GFSSM
Qualifying Round
2025
Qualifying Round
2025
A highly intense space industry simulation competition designed for high school students.
GFSSM 2025 Qualifying Round
The Qualifying Round of the Global Future Space Scholars Meet (GFSSM) will be held virtually.
Every country or region may create numerous teams in different divisions to take part.
Teams must finalize their proposal designs (including presentation materials) and ensure timely submission in accordance with the Request for Proposal (RFP) provided by the IDSDO.
For a quick grasp of our initiatives and learning philosophy, we invite you to review the "How It Works" section.
2025 Qualifying Round Mission Theme: 'Vulcan' Space City on Mars Orbit
- Participating teams will receive the Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by IDSDO. Following the requirements, they will design a large industrial space city named "Vulcan" on a Mars orbit.
- This space city will be constructed in the Earth-Moon space and then transferred to the Mars orbit via orbital maneuvers. IDSDO envisions "Vulcan" as a future gateway connecting deep space and Martian surface settlements, and it will also leverage resources from the asteroid belt to support the development of the Martian surface and even deeper space exploration.
- Here, students will find their unique niche regardless of their passion, whether it be business, science, computer science, engineering, social sciences, design, arts, psychology, or English public speaking.
- They are encouraged to challenge themselves with imaginative business ideas and engineering feats for the future space city. The space city must not only be well-designed but also capable of fulfilling specified tasks, demonstrating strong commercial viability and sustainability.
Time Table of Qualifying Round 2025
(Registration Deadline is February 28, 2025)
October, 2024
Registration Opens and Release of RFP of Qualifying Round
- Enrollment for the Qualifying Round is now available.
- There are no limitations on the quantity or divisions of teams that may sign up from any country or region.
- Participants should choose their division and assemble a team.
- After a team is enrolled, the relevant RFP (Request for Proposal) for their selected division will be forwarded to the team's specified contact email.
From October 2024 ~ April 2025
Preparation
- The student teams conduct the design work for the Qualification Round and submit proposals.
- Throughout this preparation phase, the global organizing committee offers English-language instructional courses (featuring videos and educational resources) to assist all teams involved.
- The coordinators in each nation or region may also organize workshops and brief training camps to aid students in effectively finishing the design assignment.
February 28, 2025
Registration Closes
April 30, 2025
Proposal Submission Deadline
- Please send the following items via email to the designated email address: 1) Bid Proposal and 2) Pitch Video.
- Detailed instructions are provided below.
May, 2025
Award Announcement & Invitation to Global Finals Release
August, 2025
Global Final Round (Beijing, China)
- Teams that excel in the Qualifying Round and earn an invitation will have the opportunity to progress directly to the Global Final Round, along with financial support from the International Organizing Committee to facilitate their participation.
- At this juncture, students from different countries and regions will forge partnerships, overcome language and cultural barriers, and work on challenge tasks collectively. This is an event you definitely won't want to miss!
Initiate Your Sign-Up
Prior to submitting the registration form, kindly verify your eligibility and familiarize yourself with the competition guidelines.
If your institution has not yet become a GFSSM Local Organizing Committee, please complete the Accreditation Form.
Here are the specific steps:
Here are the specific steps:
- Visit the "Organizers" page of the GFSSM official website.
- Learn more about the process and find the "Accreditation Form" link on the page.
- Fill out the Accreditation Form online.
- Eligibility for participation is limited to current high school (secondary) students enrolled in grades 9 through 12.
- Students are required to participate in teams, and the number of team members will be determined by the division they choose to participate in.
- While multiple teams from the same country or region are welcome to compete across various divisions, it is highly recommended that each team comprises a diverse range of skills and expertise. Ideally, team members should have backgrounds in science, technology, commerce, marketing, and communication to ensure a well-rounded and competitive team.
- The GFSSM Qualifying Round features 2 divisions.
Team Size: 5-7 members
- Task Requirement: Complete a simplified version of the RFP task
- Suitable for teams with an interest in space exploration but possibly less experience, or teams preferring to participate with a smaller group size.
Division 2. Space Scholars Division
- Team Size: 10-13 members
- Task Requirement: Complete the standard version of the RFP task
- Suitable for teams with more experience and seeking a greater challenge, or teams preferring to collaborate in a larger group size.
- Teams that have completed registration will receive the Request for Proposal (RFP) for "Vulcan" via the contact person's email.
- Following the requirements outlined in the RFP, they will design a large industrial space city in orbit around Mars.
What Materials Are Required to Be Submitted?
- The submission should be in PDF format of an English-language PowerPoint presentation, with a maximum limit of 30 pages.
- PowerPoint Template for Proposal Bidding: Participants can utilize the PowerPoint template supplied by the organizers (included with the RFP). This template encompasses a proposal structure, key design points analysis, design focus guidance, and design recommendations for the team’s use. Teams are motivated to be creative using this template or to develop their own distinctive slide design approach.
- Provide a YouTube link for the 5-7 minute Pitch Video.
- Team Introduction: Present basic information about the challenge team members.
- Clear Theme: Ensure the video closely follows the design requirements outlined in the RFP, utilizing PowerPoint to clearly convey the key design elements of the proposal.
- Data Analysis & Interpretation: If applicable, clearly present and explain any relevant data collection and analysis in the video.
- Video Recording Requirements: Participants should dress professionally, maintain good posture, and ensure the video has clear visuals and audio.
- Note: The content must be positive and free from any hate speech, violence, pornography, or racial comments.
When and How to Submit?
- April 30, 2025
- The team contact person/team leader should send the PDF version of the team's proposal, along with the video link, to the organizing committee's email address：info.gfssm@gmail.com.
- Please use the following format: "Proposal_Team Name_Country/Region Name". For example: "Proposal_TianGong Parabola_Canada".
More
- During this preparation period, the international organizing committee offers English-language guidance courses (comprising videos and teaching materials) to assist all participating teams, which will be accessible via email upon completion of registration.
- Additionally, organizers in each country or region may also offer a range of courses, workshops, and short-term training camps to aid students in successfully completing the design task.
- Teams are allowed to use generative AI to organize thoughts, discover new perspectives, or find examples for effective expression. However, it is prohibited to directly incorporate the output of generative AI as part of the business plan or presentation video. Similarly, the use of images and videos created by AI-integrated software is also forbidden. Please note that information generated by AI may not always be accurate and could potentially involve the use of copyrighted material. Please use generative AI responsibly and adhere to ethical standards.
- Important Rules: Teams are not permitted to use others' ideas and works (including digital images, illustrations, audio clips, movies, photos, designs, etc.), whether they are copyright-free, royalty-free, or generated by AI. You must create your own work. Please be aware that using someone else's creations will result in the disqualification of your team.
The experts of the Academic Committee will evaluate whether each proposal meets the design criteria one by one, taking into account the following evaluation factors -Rationality, Completeness,Economy, and Consistency in sequence, and providing scores for each criterion's performance.
- Following the deadline for team submissions, the juries will assess the proposals and offer their comments.
- Notable teams will earn award certificates, while all participants will be granted a certificate of participation.
- The leading three teams will receive cash prizes: $1,000 for the Best Team in Proposal, and $500 each for the Best Team in Innovation Design and the Best Team in Systematic Design.
- Teams that succeed in the evaluation will be invited to compete in the Global Final Round in Beijing in August.
Let's begin the adventure now!
Are you ready to embark on this thrilling journey of space exploration?
Assemble your dream team and together, draw the blueprint for humanity's future home on Mars orbit!
To register, form a team of 5-7 participants or 10-12 participants (depending on the chosen division).
Click the button to submit the registration form online by February 28, 2025.
Assemble your dream team and together, draw the blueprint for humanity's future home on Mars orbit!
To register, form a team of 5-7 participants or 10-12 participants (depending on the chosen division).
Click the button to submit the registration form online by February 28, 2025.
