This fall, the U.S. Department of Education invites high schools to enter the Your Place in Space Challenge — a CTE Momentum challenge to create new solutions for space and inspire students to envision careers in the space industry.

From illustrators to food scientists, and athletic trainers to software engineers, almost any career can be a space career. By inviting schools to submit designs for a product or service that contributes to space missions or exploration, the challenge will help students identify pathways into space careers.

The space industry is expected to triple in size during the next 30 years, employing more than 1.5 million people and generating $780 billion in economic activity by 2050, according to the Your Place in Space Challenge website. The space industry can offer fulfilling careers with higher-than-average wages, but without a skilled workforce, that vision will never become a reality.

“Any career can be a space career – and career and technical education (CTE) programs already present a natural starting point for a space career,” the website states. “The Your Place in Space Challenge will connect the dots between the skills students build in CTE programs and the fulfilling careers they can have in the space industry.”

Entrants may pursue designs of their choice or find inspiration from one of four suggested areas of exploration — covering topics such as space debris, the International Space Station, space travel and the environment. Submissions are due by 5 p.m. Oct. 30. Up to 10 winners will receive $5,000 each and earn in-kind prizes, such as space-related classroom equipment or supplies, site visits to space company campuses, and interactions with high-profile leaders in the space industry. The winners will be selected and announced in early 2024.

On May 10, the Your Place in Space Challenge team hosted a virtual information session to provide an overview of the challenge and answer questions. For additional information or an overview, watch the recording of the virtual information session here.

As the school year begins, teachers interested in participating can register their school and explore the curated resources.