In the future, new infrastructure must be developed to enable astronauts to stay on the Moon for long periods. Protection against radiation and meteorites, energy production, water extraction and recycling, food production… these are just some of the challenges that astronauts will face. The Moon Camp project is an educational project, proposed at European level by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Airbus Foundation and coordinated in France by the CNES, which invites students to become explorers of the Moon or any other world in our solar system and to find solutions to the difficulties that astronauts might encounter by proposing their own ideas for a space base.
ProjetMoon Camp
TargetUp to 19 year old
PeriodSeptember 18, 2026 to July 26, 2027
Become the engineers of tomorrow by imagining the environment in which astronauts will live as they set out to explore our solar system!
To participate, create an account on the ESA website, form your research team(s), and select the future home of your astronauts.
Your project could be a scientific experiment, an art project, a model, a 3D design, a 3D print model, a virtual or augmented reality world, and much more…
Then submit your work to the ESA website for validation by specialists.
Each team will receive a certificate of participation and will be invited to participate in a final online event with an ESA astronaut and space experts!
Déroulé du projet
Moon Camp project launch
Register on the European Space Agency website to receive regular updates on the project, resources, training courses and tutorials, conferences, and space news.
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‘Destination Mars’ Challenge
To mark the launch of the MMX mission to one of Mars’ moons, Phobos, CNES invites you to design your own Martian base by taking part in the “Direction Mars” online challenge. Come and take part in the challenge and imagine what the bases that will welcome astronauts to the Red Planet might look like.
Launch webinar
To help you get your space base project off to the best possible start, CNES, through its ESERO France office, will be organising an online session for teachers to discover the new Moon Camp resources and discuss upcoming events during the school year.
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Online conference: “Human missions to Mars”
In February 2027, CNES will organise a webinar to showcase the work it has carried out in preparation for future crewed missions to Mars. The webinar will be presented by a CNES engineer and will be open to students in cycles 3 and 4 and at secondary school level.
National submission deadline
Submit your activities on the ESA website as soon as possible to receive your participation certificates before the end of the school year.
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National closing event
To celebrate the end of the year and congratulate you on your participation in the project, come and take part in our annual closing event, which will include conferences given by CNES specialists and activities centered around the Moon. You can register today by filling out this form.
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Live with an astronaut
At the end of the season, ESA organizes an online event for all project participants. This is your chance to ask questions to one of ESA’s astronauts.
The school year is over, but you want to create a new space station. You can still submit your creations until July 26, 2027.
AI to create your space bases
Team leaders must supervise the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) by students in the development of their space bases to help them acquire valuable STEM skills and competencies. The use of AI is only permitted within the following guidelines:
- All basic design work must be created by students using tools that do not rely on AI. AI-generated images may only be used to complement their original creations.
- AI can be used to improve the grammar, structure, or clarity of written descriptions, but the description should not be generated entirely by AI.
- Any use of AI must be clearly stated when submitting the project.
Educational resources
Many resources are available on the ESERO France website to provide you with the best possible support for your project.
- Download resources and activities dedicated to the Moon Camp challenge.
- Watch the videos Meet the ESA experts | The Moon and Paxi explores the Moon!
- Discover (or rediscover) Tinkercad modeling software with our tutorials.
- Find the space bases from previous years on the Moon Camp Challenge website.
FAQ
- Is the Moon Camp challenge competitive?
- Moon Camp is a non-competitive challenge. All teams that submit an entry conforming to the guidelines will receive a certificate of participation.
- Where will my project be exposed?
- All approved projects will be displayed in the ESA gallery.
- If I have a problem with my submission or a question about the project, who should I contact?
- If you encounter any difficulties with the project or require further information, please contact us at esero.france@cnes.fr.
- Does my project have to be located on the Moon?
- No, you can build your space base on any celestial body you choose (planet, satellite, exoplanet, etc.). However, depending on the object you choose, you will need to adapt your base to the living conditions on its surface.
- How many projects can I submit?
- There is no limit to the number of projects you can submit for Moon Camp.
- Can there be more than one team per mentor?
- Yes, a mentor can support multiple teams and submit multiple projects.
- Do I need to submit my project in English?
- No, your project does not necessarily have to be written in English. You can submit it in any language.
- Will I receive confirmation when I submit my project?
- Yes, you will receive an email confirming that your application has been received. You will receive another email with the certificates once your project has been verified.
The ESERO France team is available to support you throughout this project. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at esero.france@cnes.fr.
We hope to see many of you again for this new season!
