Students aim for the stars in Space Settlement Design competition

Students to design new space settlement in asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter - News Release

For immediate release
Friday 5 January 2007

A new competition launched this year will see students design a space settlement located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The Regional Space Settlement Competition, sponsored by Imperial College London, will guarantee the winning team a place in the 14th International Space Settlement Design Competition. This will be held in July 2007 at NASA’s Johnson Space Centre, Houston, USA.

School teams will be asked to prepare proposals for the space settlement, Astoria, considering a range of issues including structural engineering, transportation, human factors, safety, communications, food production, and energy requirements.

The competition will provide students with the opportunity to participate in a design simulation that exposes them to the challenges of working as a team to achieve an infrastructure development that is full of innovation and imagination.

In addition, it aims to teach young people a wide range of skills including technical competence, management skills, knowledge of environments and resources in space, appreciation for the relationship between technical products and human use, and the ability to work in teams.

Secondary school teams of students aged 14-18 will prepare and submit proposals for their designs. In addition, each team has a manager acting as their company CEO who is from industry or a space agency to help the students with technical and management training.

Dr Randall S. Perry, senior research scientist at Imperial College London and chair of the organising committee said: "With all the really bright students in both public and state schools I hope the UK winning team will do well in the international competition." Anita Gayle, space shuttle scientist and co-founder of the competition adds: "The competition has been wildly successful in the US and is expanding every year with worldwide entrants."

The winning UK team will also get a tour of the Johnson Space Center and individual students will be offered internships. In a wider context, the competition aims to encourage interest in science in the UK amongst school children.

Schools interested in entering the competition can visit the website www.uksdc.org.uk . For details of registration please visit www.spaceset.org . Final deadline for submissions is 15 February 2007.

For further information please contact:

Naomi Weston
Press Officer
Communications Division
Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 6704
Mobile: +44 (0)7803 886 248
E-mail: n.weston@imperial.ac.uk

Notes to editors:

About Imperial College London

Consistently rated in the top three UK university institutions, Imperial College London is a world leading science-based university whose reputation for excellence in teaching and research attracts students (11,500) and staff (6,000) of the highest international quality. Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science, medicine, engineering and management and delivers practical solutions that enhance the quality of life and the environment - underpinned by a dynamic enterprise culture.
Website: www.imperial.ac.uk