NSS Gerard K. O'Neill Space Settlement Contest
Catalog organization: National Space Society
Compiled by: ExtracurricularHub Editorial Team — editorial policy
Last updated
What Is NSS Gerard K. O'Neill Space Settlement Contest?
The National Space Society's annual international contest invites students through 12th grade to develop original work about permanent human settlements in free space. A settlement cannot be located on a planet or moon, although mining and supporting activities may be. Entries can address complete systems or focused engineering, economic, social, artistic or literary aspects. NASA Ames sponsored the contest through 2018, but sponsorship transferred fully to NSS in 2019; NASA is not a current co-organizer.
Students enter individually, in small teams of two to five or large teams of six to twelve. Judging uses the oldest team member's category: seventh grade and younger, then separate categories for grades 8-12. Artistic Merit and Literary Merit are separate special categories.
NSS Gerard K. O'Neill Space Settlement Contest Key Facts: Cost, Deadline, and Eligibility
| Cost | Varies — see Cost and funding |
|---|---|
| Format | Online |
| Eligibility | Up to grade 12 |
| Application deadline | February 15, 2027 |
| Listing last updated | August 30, 2026 |
Program details shown here reflect the current catalog record.
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How to Apply to NSS Gerard K. O'Neill Space Settlement Contest
Open the application for NSS Gerard K. O'Neill Space Settlement Contest