Mission Patch Art Competition – IAC25

Mission Patch Art Competition

Displaying a Collective Student Voice at IAC 2025

Australian schools are invited to enter students in the Mission Patch Art Competition for the 76th International Astronautical Congress 2025 in Sydney.

Inspire

We encourage students to draw inspiration from their own stories, whether those are shaped by culture, community, connection to Country, or imaginative dreams for the future. In doing so, students can express a deep relationship with Earth and Space, shaped by perspectives that reflect both ancient knowledge and future possibilities.

Students are encouraged to create an original mission patch using art materials to draw and colour their design. AI-generated artwork will not be accepted.

The Powerhouse 1 mission patch design by Seven Hills High School

The mission patch above was designed by Jewen, a student from Seven Hills High School. This flew to the International Space Station in 2024 as part of Powerhouse: Future Space.

Read more about this mission here.

Patch design

All entries must be:

  • independent and original student work
  • created to fit within an 80 mm x 80 mm (patch template provided)
  • hand-drawn and coloured using common art materials (such as pencil, pen, markers, paint).

When developing your patch, refer to the marking criteria rubric, and aim to:

  • connect with the theme ‘Sustainable Space : Resilient Earth’
  • create an imaginative and meaningful design that represents a clear idea and communicates a compelling story or concept through the design and imagery
  • reflect aspects of Australian culture, environment, or identity
  • include a reference to specific Australian-made technology, satellite programs, rover development or symbols representing Australia’s contributions to international space missions (past, present, or future).

Resources

Download

All resources are available on the NSW Department of Education page.

Click here

Live Webinar – July 31

Learn

Adventures with Space Badges

Logan Jaeren, founder of STEAM4SPACE, will share the origin stories of mission patches used to represent human spaceflight and space exploration.

Origin stories from astronauts and space emblem artists will reveal the hidden meaning of patch designs that will forever change your perspective of emblems and inspire you to create an emblem that represents you and your mission to space.

Content

  • Badges Across Time & Space
    Exhibit badges representing human spaceflight, space exploration, payloads & experiments.
  • Design Analysis
    Showcase common elements used in the design of mission badges, including astronaut pin, spacecraft, Earth, stars, colours & shapes.
  • Cultural Relevance
    Two badge design origin stories that were influenced by culture, including STS-78 and Jeremy Hansen’s personal badge to be worn on his Artemis II mission. Encourage the use of indigenous art, symbols that represent personal attributes and interests.

Webinar Details

  • July 31
  • 12:00pm – 12:45pm Sydney time

Register now

STEAM 4 Space mission patch

Registration and submission information

Submit

Each school may only submit one entry. Schools are encouraged to run their own competition to select the school’s mission patch entry.

Registration and submission must be done by an adult educator on behalf of the school and student. The submission must be clearly labelled with the student’s name, age, and the school’s details.

Registration

Registration is now open.

Register your school’s participation in the competition by completing the Mission Patch Art competition form

Register for the live webinar on mission patches

  • July 31
  • 12:00pm – 12:45pm Sydney time

Register for the webinar here

Submission of design

Following your school’s registration, submission information will be emailed to the registered educator.

Submissions will open on Monday 28 July 2025 (Term 3, Week 2) and all entries must be submitted by Friday 29 August 2025 (Term 3 Week 6).

Finalists showcase

Selected student designs will be showcased at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Darling Harbour, Sydney, as part of the official IAC exhibition on the Public Day, Friday 3 October 2025.

Attending astronauts, VIP guests and visiting delegates will have the opportunity to view the showcased 50 mission patches and awarded ribbons of recognition to the top 10 outstanding submissions.