European Space Agency
Design a space habitat with Moon Camp
Design a space habitat with Moon Camp
Teacher's Corner

Moon Camp 2025-2026: Inspire your students to design a habitat in space

11/09/2025

Are you looking for an engaging way to inspire your students with STEM, design, and the topic of space exploration? Join Moon Camp 2025-2026, where participants will learn how to design a habitat in space using a design tool of their choice (digital or analogue).

Students (up to 19 years old) will discover the essential building blocks to sustain life beyond Earth and explore different locations in our Solar System. 

Register now to start exploring the immense possibilities of space exploration!

Why join Moon Camp as a teacher or educator?

Moon Camp is designed to fit flexibly into your lessons and curriculum. Your students will:

  • Explore STEM topics through a fun, creative challenge related to sustainability and space

  • Develop key skills and competences such as teamwork, design thinking, and problem-solving

  • Be inspired by real ESA experts and astronauts

  • Earn an ESA participation certificate for every valid submission

What is Moon Camp?

'Campamento Lunar The Future' by The Future from Spain made in Tinkercad
'Campamento Lunar The Future' by The Future from Spain made in Tinkercad

Moon Camp is a free educational project run by ESA and the national European Space Education Resource Offices (ESERO), in collaboration with the Airbus Foundation. It uses the context of space to challenge students to create their own innovative human habitat for space exploration on the Moon, Mars or further into the Solar System. Using digital or hands-on tools of their choice, students will explore how humans can live beyond Earth, while applying science, creativity, and teamwork.

‘Mars Station’ by Mars Snickers from Austria made in the game Minecraft
‘Mars Station’ by Mars Snickers from Austria made in the game Minecraft

Through the Moon Camp platform, teachers and educators can access educational and fun, hands-on activities that focus on learning by-design and science experimentation. These resources are designed to help students develop essential skills such as problem-solving and scientific working, whilst deepening their understanding of the space environment.

When designing their space habitat, student teams will need to adapt their design to the space environment, consider the use of local resources, and provide protection, living, and working facilities for the astronauts.

‘Life on Mars’ by 9 Tripolis Robotics from Greece
‘Life on Mars’ by 9 Tripolis Robotics from Greece

In February, all teams are invited to join a webinar with an ESA space expert that will focus on a trending space exploration topic, from which teams may take inspiration to further improve their space habitat.

Moon Camp has a flexible and open format: the projects can range from a scientific experiment, a hands-on project, a programmed rover, a 3D design of an astronaut base, a 3D printed model, a game-based or other immersive world and much more. Teams have the freedom to select the topic and level of complexity that best fits their ambitions and creativity!

Moon Camp 2024-2025 live Q&A with ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano
Moon Camp 2024-2025 live Q&A with ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano

Every team that submits a valid project will be awarded a participation certificate, and their projects will be showcased in the Moon Camp Gallery, accessible to all registered teachers and educators. Upon completion, teams will be invited to attend a virtual event featuring an ESA astronaut in June 2026.

How to apply?

Participation is open worldwide to individuals or teams of students aged up to 19 years old. The projects may be submitted by registered teachers or educators.

Key Dates:

Submissions open: 11 September 2025
Deadline for early certificates (before summer holidays): 20 April 2026
Final deadline: 27 July 2026
Virtual event with ESA astronaut: June 2026

For full project details and to get started visit,  mooncampchallenge.org.