International Space Competition 2026
Martian Gateway
Instructions for the Martian Gateway
Objective: Design an innovative 2D or 3D model of a futuristic Martian Gateway and write a 1000-word report addressing key design elements.
Part 1: Creating the Model
- Choose Your Medium
- Digital: Use software like Blender, SketchUp, or TinkerCAD for a detailed 3D model. Alternatively, use drawing tools like Adobe Illustrator for a 2D design.
- Physical: Create a model using cardboard, clay, or other materials for a hands-on approach.
- Design Features to Include
Docking & Transportation: Include docking ports for spacecraft, cargo landers, and surface vehicles, with systems for transfer of crew, supplies, and fuel between Mars orbit, surface, and deep space.
Environmental Protection: Incorporate shielding against radiation, solar storms, micrometeoroids, and Martian dust, as well as pressure containment and thermal control systems.
Life Support & Sustainability: Design closed-loop life support systems for oxygen production, water recycling, waste processing, and limited food growth to support short- and medium-term missions.
Crew Habitation & Well-being: Provide safe, comfortable living quarters with private sleeping areas, communal spaces, medical facilities, and mental well-being considerations.
Operations & Mission Control: Include workspaces for navigation, communications, scientific research, maintenance, and coordination between Mars surface missions and Earth.
- Labelling
- Clearly label each part of your gateway with a brief description of its function.
Part 2: Writing the Report
Write a report of approximately 1000 words (±10%) that fulfils the following criteria:
- Name of the Martian Gateway
Provide a creative and meaningful name for your design that reflects its purpose or inspiration. - Size and Capacity
Specify the dimensions of your Martian Gateway and the maximum number of crew it can safely support at one time. - Core Systems & Functional Areas
Describe how your design addresses each of the following core features:- Docking & Transportation: How spacecraft, cargo, and surface vehicles arrive, depart, and transfer.
- Environmental Protection: How your gateway is protected from radiation, dust, micrometeoroids, pressure loss, and extreme temperatures.
- Life Support & Sustainability: How oxygen, water, waste, and food systems operate.
- Crew Habitation & Well-being: How living spaces support comfort, health, and mental well-being.
- Operations & Mission Control: How research, communications, navigation, and maintenance are managed.
- Design Rationale
Explain the reasoning behind your design choices, including:- How your design supports sustainability,
- How it promotes efficiency and safety, and
- How it can adapt to future missions or expansion.
- Video Showcase (Optional)
You may include a link to a short online video showcasing your model. The video must have a maximum length of 3 minutes. YouTube or Vimeo are the recommended platforms. This does not count toward the word limit but must be accessible and appropriate for educational review. - Referencing:
If you use any external sources, include a Bibliography at the end of your report. Harvard referencing is recommended, but any clear and consistent format is acceptable. References do not count toward the word limit. - Appendices (Optional)
You may include appendices containing supporting material such as:- Diagrams, sketches, or technical drawings
- Calculations or data tables
Appendices do not count toward the word limit but must be clearly labelled and referenced within the main report.
Part 3: Submission
- Model: Submit image exports of your digital model or photos of your physical model. If submitting multiple files, please compress them into a ZIP file before uploading.
- Report: Submit a typed document in PDF or Word format (.pdf or .docx).
Judging Criteria for the Martian Gateway
How Your Work Will Be Judged
Your submission will be assessed using clear judging criteria to ensure fairness, consistency, and transparency. These criteria are provided to guide you, not to limit your creativity. We strongly encourage original ideas, imaginative designs, and innovative thinking, even beyond what is listed, as long as your work clearly addresses the core requirements of the Martian Gateway challenge.
C1. Innovation and Creativity (20 marks)
Key Question: How original and imaginative is the Martian Gateway concept?
What to Look For:
- Inventive ideas or technologies that enhance space transportation, crew safety, or mission operations (10)
- Creative design solutions to challenges such as docking efficiency, radiation protection, sustainability, or long-duration missions (10)
C2. Sustainability and Life Support (20 marks)
Key Question: Does the gateway demonstrate effective long-term resource management?
What to Look For:
- Strong closed-loop systems for oxygen, water, waste, and food production (10)
- Integration of renewable energy, efficiency measures, and reduced reliance on resupply from Earth (10)
C3. Feasibility and Practicality (20 marks)
Key Question: Is the design achievable with foreseeable technology by 2040?
What to Look For:
- Realistic engineering solutions for radiation protection, thermal control, pressure containment, and operations in microgravity or partial gravity (10)
- Logical scalability, construction phases, and future expansion potential (10)
C4. Functional Systems Design (20 marks)
Key Question: How effectively does the design address the five core gateway features?
What to Look For:
- Clear, well-integrated solutions for core design features (10)
- Logical spatial organisation and flow between operational, living, and technical zones (10)
C5. Presentation and Communication (20 marks)
Key Question: How clearly and professionally is the design communicated?
What to Look For:
- High-quality visuals such as diagrams, labelled models, or renderings that clearly explain the design (10)
- A well-structured written report (approx. 1000 words) that clearly addresses all required sections, with appropriate referencing (10)
Submit Your Martian Gateway Entry
Note:
- All submissions are final, make sure to check thoroughly before you submit!
- If you are part of a team, one group member should submit on behalf of the entire team.
- You may only upload a maximum of 4 files. Use a ZIP file if you need to upload more.
- Accepted file types: doc, docx, pptx, odt, odp, pdf, png, jpeg, webp, mp4, mkv, webm, zip.
- Maximum file size: 100MB