A nine-member team from Glenrich International School, Uttara has secured first place in the prestigious NSS Gerard K. O’Neill Space Settlement Design Contest (Large Group, Grade 9 category) for their groundbreaking space habitat project titled ‘Chirayatasroy’ (Eternal Shelter).
Organized by the U.S.-based National Space Society (NSS), the contest encourages innovation in space settlement design. This marks Glenrich’s third consecutive year earning top honors in the global competition, which drew over 26,000 students from 25 countries, with more than 4,900 submissions.
In addition to the winning project, Glenrich’s team ‘Exserta’ claimed second prize in the Small Group (Grade 9) category, while another project, ‘Atlas’, received an Honourable Mention in the Large Group (Grade 11) category.
‘Chirayatasroy’ envisions a self-sustaining space colony orbiting the dwarf planet Ceres, capable of supporting up to 100,000 people. The project addresses global issues like climate change and resource scarcity, incorporating innovative features like solar energy systems inspired by the Möbius strip for sustainable living in space.
Principal Dr. Amlan K Saha praised the students’ achievement and commitment to scientific creativity, stating, “This is a proud moment. Our students are addressing real-world crises with futuristic solutions.”
Team member Ahmad Abdullah reflected on the journey, noting the team’s 55 days of hard work and dedication to offering “a sustainable future for humanity.”
The NSS contest is globally recognized for inspiring young minds to imagine and design life beyond Earth
