Space Foundation Challenges Middle School Students Nationwide to Solve Energy Challenges in Space

Written by: Space Foundation Editorial Team

National Space Sustainability Competition invites students in grades 6–8 to develop solutions for sustainable living in Earth’s orbit

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Oct. 15, 2026 — Space Foundation is challenging middle school students across the country to tackle one of the biggest questions facing future space exploration: How will humans generate, store and use energy while living and working in Earth’s orbit?

Through the National Space Sustainability Competition, teams of students in grades 6–8 are invited to develop innovative solutions that address sustainable energy challenges in space. The competition encourages students to apply STEM skills to real-world problems while exploring potential careers in the growing space industry. Submissions are due Friday, Jan. 15, 2027.

As commercial space stations and long-duration missions become a greater focus of space exploration, reliable energy systems will be essential to supporting life and research beyond Earth. Participating teams will consider how energy can be generated, stored or managed in orbit, and design solutions that could support future space operations.

“Students don’t have to wait until they’re adults to start solving real-world challenges,” said Heidi Vasiloff, interim head of Space Workforce for Tomorrow and senior director of Space Foundation Discovery Center. “This competition gives middle school students the chance to think like engineers, work together and explore how their ideas could support the future of space exploration. Just as important, it introduces them to opportunities in the space industry they may never have considered.”

The competition is open to teams of two to four students in grades 6–8 residing in the United States or its territories. Each team must have an adult sponsor, such as a teacher, parent, or guardian, who will oversee registration and guide students through the competition.

Teams will develop a mission brief outlining their proposed solution, create a technical drawing, digital model or physical prototype to demonstrate how it works, and produce a video pitch of up to three minutes presenting their concept.

Winning teams will be announced Friday. May 7, 2027, with individual student awards of $1,500 for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place. Each winning student will also receive a CubeSat NEA Scout + Toolkit.

Educators, parents and other adult team sponsors can learn more about the competition, review the official rules and register their teams at spacefoundation.org/national-space-day-competition/.

All entries must be submitted by 5 p.m. MST on Friday, Jan. 15, 2027.

About Space Foundation 

Space Foundation, a nonpartisan nonprofit, brings together every corner of the global space ecosystem. Through year-round programs and events, including its flagship Space Symposium, the organization convenes leaders from government, industry, finance and education to exchange ideas, build partnerships and advance the future of space. As a trusted, neutral expert, Space Foundation turns connections into impact. It reinvests proceeds from its events into STEM education, workforce development and its Discovery Center. Together, these programs help build the talent and leadership that will power the space economy for generations to come.

###

Media Contact:

Zakary Watson
Director, Communications
Space Foundation
[email protected]

 

---

Related Articles