any reason, the Host reserves the right to substitute a Prize with another Prize of equal or greater value. No transfer of any Prize. It is expressly understood that the Host is under no obligation to any Winner other than as expressly set forth herein. Each Winner is solely responsible for all federal, state, and local taxes and fees associated with the receipt of a Prize. Should federal, state, or local law impose any tax reporting or filing obligations on the Host arising out of the Winner’s participation in the Contest (including the Winner’s receipt of and/or use of any Prize), the Winner agrees to timely provide the Host with any information that is reasonably needed for the Host to comply with any such reporting or filing obligations. 

 

Grant of Rights: 

Each Eligible Participant unconditionally assigns and transfers all rights, title, interest, claim, ideas, concepts, copyrighted materials, and trademarks contained in any Entry submitted in the Contest and any and all rights including “moral rights” in any Entry submitted in the Contest to the Host. Each Eligible Participant unconditionally assigns and transfers to the Host all rights, title, interest, and/or claim, which he/she now has, or may in the future have to his/her Entry (including any and all essays submitted by the Eligible Participant). The Host has the right to use, assign, modify, edit, adapt, dispose of, and electronically alter the Eligible Participant’s Entry, including but not limited to, for moral rights, to appear in promotional and/or commercial materials, as well as to reproduce it, in whole or in part, without compensation or additional consent from the Eligible Participant, or any third party. 

 

Limitations of Liability and Release: 

No liability or responsibility is assumed by the Host or resulting from any Eligible Participant’s participation in or attempt to participate in the Contest. The Host is not responsible for any typographical errors in the announcement of any Prize or these Official Rules. All Eligible Participants must have a valid email address. No responsibility or liability is assumed by the Host or Contest Entities for technical problems or technical malfunction arising in connection with any of the following occurrences which may affect the operation of the Contest: hardware or software errors; faulty computer, telephone, television, cable, satellite, network, electronic, wireless or Internet connectivity or other online communication problems; errors or limitations of any Internet service providers, servers, hosts or providers; garbled, jumbled, or faulty data transmissions; failure of any email transmissions to be sent to or received; lost, late, delayed, or intercepted email transmissions; inaccessibility of the Competition Website in whole or in part for any reason; traffic congestions on the Internet or the Competition Website; unauthorized human or non-human intervention of the operation of the Contest, including without limitation, unauthorized tampering, hacking, theft, virus, bugs, worms; or destruction of any aspect of the Contest, or loss, miscount, misdirection, inaccessibility, or unavailability of an account used in connection with the Contest. By participating in the Contest, Eligible Participants agree to release and hold the Contest Entities harmless from any and all claims, damages, or liabilities arising from or relating to such Eligible Participant’s participation in the Contest including, without limitation, any use or misuse of any Prize. By accepting a Prize, Winner agrees to release, and hold the Host harmless for any loss or injury including, without limitation, any personal injury or property damage resulting from participation in the Contest or acceptance or use/misuse of any Prize. The Prize may be deemed compensation to a Winner and may be subject to withholding in accordance with the Host’s payroll practices. 

 

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, BY ENTERING THE CONTEST, EACH ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANT AND HIS OR HER GUARDIAN AGREES THAT THE CONTEST ENTITIES WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, LOSS OF USE, LOSS OF DATA, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST OR THE ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE, OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZE, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), WARRANTY, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. EACH ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANT AND HIS OR HER GUARDIAN FURTHER AGREE THAT ANY CLAIM MUST BE BROUGHT INDIVIDUALLY AND NOT AS A CLASS ACTION, REPRESENTATIVE ACTION, OR PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL ACTION, AND WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN OR RECOVER RELIEF THROUGH ANY SUCH CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. IN NO EVENT WILL THE CONTEST ENTITIES’ TOTAL LIABILITY EXCEED THE ACTUAL OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS INCURRED BY THE ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANT IN ENTERING THE CONTEST. 

 

Publicity Release: 

Participation in the Contest and/or acceptance of a Prize constitutes permission for the Host to use, without notice or further compensation, worldwide and in perpetuity, any Eligible Participant’s Entry, photo, likeness, biographical information, statement, and voice in any and all media for any purpose, including without limitation, advertising and promotional purposes as well as in, on or in connection with the Competition Website or the Contest or other promotions, and Eligible Participant hereby releases the Contest Entities from any liability with respect thereto (each a “Publicity Release”). 

 

General: 

By participating, Eligible Participants agree to these Official Rules and the Host’s Privacy Policy (located at https://www.spacefoundation.org/space-foundation-web-privacy-policy/), which are final and binding in all respects. Unclaimed Prizes will not be awarded. Winners must comply with any and all requirements and limitations associated with the use of any Prize. If for any reason the Contest is not capable of running as planned, the Host reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel, modify, or suspend the Contest. 

 

Governing Law & Jurisdiction: 

These Official Rules and the Contest are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado, without regard to its conflict of law rules. 

 

Any dispute, claim, or cause of action arising out of or relating to the Contest or these Official Rules shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Each Eligible Participant and Guardian irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of those courts and waives any objection to venue, inconvenient forum, or lack of personal jurisdiction. 

 

Severability: 

If any provision of these Official Rules is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, that provision shall be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law or modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. 

 

Winners List/Rules Request: 

For Winners' names (first name, city, and state) or Official Rules, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope (VT residents may omit return postage) specifying “Official Rules” or “Winners List,” postmarked by Monday, May 31, 2027 to: Space Foundation, Attention: Space Sustainability Competition, 4425 Arrowswest Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80907.