Secondary Education Space Design Competition was held in conjunction with the Space Technology and Applications International Forum (STAIF). The objective was to excite and encourage young people to pursue a career in science and engineering. A panel of industry, government laboratory, and university scientists and engineers who are working actively in space programs were available to judge the competition. The winners displayed their projects at the Secondary School Special Session, held in conjunction with the Space Technology and Applications International Forum.

The Space Technology and Applications International Forum (STAIF) is a major international technical forum hosting five concurrent conferences. This forum promotes international participation and provides for a timely exchange of information among technologists, academicians, industrialists, and program managers on technical and programmatic issues related to inexpensive access to space and space commercialization, exploration, and the potential for performing scientific research and developing new technologies. STAIF is highly attended by high-level representatives from commercial industry, government agencies, and institutes of higher education, both nationally and internationally and co-sponsored by several professional engineering societies.