Build The Moon Challenge

The Build the Moon Challenge (BTMC) is supported by NASA and hosted by the Institute of Competition Sciences. Middle and high school students are invited to participate in a challenge that uses lunar or Martian regolith to create building blocks or bricks. Students are tasked with determining the most efficient way to make these simulant-based bricks for hypothetical in-situ usage in eventual lunar or Martian colony infrastructure, with the ultimate goal of maximizing their load-bearing capacity.

General Information:
The project is tied to Artemis, NASA’s mission to return humankind to the moon. Participating educators receive a BTMC Activity Kit for each student team including lunar or Martian regolith simulant and a Project Guide.
Throughout the Challenge, teams are tasked with hands-on project activities to further their eventual composition of a final report, which is the largest consideration toward the BTMC’s competition aspect.

Teams may register and compete at the Junior (middle school) or high school levels. Student teams are encouraged to cap participation to 10 students per team, though Junior-level teams may have up to 30 students.