NSS Space Settlement Contest

{{Short description|International annual design competition}}

{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox sports league

| title = NSS Space Settlement Contest

| logo = NSS_Space_Settlement_Contest_Logo.jpg

| formerly = NASA Space Settlement Contest

| sport = Design competition

| founded = NASA Ames Research Center

| organizer = National Space Society

| fame =

| inaugural = 1994

| motto = "Per Aspera Ad Astra"

| teams = 5,200+ (2024){{cite web|url=https://www.peelschools.org/news/peel-district-school-board-students-claim-first-second-third-and-more-in-the-2024-global-national-space-society-gerard-k-oneill-space-settlement-contest-1713882488185 |first=Brittney |last=Alex |title=Peel District School Board Students Claim First, Second, Third and More in the 2024 Global National Space Society Gerard K. O’Neill Space Settlement Contest |date=April 23, 2024 |website=Peel District School Board |access-date=March 9, 2025}}

| countries = {{Collapsible list

| title = 25 countries and regions

| {{flag|United States}}

| {{flag|Canada}}

| {{flag|India}}

| {{flag|China}}

| {{flag|Colombia}}

| {{flag|Peru}}

| {{flag|Panama}}

| {{flag|Ireland}}

| {{flag|Iceland}}

| {{flag|United Kingdom}}

| {{flag|France}}

| {{flag|Belgium}}

| {{flag|Spain}}

| {{flag|Poland}}

| {{flag|Romania}}

| {{flag|Bulgaria}}

| {{flag|Morocco}}

| {{flag|Turkey}}

| {{flag|Syria}}

| {{flag|Iran}}

| {{flag|United Arab Emirates}}

| {{flag|South Korea}}

| {{flag|Taiwan}}

| {{flag|Bangladesh}}

| {{flag|Pakistan}}

| {{flag|Kazakhstan}}

| {{flag|Indonesia}}

| {{flag|Thailand}}

}}

| champion = Romania

| champ_season = 2025

| current_season =

}}

The NSS Gerard K. O'Neill Space Settlement Contest (formerly the NASA Ames Space Settlement Contest) is an annual design competition by the National Space Society for middle and high school students across the world. Held annually, students use physics, biological, and geological concepts to develop space settlement designs. These designs are composed in research papers and submitted for judging in February, with results usually announced the following month in March. Contenders can compete in three categories: as individuals, as part of a "small group" of up to six students, or as part of a "large group" of up to twelve students.{{cite web|url=https://m.economictimes.com/news/science/nasa-contest-teens-script-a-space-odyssey/articleshow/51627181.cms |first=Bharat |last=Joshi |website=The Economic Times |date=March 31, 2016 |title=NASA contest: Teens script a space odyssey |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250217034127/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/nasa-contest-teens-script-a-space-odyssey/articleshow/51627181.cms?from=mdr |archive-date=February 17, 2025 |access-date=March 9, 2025}}

The contest, renamed in the honor of American physicist Gerard K. O'Neill in 2023,{{cite web|url=https://nss.org/nss-space-settlement-contest/about-the-contest |website=National Space Society |title=About the Contest |access-date=March 9, 2025}} judges and awards teams separately based on their grade and team size; small group projects are graded separately than large group projects, while sophomore teams are graded separately than senior teams. One team each year, regardless of grade or team size, is awarded the "Grand Prize" and crowned that year's champion. The contest's 31st year ran in 2025, with Romania's Saint Sava crowned champions.{{cite web|url=https://cugetliber.ro/stiri-cultura-educatie-liceenii-de-la-ovidius-din-nou-in-topul-cercetatorilor-spatiului-526633 |first=Simona |last=Anghel |website=Cuget Liber |date=April 9, 2025 |title=Liceenii de la ”Ovidius”, din nou în topul cercetătorilor spațiului |access-date=April 20, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://romaniajournal.ro/society-people/romanian-students-from-computer-science-college-in-bucharest-win-nasa-space-settlement-contest-grand-prize |date=April 17, 2024 |website=The Romania Journal |title=Romanian Students From Computer Science College in Bucharest Win NASA Space Settlement Contest Grand Prize |access-date=March 9, 2025}}