The Zanzibar Astronomy and Space Society (ZASS) has launched a space science innovation competition for children and young people aged seven to 24. The competition aims to build scientific knowledge among young people in the archipelago and encourage them to pursue careers in astronomy and space technology.
Participants will design and build models of celestial objects and space systems, including planets, the solar system, galaxies, satellites and rockets. Winners will receive cash prizes ranging from TSh 300,000 to TSh 1 million (approximately USD 114 to USD 379).
Three age-based categories
The competition has three categories:
- Junior: ages 7 to 13
- Senior: ages 14 to 18
- Advanced: ages 19 to 24
Judges will evaluate entries based on their complexity relative to each age group. Younger participants may use everyday materials such as cardboard and paper. Older contestants are expected to present more sophisticated projects, with greater detail, explanation and innovation. Participants can enter individually or in groups, and three winners will be selected in each category.
Malik Juma, Director of Operations at ZASS, said the competition is meant to do more than reward strong entries. He said a core objective is to spark students’ interest in science and introduce them to scientific concepts through astronomy and space education.
Submission window
Entries are open from 12 to 18 October 2026. Participants can submit project videos through social media or deliver entries in person to the ZASS offices in Tunguu-Kibele, Zanzibar.
Building a pipeline from outreach
The competition is part of a wider push in Zanzibar to engage young people in space science. In September 2026, ZASS hosted a delegation from the Oman Space and Astronomical Society (OSAS) to explore cooperation on space education and youth awareness. During that meeting, ZASS spokesperson Abu Bakar Harith said satellites could support research and inform Zanzibar’s development planning.
There is also government backing. In 2025, the Zanzibar government sent five students from the Karume Institute of Science and Technology to the NASA International Space Apps Challenge in Oman. It described the move as part of its commitment to developing future aerospace specialists.
Low-cost, model-based competitions like this one are often a young person’s first hands-on contact with space science. Tanzania does not yet have a large domestic space industry, so civil society groups like ZASS play an important part in keeping that early interest alive.
Click here to get real time data and information on every Segments and players in the African space and satellite industry.
