Brampton students win international competition hosted by NASA and National Space Society

Two teams of students from a Brampton school have taken first place in an international space competition with over 26,000 competitors.

A team of eight Grade 12 students and four Grade 9 students from Brampton’s Central Peel Secondary School each took first place in the Gerard K. O’Neill Space Settlement Contest, which tasks students with designing a self-sustainable orbital space settlement.

The contest is one of several challenges presented to students each year by NASA and the National Space Society (NSS). This year’s contest drew 26,725 participants from 19 countries, with a total of 4,567 submissions.

Central Peel Secondary School’s victorious Grade 9 team

“These two Central Peel teams are the only Canadian teams recognized internationally this year,” said the Peel District School Board earlier this week.

The students’ submissions comprised approximately 50 pages of crucial details for their designed space settlements, such as sustainable methods to support life, socio-political and economic systems, research and development, energy sustainability, population health, transportation, and resource allocation.

Central Peel’s Grade 9 and Grade 12 teams’ projects were titled “The Revolution” and “Gaia’s Hope” respectively.

“The students’ triumph in the NASA/NSS competition is a testament to their exceptional skills and dedication to their pursuits. It underscores the importance of empowering modern learners with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in today’s world,” said the school board.

The Brampton students, as well as all other first-place contestants, are invited to attend the International Space Development Conference which will be held from May 25 to 28 in Frisco, Texas.

The conference will give students the chance to showcase their work on a global stage, share their ideas with the National Space Society, network with their peers from around the world, and attend special sessions with industry professionals.