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Aurelia Prize: Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Q: Are you required to register to submit? Is there a submission fee?
A: There is no registration or fee required to submit a design. The only requirement is to follow the instructions on the submission form and submit by January 30.
Q: Could you define "space urbanism" as it is used in the Prize brief?
A: Space urbanism refers to the expected increase and densification of human habitation in low Earth orbit, on the Moon, and beyond. We are looking for thoughtful and creative responses to the opportunities and challenges presented by this scaled-up cohabitation of space.
Q: Will I retain intellectual property ownership of my submission?
A: Yes. Aurelia Institute does not claim ownership of any intellectual property submitted to the Prize. All ideas and submission content remain the property of the submitting team and will be used solely for purposes related to administering and promoting the prize.
Q: Was the webinar recorded?
A: No, the webinar was not recorded. However, the questions asked during the session are answered in this FAQ.
Q: Outside of the competition, what would be the best way to get involved in Aurelia’s work?
A: We’d love to hear from you. Please sign up for our newsletter and reach out for potential collaboration opportunities via our Contact page.
Questions about Design
Q: Are there any constraints to the design beyond what is described in the criteria?
A: No. Please keep in mind the selection criteria, as these will be used to judge your submission.
Q: Are you looking for speculative ideas or should submissions aim to be technically feasible with current or near-term technologies?
A: We are looking for designs that are feasible with current or near-term technologies, with a development timeline in the next 25 years.
Q: Does the design need to be new or can we submit a project that has already been presented or published?
A: The design can be a previously published project authored by you; it does not need to be new.
Q: Does the design need to expand on any existing, previously published concepts (such as TESSERAE)?
A: No. Your design may reference existing concepts, but you are encouraged to submit original work.
Q: Does the design need to be at a certain maturity / technological readiness level?
A: No. Your design can be at any level of design maturity and technological readiness.
Q: Does the design have to fit inside a specific rocket fairing? Does it need to be entirely launched from Earth?
A: No, not necessarily.
Q: Can we use AI to generate any imagery?
A: You may use AI in your submission, but you are required to explain how you used it in the submission form.
Questions about Team
Q: I am turning 18 after the competition deadline. Can I still submit?
A: All entrants need to be 18 at the time they submit to the competition. We hope to run this competition again in future years, so please submit then!
Q: Can I submit individually / as a ‘one-person team’?
A: Yes.
Q: Can one person be part of two teams?
A: No. We will only accept one submission per person or team.
Q: Will you accept more than one entry from a single individual or team?
A: No. We will only accept one submission per person or team.
Q: Can we submit as a company / collective / group?
A: You may submit with up to three team members individually named.
Q: Our team includes more than three people. Can we include a full list of participants as part of the submission?
A: This year, the Prize is focused on individuals and teams of up to three people. As such, only the individual(s) named in the submission will be recognized.
Questions about Submission
Q: Can I submit a design in more than one category?
A: No. Please choose one category and submit one design.
Q: Can I submit in one category, while describing how the design overlaps with other categories (e.g. a space-based supply chain that includes various orbital and lunar locations)?
A: Yes. As long as your design is contained within five images and a 300-word description and is linked to a primary category, you may freely shape its scope and scale.
Q: What are the size limits and required dimensions / aspect ratio for the images?
A: There are no required dimensions or aspect ratios for the images. Please keep the total size of your PDF package under 20MB.
Q: How should the 300-word project description be formatted? Should this be uploaded as a separate document? What should it focus on?
A: Please include the text description in your PDF package. The only requirement is the 300-word limit (in English); you may format it as you like. There are no restrictions or preferences with regard to the content.
Q: Are there any content requirements for the images (e.g. systems diagram, architectural drawing, render)?
A: No. Please use whatever visual representations best explain your design and working approach.
Q: Are there any stylistic requirements to the images (e.g. color, illustration type)?
A: No. Please use whatever techniques and methods best suit your design and working style.
Q: What defines a 'hero' image?
A: Think of the hero image as the cover image of your submission; it will be the first thing that judges see when reviewing your project. Beyond that, there are no requirements on content or format.
Q: Can one or more of the images be formatted as an architectural board (i.e. containing several drawings and captions) or a collage?
A: The images can be formatted as you see fit, but please keep the text in your images to a minimum. Brief captions and labels are fine, but explanatory text should be kept within the 300-word limit description separate from the image files.
Q: Can one (or more) of the images be animated?
A: Yes, if you are able to include these animations in a PDF.
Q: Can I submit any additional content beyond the submission requirements?
A: No, please limit your submission to the requirements explicitly listed in the submission form and on this page.
Q: Will I receive a certificate of participation upon submitting?
A: No, we will not contact you post-submission unless you are selected as a semi-finalist.
Questions about Semi-Finalists
Q: What will the format and requirements of the semi-finalist / second-stage video be?
A: If you are selected as a semi-finalist, we will notify you with information about the video by February 16.
Q: Has the deadline for submitting the video already been specified?
A: Semi-finalists will be notified by February 16, and they will receive specific instructions regarding the follow-up video.
