British National Space Centre

2010 Competition

Win a place in the 17^th International Finals competition in Houston!

Welcome to the United Kingdom Space Design Competition (www.uksdc.org.uk). This competition is an exciting industry simulation experience open to all current secondary school students in the United Kingdom. Students participating in the competition are required to design a significant infrastructure development in space, 'ASTORIA', the first space settlement to be located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Teams will have to consider a range of issues including structural engineering, transportation, human factors, safety, communications, food production, and energy requirements.

The key aspect of the competition is to provide students with the opportunity to participate in a design simulation that exposes them to the challenges of working as a member of a team. The team will achieve an infrastructure development that is complex, challenging, and requires innovation and imagination to lead to broader student interest and further education and career choices in science, technology and mathematics.

The experience of participating in a Space Settlement Design Competition encourages optimism for the future, technical competence, management skills, knowledge of environments and resources in space, appreciation for the relationship between technical products and human use, ability to work in teams, and techniques of preparing effective documentation. It requires that students integrate their knowledge of and utilize skills in space science, physics, math, chemistry, environmental science, biology, computer science, writing, speaking, art and common sense.

The competition for students has no “upper limit” and students are encouraged to take their turbo-charged imaginations to the brink of their capabilities. There are wide ranging benefits for teachers to look at and anticipate the technological revolutions that will happen and provide excitement to classroom instruction. Sponsoring organizations have the opportunity to contribute to the broader education of the community.

Secondary school teams will prepare and submit proposals for their designs for the “Foundation Society” and will receive outline design requirements of the Foundation. Teams will then be selected to attend the First UK finalist competition in London. The winning team will then attend the international finals competition at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston.

The winner of the United Kingdom Regional Space Settlement Competition is guaranteed a place in the 17th International Space Settlement Design Competition held in July 2010 at Johnson Space Center, USA, with all expenses paid. The 2006 International Final included nine international teams, four from the US, three from India, one from Australia and one from Malaysia (notably none from Europe or the UK). The organizers of the first United Kingdom Regional Space Settlement Competition have obtained a guarantee from the International Competition organizers that the winning United Kingdom team will compete in the International competition. This is a significant guarantee, as without it, any United Kingdom entrant would be required to compete in the international qualifying activity against up to 30 other international entrants (many with years of experience) just to gain a place in this prestigious event.

Summary of events:

• Student proposals team selected for the UK finals in London.
• A gala fundraiser to support the event, the UK finalist team and to stimulate public support and interest in science education in the United Kingdom.
• UK finals competition will be held in London at Imperial College.
• Finalist team will represent the United Kingdom at the 17^th international final in Houston.
• Winning team members will be given a tour of Johnson Space Center and receive selected internships at universities, companies and government.
• A proposed Science Museum display of the UK finalist’s plans.
• A proposed interdisciplinary seminar with industry, education, science, and psychology professionals assessing UK science education needs and the psychological value of the programs. For example the Space Design competition is fostering goals of enhancing science interest in the UK followed by a Proceedings Volume.