Here at SEDS-USA, we’re proud of the interdisciplinary projects that we offer students throughout the course of the year. The projects below allow students to think critically, work together, and create something out of this world!
Don’t see a project you like but want to get involved in space?
Ongoing Projects
Space Development for Earth Challenge (2026)
A new era of the exploration of space is dawning. In the near future, falling launch costs will enable the large-scale industrial development of cislunar space (the space near Earth and the Moon), which will lead to the construction of megaprojects that can improve the lives of people on Earth.
In this competition, sponsored by the Planetary Sunshade Foundation (PSF), you and your team will take on the role of a company that is bidding for a government contract to take over and operate the industrial apparatus of the Moon in the near future. You will create a proposal for the best use of these resources, by evaluating a range of space megaprojects that could benefit the Earth.
Projects include (but are not limited to):
- Planetary Sunshades
- Space Solar Power Satellites
- Data Centers in Space
- Hypertelescope Arrays
- Large Scale In-Space Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM)
- Launch Assist Structures (Space Elevators, Skyhooks, Orbital Rings)
Teams will be paired up with a mentor to provide guidance and answer questions. Winners will receive a cash prize and two tickets to the gala at SpaceVision.
Applications close March 2nd, 2026.
Thank you to our partners at the Planetary Sunshade Foundation for hosting this challenge!
SpaceVision Research Symposium
The SpaceVision Research Symposium lets you showcase your chapter’s (or your own) research to the SEDS community. It’s a great way to highlight SEDS accomplishments and get a deeper understanding of cutting-edge research.
Two other reasons to sign up:
- Going to a conference to present your research is a great way to get your school to help fund the conference trip.
- The top three projects will get $$$.
Details for the SpaceVision 2026 Research Symposium will be announced soon!
2025 Winners:
1st Place
Duke University
2nd Place
University of North Texas
3rd Place
Case Western Reserve University
SpaceVision Business Pitch Competition
Do you have an idea that will change the space industry? Tell us about it in a business pitch!
Details for the SpaceVision 2026 Business Pitch Competition will be announced soon!
2025 Winners:
1st Place
University of Michigan
2nd Place
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
3rd Place
Tufts University
Club For the Future SEDS Postcards
SEDS is proud to partner with Club for the Future to bring our chapters postcards they can send to space. This is a great activity for any chapter meeting, to bring more members, or to disperse within the community.
Get your Club for the Future SEDS postcards here!
Archived Projects
The Ambitious Machines Challenge
We’re hosting a contest to recreate the entire program management lifecycle of the ISS.
Compete for cash prizes and tickets to Space Vision 2025 while contributing to a groundbreaking project that digitally recreates the program management behind the International Space Station. Your participation will not only make history but also showcase the power of collaboration and innovation. Join us and leave your mark!
Space For All Spring Challenge
We partnered with Starfield and XBOX to empower the next generation of space adventurers. We needed your curiosity, creativity, and passion to reimagine technologies that contribute to the advancement of space science.
Tasked to research, invent, and develop a multi-disciplinary project that intertwines innovation and cutting-edge science to grow our knowledge of space. The winning proposals feature a comprehensive program to engage the community in fostering STEAM education.
Virtual Graduate School Application Bootcamp
Interested in graduate school? Our summer bootcamp is here to guide you through all the necessary steps to research, apply, and get the most of your graduate degree. Open to all majors and areas of interest.
The weekly webinars/Q&A sessions and assignments will help you tackle selecting a graduate school, GRE prep, professional development to improve your application, applying for financial assistance, essay and resume-writing, and more. You will also network with current graduate students and young professionals in the field through video chat and our slack chennel. Active participation is necessary to ensure all students registered are supported, and we will cap participation in this program at 100 students.
SpaceVision Art Competition
Congratulations to our SpaceVision 23 art competition winner, Samantha Bechtel from the Portland State Aerospace Society Chapter.
SSPI Competition
New project in development, come back soon!
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