Bangladeshi Students Win Global Space Settlement Contest

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 in the Large Group (Grade 9) category for their innovative project, ‘Chirayatasroy’ (Eternal Shelter).

This achievement marks the third consecutive year Glenrich Uttara has earned top honours in this international competition, organised by the US-based National Space Society (NSS) to promote creativity and scientific thinking among students through futuristic space settlement concepts.

Additionally, another Glenrich team won second prize in the Small Group (Grade 9) category for their project ‘Exserta’, while a third team received an Honourable Mention in the Large Group (Grade 11) category for their submission ‘Atlas’.

The contest attracted over 26,000 students from 25 countries, including Bangladesh, the United States, India, Ireland, and Romania, submitting more than 4,900 entries. Glenrich Uttara’s ‘Chirayatasroy’ was recognised as the best in its category.

The winning team includes Adwoito Bhaskar, Ahmad Abdullah, Aisha Afsara Yasmin, Seam Ahmed, Ibrahim Amin, Muhayr Manzoor, Ahnaf Tahmeed Aryan, Safwan Chowdhury, and Kazi Afsan Rawnak Anan.

‘Chirayatasroy’ envisions the first self-sustaining space settlement orbiting the dwarf planet Ceres, designed to house up to 100,000 people. The project aims to offer a sustainable alternative to life on Earth by addressing challenges such as climate change and resource depletion. Its design incorporates solar energy systems inspired by the Möbius strip to promote eco-friendly living in space.

Principal Dr. Amlan K. Saha expressed pride in the students’ accomplishment.
“This is a proud moment for us all. The students dedicated themselves to creating a project that tackles real-world issues with visionary thinking. We will continue to support and nurture such talent,” he said.

Team member Ahmad Abdullah said,
“We worked hard for about 55 days to complete this project. It’s rewarding to see our efforts recognised. Through Chirayatasroy, we hope to contribute to a sustainable future for humanity amid growing challenges.”

The NSS Gerard K. O’Neill Space Settlement Design Contest is globally recognised for inspiring young minds to explore the possibilities of life beyond Earth.