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2025 Space 4 All Challenge

27 June 2025

Health

The Space 4 All Challenge is a competition inviting innovators, thinkers, and dreamers to propose solutions that make space travel and space exploration more inclusive and accessible for people with diverse needs.

We're back! As a dedicated team of researchers and space enthusiasts (more about us here), we are passionate about making human spaceflight and space exploration accessible to all, with a special focus on individuals with physical and sensory disabilities.

Right now, some of our scientists are working on experiment proposals for John McFall, the first disabled astronaut candidate, who may soon embark on his own space mission. Inspired by this groundbreaking step, we invite you to join us by designing one of these space and accessibility-themed projects:

1. Scientific Team Mission Patch Design

A mission patch is a badge that shows what a space mission is all about. Each patch is designed to tell a story about the mission’s goals, the crew, and what makes the trip unique.

Your challenge: Design a mission patch that represents our scientific team's spirit and the groundbreaking work we're doing to include disabled astronauts in space exploration.

2. Spacesuit Design

A spacesuit is an outfit that keeps astronauts safe. There are different requirements for different stages of the journey. Inside the rocket, a spacesuit is worn during launch and re-entry. Outside, in space, the suits protect against things like cold and radiation.

Your challenge: Design a spacesuit that could be worn by an astronaut with a disability. You could think about materials, ergonomics, mobility, and how to enhance autonomy and comfort.

3. Space Habitat or Space Transport Design.

A space habitat is where astronauts live safely and comfortably in space. Space transportation is rockets and spaceships for moving people and things to and from space.

Your challenge: Design a space habitat or a space vehicle that would support the needs of an astronaut with disabilities. You could think about comfort, safety, or sustainability.

How will your entries be judged?

A diverse and inclusive panel will judge the submissions. The judging criteria are:

1. Accessibility and Inclusivity (40%)
Does your design support astronauts with disabilities?

2. Clarity (30%)
Does your design communicate your ideas clearly and effectively?

3. Creativity (30%)
Does your design show imagination and new thinking?

Submission Criteria and Guidelines

The competition launches Monday 7th July 2025!

We have three age categories for participation: Primary (5–11 years), Secondary (12–17 years), and Open Age (18+). You can enter one submission per person or per team captain. We welcome submissions in various formats, including:

Essay (maximum 500 words)
Poem (maximum 500 words)
Video (maximum 2 minutes)
Audio (maximum 2 minutes)
Photograph of a physical object you created (up to 2 pictures showing different angles)
Poster (suitable for clear printing on A3)

To submit your entry, please send an email with your submission as a file attachment to Space4All@kcl.ac.uk by the deadline of December 3rd 2025 at 12:00 (UK time).

Please ensure that your submitted file is anonymous (no individual names in the file title). In the body of your email, include:

Full names of all participants
Age category for your submission (Primary, Secondary, Open Age)

Email attachments are limited to 25MB in size. Your file may be larger than this. If so, explore the options below for sending large files via email.

If your group submission includes participants from different age categories, it should be entered under the higher age group.

Teams can include up to 30 members. (If your team is larger than this, please contact us at Space4All@kcl.ac.uk).

Individual entries are also welcome.

For entrants under 18, submissions must be sent by an adult to comply with data protection regulations.

International entries are welcome, but submissions must be made in English.

Intellectual property rights remain with the participant, but by entering, you grant the organisers a license to use, showcase, or publish the entries for promotional purposes.