Reaching for the stars: Mining students shine at space settlement design competition

The University of Arizona's School of Mining and Mineral Resources participated in the Space Settlement Design Competition (SSDC), an engaging event that immerses high school students in the intricacies of aerospace industry simulations.

Held at Biosphere 2 between January 17 to 19, the competition tasked students with forming teams, or "companies," to design futuristic space settlements. This hands-on challenge helps them build skills in technical expertise, management, and collaboration.

Joshua Page, outreach coordinator for the SMMR, mentored students during the event and coordinated the School's presence with the Sci Tech Institute. 

“We had four staff at the event — two education outreach coordinators, a mining engineering student and a professor — along with four tables showcasing information about moon mining and an interactive remote sensing demo,” he said.

Page explained how rovers equipped with sensors can locate water ice on the moon’s surface without penetrating it, offering a more cost-effective way to identify resources than traditional sampling methods.

 “Events like the Space Settlement Design Competition highlight the challenges and complexities of interplanetary travel and survival while showcasing the importance of technological planning and innovation as humanity works toward becoming an interplanetary species,” he said.

The SMMR is dedicated to providing students with unique opportunities that bridge academic learning with real-world applications. Engagements like the SSDC not only enhance students' understanding of mining and mineral resources but also prepare them to tackle future challenges in the industry.