Teen Contest Reaching for the Stars Opens Doors to Future Space Scientists

A new contest called Reaching for the Stars has opened for students in grades 8–10. The competition focuses on space exploration, satellite engineering, and radio technology. Participants will tackle challenges in physics, astronomy 101, and space science across multiple rounds.

The first stage involves an online test on physics, astronomy, and space technology. Only the top 200 students will move forward to the second round, where they must choose between two tracks: engineering or scientific.

In the engineering track, participants will design satellites, calculate orbits, and propose payload ideas for CubeSats. The scientific track, meanwhile, requires working with real astronomical data and studying celestial mechanics.

The third round consists of online interviews to evaluate knowledge, motivation, and readiness for international collaboration. In July 2026, finalists will gather in St. Petersburg for a joint session, developing thematic projects together.

The top 10 contestants will then travel to China in early 2027. There, they will join a specialised program at the Aerospace Innovation Research Center of Tsinghua University, working with space data and contributing to joint projects.

The contest offers students a chance to engage in hands-on space research and international teamwork. Winners will gain experience at a leading aerospace institution, with all finalists announced after the 2026 session in St. Petersburg.