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International Space Competition 2026

Martian Gateway

Imagine. Design. Pioneer. The Martian Gateway awaits your vision. 

Arts and Business College of London’s annual International Space Competition is back for its third anniversary in 2026.

We’re inviting 12-19 year old innovators, creators, and visionaries globally to design a Martian Gateway.

Learn more
Register now
OVERVIEW
KEY DATES
Q&A SESSIONS
ABOUT ABC
MEET THE JUDGES
REGISTRATION

Competition Overview

The International Space Competition 2026 challenges participants to design a Martian Gateway — a space station orbiting Mars that will serve as humanity’s critical link between Earth, the Moon and a future Martian Habitat.

Building on NASA’s Lunar Gateway concept, the Martian Gateway must:

  • Operate reliably for 20+ years in Martian orbit

  • Support astronauts with life-sustaining systems

  • Provide safe transfer and access between Earth, our Moon and a Martian surface habitat.

Your mission is to take the ideas of the Lunar Gateway and re-imagine them for the unique challenges of Mars.

Key Questions to Address

  • Adaptation: What modifications are needed to transform the Lunar Gateway design into a fully functional Martian orbital station?

  • Sustainability: How can resources from Earth, the Moon, and Mars be leveraged to reduce dependency and ensure long-term survival?

  • Innovation: What technologies or approaches could minimize financial costs while maximizing efficiency and resilience?

The Martian Gateway will be more than a station — it will be a stepping stone for human exploration of the Red Planet. Your design will help shape the vision of how humanity can live, work, and thrive beyond Earth.

How can I register to enter the competition?
  1. Please register by clicking the link below and filling out a short registration form.
  2. Our team will carry out a short verification of your registration.
  3. Once your registration is confirmed, you will receive a welcome email containing instructions on how to submit your entry.
Register now

All students aged between 12-19 can apply. Students can enter individually or as part of a small group of up to 3.

Students under 16 need to provide consent from a parent, teacher or guardian.

The competition is free of charge and there are no requirements of previous experience within the space industry!

1st Prize

ABC London’s Foundation Course (Art, Business or STEM) – worth up to £17,000 GBP!

2nd Prize

Scholarships for Oxford Summer School July 2026

3rd Prize

50% off ABC London’s STEM courses

4th Prize

Prints from famous Space Paintings by Vivian the Artist

Key Dates

1st January 2026: Registration Starts
1st March 2026: Competition Starts (Submissions Open)
31st May 2026: Competition Ends (Submissions Due)
1st - 14th June 2026: Shortlisting Process (Top Ten Finalists Chosen)
15th June 2026 (Week Commencing): Online Presentations for Top 10 Entries
21st June 2026: Winners Announced
Register now

Past Competition Highlights

Winning Submissions

Members of Our Judging Panel

rakeshsharma-astronaut.jpg

India

alexandra-vidyuk.webp

Singapore

naruo-kanemoto

Japan

Q&A Sessions for Registered Entrants

We will be hosting Q&A sessions to help registered entrants with their submissions. These sessions will provide updates, design tips, and an opportunity to ask questions directly to the Space Competition team.

Dates and details for Q&A sessions to be announced soon. Register below to stay up to date.

Register now

About Arts and Business College of London (ABC London)

ABC London was set up by a team of industry skilled academics to serve the UK, EU and International student community with the very best that the UK education has to offer. We believe that creativity, innovation and business education are essential for success in this ever-changing world. Background theory is essential to learning and understanding concepts, however, we firmly believe that only relevant industry time-served staff can provide students with the skills necessary to gain their full potential – this is why ABC London do not employ tutors that have just passed through courses then enrolled straight into teaching. They must have relevant practical working experience in the area they intend to teach.

ABC London – Making Future Leaders

Learn more about ABC London
Prof. Paul is Founder of ABC London and the Online Space Competition. He has over 30 years of international commercial experience, of which half overlaps in the world of academia.  Paul’s experience in managing multicultural teams initially came when working with Toyota, Peugeot, Lexus, Geely, Mercedes Benz, this helped pave the way into senior management positions prior to entering academia. 
 
The combination of commercial experience with a rigorous academic competence helped him deliver high-level consultancy projects across Europe, GCC and Asia. This developed into an expertise in IPR & International Entrepreneurship, which he used to help over 35 new start-ups and is regularly in demand to deliver talks at world class organisations. He is a Life member of the Oxford Union, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), Branch Chair of the District of Bloomsbury in London, and Founder of the London – Oxford Summer Schools, of which 120 overseas medical & science students attended in 2024. 
 
Due to the latter’s popularity, he is launching a new Medical Pre-University MMBS course during 2025.  He was also one of the candidates for the position of Chancellor of Oxford University elections, and though did not win, managed to get to the semi-final stage. 
 
His interest in Space began at the age of 14 when he set up a Space Enthusiasts Club at his school and began to deliver lessons on Astronomy because there were no teachers available!
These days due to a continued passion for the subject, he has jointly developed an online Space Course and a forthcoming Space Summer School for 2025.
 
For more information regarding PB, please visit his LinkedIn profile, Paul Bhangal UK.

OUR PARTNERS

A big thank you to our competition supporters that are inspiring young people around the world.

Competition Judges

Read about this year's judges below.

Wing Commander Sharma, born on January 13, 1949 in Punjab, is India’s first astronaut. A distinguished pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF), Sharma was selected for the Intercosmos space program in 1984, a collaborative mission with the Soviet Union.

Sharma flew aboard the Soyuz T-11 spacecraft to the Salyut 7 space station, spending eight days conducting scientific experiments in space.

Sharma’s accomplishments earned him the Ashok Chakra, India’s highest peacetime military decoration. After retiring from the IAF, he contributed to the aerospace and defence sectors, leaving a legacy as a pioneer of Indian space exploration.

Kanemoto is a Japanese entrepreneur and the CEO/Founder of Space Shift, Inc., one of Japan’s first multinational space startups. With a background in machine learning, Kanemoto’s career journey spans from the music industry to the space sector, giving him a broad range of skills and experiences. In 2009, he established Space Shift, which focuses on developing software for satellite data analysis using AI and machine learning.

Beyond his leadership at Space Shift, Kanemoto is also involved in consulting for non-space companies, helping them integrate space technologies into their businesses. He is a member of the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ Conference on Space x ICT and the Future Vision of Space Utilisation, contributing to the direction of space-related policies and innovations in Japan.

  • General Partner at a US deep tech VC Beyond Earth investing in space tech, robotics, energy, future computing, and advanced materials. 
  • Board Member at Space Bridge Partners (work with UHNWI to sponsor research missions).
  • Mentor at the Creative Destruction Lab Space Stream.
  • Chief Editor of the Space Ambition blog on Substack, with 45,000+ subscribers, recognized as a leading source of thought leadership in space tech.
  • Founder of AngelList’s first space-tech-focused Angel Investor Syndicate (580+ members).

Agarwal has emerged as a formidable leader and an inspirational figure in her field. Her journey is a testament to the power of unwavering dreams. Agarwal, Resident of Qatar since 2005, is an entrepreneur, a designer, Art collector, Producer and an Artist. She is the Founder and Chairperson of the Qatar based Company- MAPS International WLL. and the Board member of SPIN- USA and holds several voluntary and philanthropic positions in diverse sectors worldwide. She is also Chairperson and International director at Human Rights International Federation of India and Chairperson Qatar and International Director at Anti-Corruption Foundation of India in Qatar. She has completed her professional master’s degree in law, Economics and Finance. She has won both nationally and internationally several major awards including the “BEST NRI WOMEN ENTREPRENEUR AWARD in and 2019 and Asia Pride Award in 2018. In 2018 and 2019 was also one of the Nobel years for her when she was asked to assign the work to Paint an Attire for Her Highness of Qatar ‘HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser’ for Qatar National day 2018 and Qatar Sports Day-12th February 2019 respectively. She has achieved great success as an entrepreneur and artist & got philanthropic and voluntary positions both in Qatar and internationally. Her major international event- Qatar International Art Festival, is one of the biggest international event in the region and Qatar.

Founder of Global Dojo and Director of Arts and Business College Japan – dedicated to fostering critical and creative thinking skills in students through unique project-based learning programs. Gained extensive international academic experience in the United States, the Philippines, Canada, and the United Kingdom, where she identified a significant gap in critical and creative thinking within the Japanese education system.

Successfully organized a Space Day event in Japan, engaging students from primary school to A-levels.  Experienced in supporting educational institutions in both the UK and Japan, assisting providers in expanding their programs and presence across these regions. Deeply passionate about entrepreneurship, education, and space exploration. 

Robby is a state-of-the-art AI robot designed to inspire and evaluate the brightest minds in space exploration. Equipped with a vast database of astronomical knowledge and cutting-edge analytical capabilities, Robby has spent decades virtually exploring the universe, simulating interstellar travel, and analysing the potential for human settlement on distant planets. Robby’s core programming emphasizes creativity, critical thinking, and the principles of innovation, making it the ideal judge for our space competition. With sensors tuned for fairness and an algorithm to identify ground breaking ideas, Robby ensures every participant’s work is evaluated with precision and enthusiasm. When Robby isn’t judging competitions, it enjoys charting new stars in its virtual cosmos and encouraging the next generation of explorers to reach for the stars. 

R. Sharma - Retired Astronaut

Wing Commander Sharma, born on January 13, 1949 in Punjab, is India’s first astronaut. A distinguished pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF), Sharma was selected for the Intercosmos space program in 1984, a collaborative mission with the Soviet Union.

Sharma flew aboard the Soyuz T-11 spacecraft to the Salyut 7 space station, spending eight days conducting scientific experiments in space.

Sharma’s accomplishments earned him the Ashok Chakra, India’s highest peacetime military decoration. After retiring from the IAF, he contributed to the aerospace and defence sectors, leaving a legacy as a pioneer of Indian space exploration.

Kanemoto is a Japanese entrepreneur and the CEO/Founder of Space Shift, Inc., one of Japan’s first multinational space startups. With a background in machine learning, Kanemoto’s career journey spans from the music industry to the space sector, giving him a broad range of skills and experiences. In 2009, he established Space Shift, which focuses on developing software for satellite data analysis using AI and machine learning.

Beyond his leadership at Space Shift, Kanemoto is also involved in consulting for non-space companies, helping them integrate space technologies into their businesses. He is a member of the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ Conference on Space x ICT and the Future Vision of Space Utilisation, contributing to the direction of space-related policies and innovations in Japan.

  • General Partner at a US deep tech VC Beyond Earth investing in space tech, robotics, energy, future computing, and advanced materials. 
  • Board Member at Space Bridge Partners (work with UHNWI to sponsor research missions).
  • Mentor at the Creative Destruction Lab Space Stream.
  • Chief Editor of the Space Ambition blog on Substack, with 45,000+ subscribers, recognized as a leading source of thought leadership in space tech.
  • Founder of AngelList’s first space-tech-focused Angel Investor Syndicate (580+ members).

Agarwal has emerged as a formidable leader and an inspirational figure in her field. Her journey is a testament to the power of unwavering dreams. Agarwal, Resident of Qatar since 2005, is an entrepreneur, a designer, Art collector, Producer and an Artist. She is the Founder and Chairperson of the Qatar based Company- MAPS International WLL. and the Board member of SPIN- USA and holds several voluntary and philanthropic positions in diverse sectors worldwide. She is also Chairperson and International director at Human Rights International Federation of India and Chairperson Qatar and International Director at Anti-Corruption Foundation of India in Qatar. She has completed her professional master’s degree in law, Economics and Finance. She has won both nationally and internationally several major awards including the “BEST NRI WOMEN ENTREPRENEUR AWARD in and 2019 and Asia Pride Award in 2018. In 2018 and 2019 was also one of the Nobel years for her when she was asked to assign the work to Paint an Attire for Her Highness of Qatar ‘HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser’ for Qatar National day 2018 and Qatar Sports Day-12th February 2019 respectively. She has achieved great success as an entrepreneur and artist & got philanthropic and voluntary positions both in Qatar and internationally. Her major international event- Qatar International Art Festival, is one of the biggest international event in the region and Qatar.

Founder of Global Dojo and Director of Arts and Business College Japan – dedicated to fostering critical and creative thinking skills in students through unique project-based learning programs. Gained extensive international academic experience in the United States, the Philippines, Canada, and the United Kingdom, where she identified a significant gap in critical and creative thinking within the Japanese education system.

Successfully organized a Space Day event in Japan, engaging students from primary school to A-levels.  Experienced in supporting educational institutions in both the UK and Japan, assisting providers in expanding their programs and presence across these regions. Deeply passionate about entrepreneurship, education, and space exploration. 

Competition Administrators

K. Dong – Admin Manager
 
Miss Dong is a keen scientific researcher with an MSc in International Healthcare Management at Imperial College London and a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Edinburgh.
Her academic research experience includes studies led by professors from the University of Cambridge, developing analytical skills and competence in critical thinking. Currently undertaking a psychology Art Therapy Research Project supervised by the expert Dr. Ashby, on investigating how this can aid in developing emotional regulation skills in children with multi-cultural backgrounds.
She has work experience with a Chinese pharmaceutical company during and an internship at UNESCO researching the effect of family income on the mental health and gender-specific treatment of Chinese students. Additionally, she has worked in Korn Ferry as consultant, taken part in charitable activities in the UK, and had a mentorship role as an international camp counsellor.

Past studies: English Literature, English Language, Religious studies, History, Mathematics, Triple Science, Food Technology and French.

Excellent organizational and communication skills. Three years teaching with Arts & Business College of London online to young students in China, Japan, India and the UK. Excellent at planning, organising events, public relations, social media and working with children & young adults. Mia will be involved in the welfare and feedback from entrants and providing guidance and advice for teachers , parents, guardians towards successful completion of the students projects.

K. Dong – Admin Manager
 
Miss Dong is a keen scientific researcher with an MSc in International Healthcare Management at Imperial College London and a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Edinburgh.
Her academic research experience includes studies led by professors from the University of Cambridge, developing analytical skills and competence in critical thinking. Currently undertaking a psychology Art Therapy Research Project supervised by the expert Dr. Ashby, on investigating how this can aid in developing emotional regulation skills in children with multi-cultural backgrounds.
She has work experience with a Chinese pharmaceutical company during and an internship at UNESCO researching the effect of family income on the mental health and gender-specific treatment of Chinese students. Additionally, she has worked in Korn Ferry as consultant, taken part in charitable activities in the UK, and had a mentorship role as an international camp counsellor.
Past studies: English Literature, English Language, Religious studies, History, Mathematics, Triple Science, Food Technology and French.Excellent organizational and communication skills. Three years teaching with Arts & Business College of London online to young students in China, Japan, India and the UK. Excellent at planning, organising events, public relations, social media and working with children & young adults. Mia will be involved in the welfare and feedback from entrants and providing guidance and advice for teachers , parents, guardians towards successful completion of the students projects.

Registration Now Open!

Further Information

  • Eligibility: The competition is open to individuals of ages 12-19. Participants under the age of 16 must obtain permission from a parent, teacher or legal guardian before entering.
  • Submission Deadline: All entries must be submitted by 31/05/2026. Entries received after the deadline will not be considered.
  • Entry Requirements: Each participant may submit only one entry. All entries must be original and created by the participant.
  • Prizes: The prizes, including, gifts from the space store, discounts on the space store and a certificate are predetermined and cannot be exchanged for cash or any other alternatives.
  • Judging: All decisions made by the competition’s judges are final. No appeals or disputes will be entertained.
  • Ownership: By entering the competition, participants grant the organisers the right to use their entries for promotional purposes without further compensation.
  • Plagiarism and Copyright: Plagiarism, including the use of copyrighted material without proper attribution, is strictly prohibited. All entries must adhere to copyright laws.
  • Privacy: Personal information collected during the competition will be used solely for the purpose of the competition and will not be shared with third parties.
  • By registering, participants agree to be emailed by the ABC London Team. If you sign up to any mailing lists you can unsubscribe at any time.
  • Disqualification: The organisers reserve the right to disqualify any entry that violates these terms and conditions or is deemed inappropriate or offensive.
  • Liability: The organizers are not responsible for any technical issues, lost or delayed entries, or other circumstances beyond their control.
  • Changes to Terms: The organizers reserve the right to amend or modify these terms and conditions at any time. Any changes will be communicated through the competition’s official website.
  • Legal Compliance: All participants must comply with local laws and regulations. The competition is subject to the laws of the United Kingdom.
  • Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Participants are prohibited from using artificial intelligence or any automated tools to generate or enhance their entries. All submissions must be the original work of the participant.
  • Fair Play and No Cheating: Any form of cheating, including plagiarism, collusion, or using unfair means to gain an advantage, will result in immediate disqualification.
  • Contact Information: By submitting their email address, participants give consent to the organisers to contact them for competition-related announcements, updates, and results.
  • Responsibility for Entries: Participants are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of their entries. Any issues or errors in their work before submission are the sole responsibility of the participant. Submissions cannot be modified or updated after the deadline.
We are dedicated to providing a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for all participants in this competition. We take safeguarding seriously and are committed to protecting the well-being of everyone involved, especially young participants.If you have any questions or need to report a safeguarding issue, please contact us at space@abclondon.org.uk.Your safety and well-being are our priority.
We are committed to making this competition accessible to everyone. If you require any accommodations or support to participate, please let us know, and we will do our best to assist you. This includes providing materials in alternative formats, offering flexible submission options, or addressing specific needs.Feel free to contact us at space@abclondon.org.uk to discuss how we can ensure your participation is as seamless and inclusive as possible.
We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. Any data collected during the competition, such as contact details or submissions, will be used solely for competition-related purposes and will not be shared with third parties without your consent.We store your information securely and retain it only as long as necessary to fulfill competition requirements. For more details or to request changes to your data, please contact us at space@abclondon.org.uk.

Get in touch

If you have any questions or queries, please get in touch with us at space@abclondon.org.uk.

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