The Aurelia Institute has officially launched the Aurelia Prize in Design for Space Urbanism, which includes a $20,000 first prize for best space base, moon base, Martian colony, or other space-based human settlement.
“I am thrilled to announce the launch of the Aurelia Prize in Design for Space Urbanism!” Aurelia CEO Ariel Ekblaw said in a statement announcing the prize.
In an email to The Debrief, an Aurelia Institute spokesperson explained that the inaugural effort will invite submissions for designs in several categories, including plans for a near-future space station, space base, habitat, or industrial facility that resides “in orbit around Earth.” The organizers said that the contest will also accept submissions of designs for a space base or larger space station around or on the Moon, Mars, or anchored in space at a Lagrange point.
LaGrange points are locations within the solar system where the counteracting gravitational pulls of the Sun and other bodies, such as Earth or the Moon, create a stable, long-term environment for future space-based observatories or potential settlements. For example, the James Webb Space Telescope maintains a stable orbit around the Sun near the second Sun-Earth Lagrange point (L2). Located about 1 million miles (1.5 million kilometers) from Earth, L2 is on the opposite side of the Sun.
In that same email, Aurelia officials explained that the contest, which is open to anyone over 18 years of age regardless of engineering background, is seeking submissions that consider human factors like comfort and ease of use alongside traditional concerns in designing an inhabitable space base, such as utility and efficiency.
“Inspired by the iconic 1975 NASA Summer Study, the goal of the Aurelia Prize is to invite bold and creative concepts from designers, architects, engineers, and others who envision a realistic and flourishing future for humanity in space,” Aurelia explained.
For the inaugural effort, the group says that entries will be evaluated by a “remarkable panel of judges,” including space architecture expert Dr. Olga Bannova, NASA astronaut Victor Glover, “eminent” designers Thomas Heatherwick and Bjarke Ingels, and visual artist Andrew Zuckerman. Aurelia CEO Ekblaw will also participate in the inaugural event’s judging panel.
In a press release, Aurelia said entries will be judged on the following criteria:
- Creativity – the design is novel, original, and takes a clever approach to solving a problem or achieving a goal
- Well-considered – the design takes into account contextual factors (power, space, and stowage, unique affordances of microgravity)
- Viability – the design could conceivably be developed into a working prototype using currently understood physics and existing material science/technologies
- Presentation – the design submission is neat, well-explained, and artfully done
- Purpose – the design leverages space for the good of life on Earth, or makes a clear contribution to a positive future for humanity.
When announcing the contest on LinkedIn, Ekblaw said the judges’ panel will consider two overarching questions.
“How can we design future space stations, lunar settlements, and orbital industries to make space work for humanity?” the Aurelia CEO posited. “How will emerging technologies like AI intersect with human-centered design in our spacefaring future?”
The Aurelia Prize in Design for Space Urbanism is already accepting submissions, with the first round due on January 20, 2026. Aurelia noted that sometime after the first round is complete, select finalists will be asked to submit a brief follow-up video “to help the judges make their final decision.”
After the judges have evaluated the final video submissions, the winner will be announced. The contest’s announcement said that the winner or winners will receive “up to $20,000 USD.”
The contest’s winner (or winners) will also receive a formal invitation to publicly accept their award at the upcoming Beyond the Cradle conference. Described as a “prestigious space conference co-hosted by Aurelia Institute and the MIT Space Exploration Initiative,” Beyond the Cradle will take place on April 8, 2026, on the MIT campus.
As a final enticement, Aurelia officials said that the contest’s winner or winners “may also be invited” to participate in a planned zero-gravity research flight with the entire Aurelia team. Fortunately for those with a weak stomach, it sounds like the zero-gravity flight is optional.
“As we approach the post-ISS era and start to plan in earnest for near and far futures where hundreds and even thousands of people visit, work, or live off-planet, it’s time to start designing for the practical realities of a spacefaring society,” Ekblaw concluded. “Aurelia Institute is excited to invite submissions from anyone with a thoughtful vision for what that future will look like.”
Adults interested in designing the next space base, moon base, or Martian colony can submit their concepts and designs for the Aurelia Prize in Design for Space Urbanism HERE by or before January 30, 2026.
Christopher Plain is a Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist and Head Science Writer at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him on X, learn about his books at plainfiction.com, or email him directly at christopher@thedebrief.org.