Central Space Design Competition
Date:
Friday 7 - Sunday 9 February, 2025
Location:
Gilruth Center, Space Center Boulevard, Houston, TX, USA
Register Now!
If you are an individual participant, click here to register.
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NOTE - if your teacher or school is registering you as part of a team, you cannot complete this form until you have the coupon code for your team registration. Contact your teacher for this code first!
If you are a registering a team or group of students, use this link:
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If you are a mentor looking to support our event, please register here:
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About This Event
The Central Space Design Competition (CSDC) has been running since 1999, when it was first known as the JSC Space Settlement Design Competition.
One of the pre-eminent space education event in the USA, it regularly sells out - with students traveling from as far as Iowa and South Dakota to participate!
Up to 200 students participate to win a exclusive position as a finalist at the International Space Settlement Design Competition (ISSDC), held annually at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in July.
Cost To Participate
$205 USD.
This pricing includes:
All meals
Accommodation
Limted edition event-specific t-shirt
Access to the Gilruth Center
All required equipment and materials
Event Schedule
The Central Space Design Competition puts out a detailed schedule sent to all registered schools a couple of months prior to the event. Here is a sample schedule below, which may look different than the actual event schedule.
Thursday - Students arrive at the Johnson Space Center in late afternoon, and have the opportunity to meet with aerospace professional community members, local colleges and universities, outreach groups, and more over dinner. Students will learn more about the competition and what to expect this weekend.
Friday - After meeting their fellow company members and holding company elections for leadership roles, students will attend training classes to learn about engineering disciplines, leadership, and marketing. Then, the Request For Proposal (RFP) is released and companies begin designing! Presentation files are due Saturday Morning, so use your time wisely.
Saturday - Companies give 30-minute presentations to a panel of judges. The judges are current or former aerospace industry professionals, and will ask technical questions about designs. The judges choose a winning company, and the competition concludes on Saturday afternoon.
Event Specific Notes
Be sure to arrive off of Space Center Boulevard, as your GPS may try to route you through restricted employee-only roads at JSC. Accommodation is onsite at the Gilruth Center, and is 'campout style'.
Accommodation is onsite at the Gilruth Center, and is 'campout style'. Be sure to bring an air mattress, cot, or similar for your comfort. Showers are available.