The National Space Society (NSS) and Mars-Moon Astronautics Academy & Research Science (MMAARS, Inc.) conduct an annual contest challenge to address possible diet plans for travelers to places like Mars or a planetary moon. Each year the challenge is slightly different. However, the theme is always about the question: “How can health on and beyond Earth be achieved and sustained to prepare and keep astronauts healthy on long-duration space missions?”

This year’s contest, “Blueprint a Healthy Lifespan for Earth and Mars,” focuses on using nutrition research, astronaut preparation and past mission data to enhance a healthy lifespan on Earth and keep astronauts healthy on their way to Mars.

The contest is for undergraduate or graduate students, professionals, and citizen scientists. We invite you, your colleagues, students, and others to enter. Please spread the word.

Winners will receive a scholarship to participate in an Analog Astronaut Low-Fidelity Training Mission from MMAARS, Inc. conducted near the Mojave Spaceport in California. These missions simulate anticipated missions to Mars. Cash prizes of $3,500 and $1,000 (first place and second-place) are provided by NSS.

Complete instructions and registration are at the SpacEdge Academy website
https://spacedge.academy/course/view.php?id=200.

Contestants will submit a white paper to address this year’s topic. Resources are available on the website to provide information relevant to the contest. Contest submissions must be made between January 30 and February 27, 2022.