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Space For All Challenge

24 June 2024

The Space 4 All Challenge is a competition inviting innovators, thinkers, and dreamers to propose solutions that make space travel and space exploration more inclusive and accessible for people with diverse needs.

Space 4 All Challenge – Winner's Announcement!

The competition launched on Thursday 19th September 2024 and ran collecting entries until Tuesday 4th December 2024. The competition winners were announced and celebrated at the final Space 4 All Community meeting on Wednesday 5th February 2025 at King's College London.

We’re thrilled to announce and celebrate the winners of the Space 4 All Challenge! A huge thank you to everyone who participated — your creativity and thoughtfulness has inspired us all. Let’s give a big round of applause to the incredible minds paving the way for a more inclusive future in space travel!

 

 

Primary-Age Category (5–11 years)

🏆 Winning Entry: Safe Room by Lettie May

Lettie’s submission focused on creating an inclusive and accessible environment for astronauts with disabilities or neurodiversity. Her idea introduces a Safe Room, designed to help astronauts cope with overstimulation. This space features sensory-friendly items, books, games, and even a therapy animal for stress relief. Accessibility features like wheelchair-accessible toilets, activity spaces, personalized equipment, and meals catering to diverse dietary needs ensure a safe, comfortable, and supportive environment for all.

Lettie said -

My name is Lettie May, I'm 11 years old, and I'm fascinated by space. I also enjoy reading, Maths, chess, coding and nature. I am autistic, have ADHD and some facial clefts, so making space accessible to everyone is really important and special to me. I've really loved learning about space ever since I was young, and can't wait to learn more at the meeting!

 


Lettie smiling with her certificate alongside Dr Irene Di Giulio, Space 4 All Community Lead and Lois Anderson, Space 4 All Community Operations Officer

 

Secondary-Age Category (12–17 years)

🥈 Runner-Up: Space Prosthetics by Tara Todd

Tara’s concept explores the development of prosthetics for individuals with lower-limb disabilities in space. Her design addresses challenges like swelling, movement difficulty in zero gravity, and muscle loss. The prosthetics are crafted from lightweight materials and incorporate advanced features like sensors and microprocessors to support natural movement. Tara’s vision also includes neural interfaces to control the prosthetics with the brain, ensuring safety, durability, and comfort.

 

🏆 Winning Entry: The Vizualizer by Victoria Belenkaya

Victoria’s Visualizer converts speech and alarms into text displayed on a helmet visor or glasses, enabling astronauts with hearing impairments to communicate effectively. The system uses vibration detection and analog-to-digital conversion to function over long distances, offering a reliable alternative to hearing aids in space. This ensures astronauts can stay connected and informed in a space environment.

 

 

Open-Age Category (18 years +)

🥈 Runner-Up: Expanding Accessibility: Space for All by Shahida Begum

 

Shahida’s poster explores the barriers faced by individuals with disabilities in space travel and proposes adaptive solutions, including flexible spacesuits, sensory augmentation devices, and AI-powered cognitive support. She highlights the ongoing efforts by NASA, ESA, and private companies to make space exploration more inclusive and accessible for everyone.

 

🏆 Winning Entry: Unlocking Space for Everyone: The Role of Neurotechnology in Accessible Commercial Space Travel by Ignacio Montoya

 

Ignacio’s work explores the potential of neurotechnology to make commercial space travel more accessible for individuals with disabilities. Drawing parallels between the challenges faced by astronauts and individuals with paralysis, he investigates groundbreaking innovations like electrical stimulation, spinal neuromodulation, and myoelectric devices, which could enable greater independence and inclusivity in space exploration.

 

Ignacio said -


I’m Ignacio Montoya, a U.S. Air Force veteran, pilot, biomedical engineer, kinesiology researcher and upcoming PhD scientist at Georgia Tech dedicated to redefining human potential.

After a spinal cord injury left me paralyzed, I refused to accept limits or the label of disability on my life.

Through exploratory self-experimentation and world-class mentorship, I’ve taken over 1.9 million steps using exoskeletons and robotic orthoses while integrating noninvasive spinal neuromodulation—pushing the boundaries of neuroplasticity and shifting my diagnosis from complete to incomplete paralysis.

My research focuses on how neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and load-bearing exercises enhance mobility and proprioception, with groundbreaking applications for both individuals with paralysis and astronauts combating muscle and bone loss in space.

As a research lead for AstroAccess, I have designed in-flight demonstration tasks to advance accessibility in Zero-G flights, ensuring that space is not just for the able-bodied but for all of humanity.

I am driven by the belief that technology, mindset, and human resilience can allow us to adapt to any frontier—including space itself.

My ultimate goal is to experience spaceflight firsthand, proving that individuals with mobility impairments can contribute meaningfully to space exploration while paving the way for a more inclusive future beyond Earth.

With love, faith, and perseverance everything is possible.

I look forward to contributing to this incredible movement!


The Space 4 All Community smiling and posing enthusiastically after the Space 4 All Challenge prize-giving.

As a dedicated team of researchers and space enthusiasts (more about us here), we are passionate about making human spaceflight and space exploration accessible to all, with a special focus on individuals with physical and sensory disabilities.

We invite you to submit a competition entry!

Whether you are proposing new technologies to make traveling and living in space accessible; designing space habitats, clothes, or gadgets; sharing your innovative ideas through music/song; or sharing your reflections on what space and accessibility mean to you, we are keen to receive your submissions.

We work in collaboration with the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency, breaking down barriers to make spaceflight more accessible for everyone.

 

What does accessibility actually mean?

Accessibility means creating environments, products, and services that can be easily used by people with different abilities. It involves removing barriers that might make it difficult for people with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities to fully participate in activities or access spaces. Accessibility ensures that everyone, no matter their abilities, has equal opportunities to engage and participate.


Are you a young space enthusiast wanting an easy-to-read version of the competition guidelines? Download here!

 

Submission Criteria and Guidelines

We have three age categories for participation: Primary (5–11 years), Secondary (12–17 years), and Open Age (18+). You can enter one submission per person or per team captain. We welcome submissions in various formats, including:

  • Essay (maximum 500 words)
  • Poem (maximum 500 words)
  • Video (maximum 2 minutes)
  • Audio (maximum 2 minutes)
  • Photograph of a physical object you created (up to 2 pictures showing different angles)
  • Poster (suitable for clear printing on A3)

To submit your entry, please send an email with your submission as a file attachment to Space4AllChallenge@kcl.ac.uk by the deadline of 3rd December 2024 at 12:00 noon (UK time).

Please ensure that your submitted file is anonymous (no individual names in the file title). In the body of your email, include:

  • Full names of all participants
  • Age category for your submission (Primary, Secondary, Open Age)

Email attachments are limited to 25MB in size. Your file may be larger than this. If so, explore the options below for sending large files via email.

How to send large files via email. Option 1: Save your file to a cloud service and share a link. There are many cloud storage services to which you can upload and then share large files. Some popular cloud storage services include OneDrive, Dropbox, iCloud, and Google Drive. Once your file is stored in the cloud, you can include a link to the document in your email message. Option 2: Compress your file. When you compress, or zip, your file, it decreases its size, and it might decrease it enough to fit within the email size limits for attachments. Option 3: Use a free file transfer service. Free file transfer services, such as WeTransfer, allow you to transfer files up to 2GB in size

If your group submission includes participants from different age categories, it should be entered under the higher age group.

Teams can include up to 30 members. (If your team is larger than this, please contact us at Space4AllChallenge@kcl.ac.uk). Individual entries are also welcome.

For entrants under 18, submissions must be sent by an adult to comply with data protection regulations.

International entries are welcome, but submissions must be made in English.

Intellectual property rights remain with the participant, but by entering, you grant the organisers a license to use, showcase, or publish the entries for promotional purposes.

1st place and 2nd place winners from each age category will be announced in early 2025 via email and on this Space 4 All Challenge website. Winners will be invited to the hybrid prize-giving ceremony held in February 2025 where they will be awarded some space-themed goodies.

 
How will your entries be judged?

A diverse and inclusive panel will judge the submissions. The four judging criteria are: 

Judging criteria: Originality and Innovation (25%)

Key Focus: Creativity, Uniqueness, Novelty

  • Creativity of the Submission: This criterion evaluates how creative and imaginative your submission is. We are looking for ideas that break new ground and challenge conventional thinking. Whether it is a new approach to an existing problem or an entirely original concept, your submission should demonstrate a strong element of creativity that sets it apart from others.
  • Novelty of Ideas, Methods, or Solutions: We assess how new and unique your ideas or methods are. Does your submission introduce a fresh perspective, or is it a rehash of existing solutions? Originality means not only thinking outside the box but also proposing solutions that have not been widely explored or implemented in the context of space exploration.
  • Innovative Use of Technology or Resources: Innovation also involves how you leverage current or emerging technologies, resources, or methodologies in your solution. Does your submission utilise cutting-edge technology in a novel way? We want to see how you push the boundaries of what’s possible with the tools at your disposal.
ideas
Alt text: Hand-drawn lightbulb on a yellow Post-it note pinned to a corkboard

Judging criteria: Clarity (25%)

Key Focus: Communication, Comprehensibility, Precision

  • Clarity of the Message: This criterion evaluates how effectively you communicate your idea or solution. Your submission should convey your message in a clear, straightforward manner, ensuring that the judges can easily understand the core concept and its implications without ambiguity.
  • Logical Structure and Presentation: Your submission should be logically structured. Each section should flow smoothly into the next, helping the reader or viewer easily follow your train of thought. Visual aids, clear labelling, and concise language can greatly enhance the clarity of your presentation.
  • Comprehensibility to a Broad Audience: We assess whether your submission can be understood by individuals from various backgrounds, not just experts in the field. Avoid overly technical jargon unless it’s necessary and provide explanations for any complex concepts. The goal is to make your submission accessible to a diverse audience, including those with limited knowledge of space exploration.
magnifying glass scrutiny
Alt text: Magnifying glass lying on coloured paper

Judging criteria: Accessibility and Inclusivity (25%)

Key Focus: Inclusiveness, Equity, Universal Design

  • Inclusiveness of the Solution: This criterion examines whether your submission considers the diverse needs of all potential participants in space missions, particularly individuals with disabilities. Your idea should demonstrate a commitment to ensuring that everyone, regardless of physical or cognitive ability, can actively partake in space exploration.
  • Universal Design Principles: We look for submissions that apply universal design principles (give this a google), meaning your solution is designed to be usable by as many people as possible without the need for adaptation or specialised design. Does your submission eliminate barriers and enhance accessibility in the space environment?
  • Consideration of Diverse Needs: Your submission should reflect an awareness of the varied needs of different individuals, including physical, sensory, and cognitive differences. We assess whether your idea or solution goes beyond the minimum standards of accessibility to create an inclusive environment where everyone’s needs are considered and met.
Wheelchair icon spray-painted on wall.
Alt text: Graphic silhouette of a person in a wheelchair

Judging criteria: Feasibility (25%)

Key Focus: Practicality, Implementation, Real-World Application

  • Practicality of Execution: This criterion evaluates how practical and realistic it would be to implement your idea or solution. We consider whether your submission is grounded in real-world capabilities and can be executed with available resources, technology, and knowledge.
  • Ease of Implementation: We assess the complexity of turning your submission into reality. How straightforward is the process? Submissions that require minimal resources, simple modifications, or existing infrastructure will score higher in feasibility.
  • Scalability and Sustainability: We also consider whether your solution can be scaled to larger operations or sustained over time. Is your idea viable for long-term use, or does it require significant ongoing resources or adjustments? Feasibility includes not just the initial implementation but also the continued operation and maintenance of the solution.
  • Risk Assessment and Mitigation: Part of feasibility is understanding the potential risks involved in implementing your idea and how you plan to mitigate them. A strong submission will not only identify potential challenges but also propose practical solutions to overcome them, ensuring that the idea can be successfully brought to life.
Youthwork_RethinkingImpactECSProject
Alt text: A table covered in coloured pens with a few pairs of hands sketching on pieces of paper

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the "Space 4 All Challenge"

 

Q1: What is the Space 4 All Challenge?
A1: The Space 4 All Challenge is a competition that invites innovators, thinkers, and dreamers to propose solutions that make space exploration more inclusive for people with diverse needs. Submissions can range from new technologies to innovative ideas, inclusive space habitat designs, and reflections on space accessibility and the role of the environment on the level of disability experienced.

Q2: Who can participate in the challenge?
A2: The challenge is open to everyone. We encourage individuals and groups from all backgrounds and levels of expertise to submit their ideas. International submissions are strongly encouraged.

Q3: What types of submissions are accepted?
A3: We accept different formats of submissions, including written proposals (essays, poems), posters, pictures of objects made for the challenge, videos, audios/podcasts, and any other creative formats that convey your ideas effectively.

Q4: Can I submit an entry in a language other than English?
A4: No. I'm sorry but we do not have the facility to translate entries and so can only accept entries in English.

Q5: What file formats are accepted?
A5: We encourage you to use PDF, DOCX for documents, JPEG, PNG for images, MP3 for audio, and MP4 for videos. 

Q6: What are the prizes for the winners?
A6: Winners will be invited to the hybrid award ceremony in February 2025, where space-themed prizes will be presented to 1st and 2nd place winners out of each age category.

Q7: How will the submissions be judged?
A7: Submissions will be judged based on the following criteria: Originality and Innovation (25%), Clarity (25%), Accessibility and Inclusivity (25%), and Feasibility (25%).

Q8: Is there a registration or submission fee to enter the challenge?
A8: No, there is no registration or submission fee. The challenge is free to enter for all participants.

Q9: When is the deadline for submissions?
A9: The deadline for submissions is 3rd December 2024 at 12:00 noon London (UK time).

Q10: What if I miss the submission deadline?
A10: Unfortunately, late submissions cannot be accepted. We recommend submitting your entry well before the deadline to avoid any last-minute issues.

Q11: Can I submit more than one entry?
A11: No, individual participants can only submit one entry. If part of a group, individual participants can only be ‘captain’ for one team.

Q12: Can I submit an individual entry as well as a group entry?
Q12: No, you can only submit one entry, either as an individual or as part of a group.

Q13: What if my submission doesn't fit neatly into one of the suggested formats?
A13: We encourage creativity! If your submission takes a different format, please ensure it meets the guidelines and can be clearly evaluated based on the criteria.

Q14: How do I submit my entry?
A14: Entries must be submitted via email to Space4AllChallenge@kcl.ac.uk.
Remember - keep your file name anonymous, but tell us who you are in the body of your email.

Q15: Can I edit my entry after it has been submitted?
A15: You can only submit one entry, but if you need to edit your submission before the 3rd December deadline, please email: Space4AllChallenge@kcl.ac.uk.

Q16: Will I receive feedback on my entry?
A16: No. I’m sorry, but we are unable to provide feedback on the entries received.

Q17: How and when will the winners be announced?
A17: Winners will be announced in early 2025. Notifications will be sent to the winning entries via email and results will be posted on our Space 4 All website.

Q18: What are your data protection policies?
A18: King's College London's Data Protection Policy regulates how we use the personal information people provide in accordance with GDPR. Available here: www.kcl.ac.uk/policyhub/data-protection-policy-2

Q19: Who owns the rights to my submission?
A19: Intellectual property rights usually remain with the participant, but by entering, you grant the organisers a license to use, showcase, or publish the entries for promotional purposes.

Q20: Who do I contact if I have more questions?
A20: For any further enquiries, please contact us at Space4AllChallenge@kcl.ac.uk

A stylized illustration of a person in a wheelchair represented as a constellation. The figure is composed of white line segments and star-like points, set against a dark blue background. The circular shape of the wheelchair and the outline of the person'
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