moon_camp

About Moon Camp

To join Moon Camp your team has to create a habitat for human space exploration.

In the future, to enable astronauts to stay on the Moon or other planets for long periods of time, new infrastructures must be developed to overcome important challenges. Such challenges include protection from radiation and meteorites, energy production, the extraction and recycling of water, food production and much more. Moon Camp has a open format. Your team can explore the Moon but also venture further into other locations in our Solar System. Your team’s project can also be submitted in any format you prefer, and be created using different tools and techniques.  These projects can range from scientific experiments, artistic or hands-on projects, programming a rover, 3D designed or printed models, game-based worlds and much more. 

Fast Facts

Level: beginners to advanced, you can choose how complex the project will be.

 Age range: up to (and including) 19 years old

 Submission format: short description of the project, including supporting elements such as images, or a video, or a 3D design object. Language of their choice.

 Registrations: open from 11 September 2025 to 27 July 2026 (23:59 CEST).

 Events:   Mid-year online event with a space expert: Webinar with an ESA expert in February 2026, and a livestreamed Q&A with an astronaut in June 2026.

  Rewards: Submitted projects are published in the Project Gallery. All teams will receive a participation certificate once the project is published in the project gallery.

How to participate in Moon Camp

Create a
team

Bring together a team of students to create a space habitat for the astronauts of the future.  Make sure to check the submission guidelines and eligibility criteria below before you start your project. Teachers are recommended to consult this page with curricular project examples.

Other location

Choose your
space location

Do you want to build your habitat on the Moon or go beyond and explore other planets or even an asteroid. Learn more about different places in the solar system and choose your space location.

Choose your
design tool

Decide how you would like to create your project. You can use arts and crafts, 3D digital design software, games, scientific experiments and much more. Learn more about different design tools or take inspiration from the project gallery .

Create your
space habitat

Your team is now ready to start their design. There are many supporting educational resources and multimedia available for different types of projects to guide the students.

Submit your
project

Submit your team's project before the deadline. After submission, ESA will check your project. This takes 2 to 5 weeks. If your project correctly follows the submission guidelines and rules, it will be published in the project gallery and you will receive the certificates.

Timeline

Moon Camp opens for
submissions
11 September 2025

Create a plan of action for your team and design a habitat with your students on the Moon or beyond. Make sure to read the submission guidelines and eligibility criteria first.

Webinar with an
ESA space expert
February 2026 (date TBC)

Join the webinar where an ESA space expert will share their insight on exploration of the Moon and beyond and teams can submit questions. No sign-up needed.

Soft deadline
for submissions
20 April 2026

Are you a teacher and want to make sure to receive the certificates before the summer holidays. Make sure to submit your team's Moon Camp project by this date latest.

Livestreamed Q&A event
with an astronaut
June 2026 (date TBC)

Join the livestream with an ESA astronaut. The final online event is open to all the participants that submitted an eligible project.

Deadline for
submissions
27 July 2026

Make sure you submit your project(s) before the deadline!

Certificates of participation will be sent and all valid projects will be uploaded to the Moon Camp gallery.

Eligibility criteria

  1. To participate in Moon Camp, teams should be supported by a team leader (teacher, educator or parent). The project must be submitted by the teacher, educator or parent.

  2. Participation in Moon Camp is open to teams of students aged up to 19 years old.

  3. Each student team member must respect one of the following conditions:
    • Team of students enrolled full-time in a school;
    • Team of students in home schooling condition (certified by the National Ministry of Education or delegated authority);
    • Team of members of a social club enrolled full-time in a school.

  4. Moon Camp is open worldwide in the framework of the collaboration between ESA and Airbus Foundation.

  5. Team leader(s) are encouraged to combine the design works of multiple students into one team submission. This allows ESA to check the submission and distribute the certificates faster.

Guidelines on how to submit a project

1. Create a user account to submit your project on the Moon Camp platform.

2. Submit your project by 27 July 2026 latest. Submissions must include:

    • A short paragraph description of the project written in their preferred language.
    • At least one image or screen capture of the project.
    • Optionally, the team may submit a link to an article, website, paper and/or Youtube video that they have created about the project.

3. Once submitted you will receive a confirmation email. Once the submission has been approved by ESA, it will be published in the online gallery and you will receive an email with the certificates.

  • By submitting the project, the participants agree that their project will be shared on the Moon Camp platform. 
  • The team must be the sole author/owner of the project and all materials submitted to Moon Camp. Projects sponsored or funded by third parties may not be used. It is not allowed to use copyrighted material and no third party (including your school or project sponsors) should have any rights to materials you submit.
  • ESA, at their sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify submissions that do not follow the guidelines, or that contain messages that are deemed inappropriate or inadequate for the audience.

Guidelines on the use of AI

We respectfully request that, as the team leader, you oversee your students’ responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the development of their Moon Camp project and support them in acquiring valuable STEM skills and competencies. The use of AI is only permitted under the following guidelines:

  • All core design work must be created by the students using non-AI tools. AI-generated imagery may only be used in addition to their original designs. These must be clearly based and traceable to their original work.

  • AI may be used to improve grammar, structure or clarity of written descriptions, but the description shall not be generated fully in AI.

  • Any use of AI must be clearly documented by using the AI checkboxes in the project submission.

  • Submissions that rely solely on AI-generated content without evidence of student-led design will not be accepted. Final judgement will be at the sole discretion of ESA Education.
AI-example
  • Example of clear traceability to original work

Submission rules

If a submission does not follow rules below, it will be rejected. These are submissions that:

  • Could be interpreted as being of an illegal, political, or sensitive nature
  • Reference unpleasantness or harm to another person
  • Contain obscene images
  • Include personal data such as names, faces and email addresses in your project description or images
  • Use copyrighted materials owned by others without permission
  • Do not follow the guidelines on how to submit a project or the use of AI

Support in your country

Moon Camp is open worldwide, teams from all over the world can join this inspiring challenge!

The European Space Education Resource Offices (ESERO) help facilitate the Moon Camp project by providing local support in ESA Member States. Consult your country page to have access to national events, trainings and activities organised by our local partners. You will also find extra information and supporting materials in your language. 

Do not worry if your country is not listed, your team is still able to participate by following the registration button.

Continue your project

1) Learn more about Moon Camp

Learn more about the project and guidelines

2) How to fit Moon Camp in the curriculum?

Includes examples for teachers who want to implement Moon Camp in the curriculum

3) Choose your space location

Decide where your habitat is going to be located in the Solar System

4) Choose your design tools and techniques

Decide how you would like to create and build your space habitat

5) Access classroom resources and materials

Learn more about the space environment and available tutorials, teacher guides and multimedia

6) Get inspired by other teams

Get inspired with these amazing projects designed by teams from all over the world.

Questions?

For any questions, consult the FAQ section or send an email to moon.camp@esa.int

Moon Camp Challenge
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