Reaching new heights with Galactic Challenge We’ve had a busy start to 2024 at the Space Science and Engineering Foundation (SSEF), including the first Galactic Challenge of the year. At the end of January students arrived at Bede’s School and found themselves transported to the year 2054 to create designs for a new low Earth […]
Blog
Shoreham Academy goes to Mars
Shoreham Academy hosts Galactic Challenge. In an ambitious and inspiring endeavour, Year 7 students from around Sussex embarked on the Galactic Challenge, setting their sights on designing a research settlement on the red planet, Mars. Our hosts, Shoreham Academy, Galactic Challenge brought together students from esteemed institutions Portslade Aldridge Community Academy, Seahaven Academy, and Cardinal […]
Size and Scale in Space
Rescue missions in space are very different to Earth. Knowing how size and scale in space is like can help you design for this successfully. by Neelesh Ravichandran, UKSDC Design & Publications Committee Chair Where is everything? Space is a vast expanse filled, mostly, with nothing at all. The diagram on the right of this […]
“Houston, We Have a Problem”
The real space rescue missions of history. by Nadiya Ivahnenko, Galactic Challenge Volunteer Monday, April 13th 1970 7.07 pm PST 56 hours into a mission, an explosion begins to shake a rocket headed for the moon. 205, 000 miles away alarm lights begin to flash at mission control on earth. Oxygen tank 2 has exploded, […]
Halley’s Comet – A Bad Sign for Difficult Times?
Halley’s Comet has been seen throughout history as a warning of bad things to come – read on to find out about its history, science, and the challenges you might face living there! Written by James Hayes, Galactic Challenge Volunteer Illustrated by Saffron Zainchkovskaya, Galactic Challenge Volunteer Imagine you’re living in the Year 1066 AD. […]
How Do Spaceships Move In Space?
Exploring the ins and outs of spacecraft flight control, focussing on the systems that control propulsion and orientation. Written by Abdur-Raheem Kalam (Heemy), Galactic Challenge Volunteer Illustrated by Saffron Zainchkovskaya, Galactic Challenge Volunteer Moving around becomes surprisingly difficult when we enter space. How do spacecraft go forwards, backwards, side-to-side? What happens when we need to […]
Quick Fixes to Upgrade Your Submission!
Here are two key tips for you to unlock the full potential of your designs. Written by Sung Soo Moon, Galactic Challenge Volunteer Illustrated by Saffron Zainchkovskaya, Galactic Challenge Volunteer Are all your diagrams clearly labelled with dimensions and descriptions? The world doesn’t run on wishy washy guesswork. When designing missions for interplanetary space travel, […]
How We Judge the Digital Competition
What actually happens after you upload your entry? How are the awards determined? Take a look behind the scenes to see what happens during the judging process. by Aadil Kara, Galactic Challenge Chair The deadline to enter Mission IV of the Galactic Challenge is 30th June. After everyone has uploaded their entries, we will spend […]
How We Think and Learn
How We Think And Learn A chapter originally written for the senior Space Design Competition but applies equally well to the Galactic Challenge …from Chapter 13 The UK Space Design Competition book available at https://www.amazon.co.uk/UK-Space-Design-Competition/dp/0985538147 by Catherine Twomey Fosnot – Most people assume that learning results from teachers transmit ting knowledge: clearly explaining concepts, procedures […]
Why does the Galactic Challenge Work?
Randall Perry March 30,2018 We are often asked why the Space Design Competition (SDC) format works. Whilst my quick fire response when in the throes of organising an event is often, “It’s all the students’ own work, not ours”; this does belie the research and development that underpins the setting up and running of the […]