Join the global space exploration challenge. Compete, learn, and innovate with teams from around the world.
A global competition that brings together students, educators, and space enthusiasts to solve real-world space exploration challenges.
Work with global teams to design solutions for space exploration challenges. Build rockets, satellites, and mission plans that could shape the future of space travel.
Compete for prizes, scholarships and recognition. Top teams will be recognised globally for their work, and we will tell the winning teams exactly what their prize includes.
{# The launch-pad conditions go with the launch prize. They describe a thing we are no longer announcing, and a condition on an unannounced prize only tells a reader what the prize is. Restore both together. #}Prizes that are services — mentorship, industry introductions, Stardust Connect access and in-person participation — are subject to export-control and sanctions review, and cannot be provided in every jurisdiction. Where they cannot, the finalist keeps the placing, the recognition, the certificate, their slot on the stream and full Academy access. We will tell each winning team exactly what theirs includes.
Explore the eight categories and choose where you want to build your solution.
Design habitats, life support, and living systems for long-duration missions on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Improve launch systems, propulsion, and logistics that make space travel safer, cheaper, and more accessible.
Build autonomous robotics and intelligent systems for exploration, construction, maintenance, and operations.
Create solutions that connect space science to sustainability, climate resilience, and planetary stewardship.
Advance missions and research concepts that deepen our understanding of the universe and our place in it.
Explore policy frameworks, business models, ethics, and governance for a rapidly growing space economy.
Tell space stories through art, design, media, and creative work that inspires and educates the world.
Focus on human spaceflight—training, health, performance, mission design, and astronaut-centered innovation.
The Stardust Challenge is open to students, educators, and space enthusiasts worldwide.
Elementary, middle, and high school students from around the world.
Undergraduate and graduate students pursuing space-related studies.
Teachers and mentors leading school teams and student groups.
Independent learners and enthusiasts passionate about space exploration.
Mark your calendar and join us on this incredible journey.
Schools, teams and individuals can register today. Free, and open worldwide.
The last day to register a team. Registration is now closed; the teams already in are building.
Workshops, mentoring and development time with the Stardust community. You do not have to wait for applications to close to start.
Projects and abstracts are in. Nothing is accepted after this.
Panels drawn from across the space sector review every entry.
The finalists in each of the eight categories, named live at the opening of Stardust 2026.
The talks, and the Challenge abstracts presented by the teams themselves. Streamed worldwide and free, so no team needs a flight or a visa to be on the same stage as any other.
The judges sit down with the winning teams and go through what won and why. The Stardust Awards 2026 close it.
Every judge scores an entry on five things — originality, rigour, impact, presentation and teamwork — and the scores are averaged across the judges who read it. Judges are assigned by category, so every entry is read by people who know the subject. There is no minimum length and no required format.
Join thousands of participants from around the world. Your journey to the stars starts here.
The Challenge only works because people give their time to it. If you work in space, or you just want to be useful, there's a place for you.