Topic outline

  • Debater Vlad

    See Index on the left for more information on the NSS HS spUN Debate

    Applications for the 2025 season are now closed.

  • Overview High School Debate Program

    The NSS logo and the spUN Debate logo are shown in this image.

    The 2025 H S spUN Debate Program applications and online courses are Closed.

    Updated:  1/24/25

    The virtual NSS Space Policy and Universalization (spUN) Debates offer international students an opportunity to form a global team to debate space policy with an eye on Universalization – finding solutions through world-wide collaboration and cooperation for the space industry and here on Earth such as laws and concerns in space development and expansion.

    Students learn the tools of debate and public speaking in a cooperative environment supported by professional coaches and professional judges. 


    Veteran and beginner debaters from all around the globe learn international collaborative skills as they form their 4-person teams.  


    An online course starts selected participants on a path to final acceptance onto a spUN High School Debate Team. The  virtual debate season is from February- June 2025.

    The Final  Debate virtual debate is streamed into the NSS International Space Development Conference - ISDC2025 held June 19 - 22, 2025 om Orlando, FL USA.


                                                  ISDC Image for marketing - no words - Astronaut kneeling with rover in the background.
 CASH AWARDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR DEBATERS ON THE FINALIST TEAMS!       


               The 2025 HS resolution topic is: "An international body should establish a framework for the utilization of space minerals." 



                         Here's some information about the spUN Debate benefits from some of our veteran debaters - In Their Own Words...

       

       


  • Schedule 2025 High School spUN Debate Program

    The spUN Debate Program is 100% Virtual

    Updated 12/12/24

    Sept 1, 2024 - Official Launch of the 2025 HS spUN Debate Application window 

    Dec 1, 2024 - Coaches Applications Due

    Dec. 10, 2024 - Application Info Sent to Debaters

    Dec. 10, 2024 - Online Courses are Avaialable for Debaters

    Jan. 1, 2025 - Applications for the spUN Debate close & coachs application due by 11:59  UTC

    Jan 5, 2025 - Waiver Request Due - Debaters fill out application by 11:59  UTC

    Jan. 10 2025 - Fees are due by 11:59  UTC

    Jan 1, 2024 - Announcements of selected debaters  Begins & Online course opens

    Jan 20, 2025 - Debater online Course Closes

    ~Jan 22, 2025 - Final Selection/Team Assignments Announced

    Feb 15, 2025 - Teams begin with spUN Debate Coaches

    March 1, 2025 - HS Mentor session

    April 5, 2025 - Practice Tournament 

    May 17,18,31; June 1,7,8,14,15, 2025 - Preliminary Tournament Rounds (Weekends)

    7:45  and 9:45  a.m. Central Daylight Saving Time

    June 21 or 22, 2025 - Final Tournament - streamed to ISDC, Orlando, FL, USA

    8:30  a.m. Eastern Daylight Saving Time

    July 12, 2025 - Awards Ceremony




  • Universalization Concept

    What is Universalisation?

    How it all started

    The spUN Debates began in 2017 at the National Space Society's International Space Development Conference in St. Louis, MO, USA.  Dr. LJ Edmonds gave a presentation to international students on the topic of universalization, a concept for cooperation and living that will greatly impact space development. Several students and a teacher engaged in an animated discussion of the impacts universalisation could have on space settlement but also on how we successfully and harmoniously move forward in Earthly policies and interactions!

    Must watch videos

    Here are some videos that resulted from the subsequent spUN Debate Tournaments (pre-COVID-19) in 2018 and 2019. The first video is an overview of the 2018 debates...Please take a moment to see the impact the study of the universalization concept made on the student debaters.  


    The second video talks about the practicalities of space living and governing and, how to buy chocolate in space! 


    The next video is from a podcast in which Dr. Lorna Jean Edmonds was interviewed by Starcast about the universalization concept.  This concept is very important in our debates, both to see the concept in the debate arguments and also as a guide in the conduct of everyone in the NSS spUN Debate Organization.

       
    Picture of co-founder of spUN Debates - Dr. Lorna Jean Edmonds

    We hope these resources will give you great food for thought!


  • Resolution and Information

    2025 HS spUN Resolution:

    An international body should establish a framework for the utilization of space minerals.


    The Mentor Forum:

    March 1st, 2025 

    More Information will be coming about the subject matter expert who will present the Mentor Forum.
    Suggested Definitions for the Resolution: 

    1. International body. An organization or institution that operates on a global scale and involves the participation of multiple countries. This body would have the authority and legitimacy to create and enforce rules, guidelines, and standards related to the extraction and use of resources found in space. The affirmative team might choose to define the number and type of countries required to constitute a legitimate international body.

    2. Establish. Implies a process of creation, implementation, and enforcement of a structured system for governing use of space minerals.

    3. Framework. Refers to a structured and comprehensive system of rules, guidelines, and principles that will govern how space resources are extracted, used, and managed.

    4. Utilization. Processes of extracting, processing, and applying space-based resources for various purposes. It encompasses the entire value chain of space mining, from the initial acquisition of raw materials to their eventual use.

    5. Space Minerals. Refers to naturally occurring solid materials with a defined chemical composition and crystal structure found on celestial bodies like asteroids, the Moon, and other planets or moons.  These resources hold potential economic and strategic value for both space exploration and terrestrial applications. It is important to note that gases and organic compounds are not normally considered space minerals.




  • Mentor Forum

    The Mentor Forum:

    The NSS spUN HS Mentor Forum with Jim Plaxco, Mar 9, 2024, was extremely well attended. The video from the Mentor forum is found here: 2024 
    An excellent source of space-related topics can be found at National Space Society

    Consideration of important words found in the resolution are:

    • Space 


    • Universalization - the next phase of human development, marking the transition from nation-states to a single world view of humanity where all individuals are treated fairly without regard to nation of origin, race, sexual orientation, and physical or mental ability.

    Please see attached videos for more information on the concept of Universalization. A reference and connection to universalization in the debate arguments and in the team activities will be part of the debate assessment during the tournament.



  • Debate Format

    spUN debate format

    The 2025 spUN Program Debate format calls for a debate session of 60 minutes and allows a presentation of Pro and Con arguments to:


    1. educate the participants about the resolution topic and the weaving of the universalization concept in the approach of the resolution topic that addresses space policy.

    2. educate the spectators of the debates in the space policy debate topic and the use of universalization to address and explain the resolution topic.


    The 2025 High School Debate Format follows. It can also be downloaded from the attachment.


  • Rulebook , spUN Debates


    The 2025 spUN Debate Program is pleased to present the spUN Debate Program Rulebook. 


    spUN Debates Rule Book


    The spUN Rulebook outlines such topics as:

    Debater Code of Conduct

    Qualifications and Eligibility to be considered for the spUN Debate Program

    Requirements and Expectations for the Program

    Practice Tournament and Program Tournament Organization

    Debate Format and Adjudication Information

    Challenges and Penalties During the Tournament


    We encourage coaches, debaters, and judges to become acquainted with the Rulebook.


  • 2024 HS Debate Info

    For 2024, the High School students debated the resolution:


    "Space development would best be performed by autonomous AI and robotic systems."


    spUN HS Debates 2024 Video Links


    May 11, 2024 7:45 am CDT Slim vs. Danuri

      

      

    May 11, 2024 7:45 am CDT SOHO vs. New Horizons

      

      

    May 11, 2024 9:45 am CDT CAPSTONE vs. SOHO

     

     

    May 11, 2024 9:45 am CDT Juno vs. Aditya

     

     

    May 11, 2024 9:45 am CDT Psyche vs. Pioneer

     

     

    May 11, 2024 9:45 am CDT Voyager vs. SLIM

     

     

    May 12, 2024 7:45 am CDT Danuri vs. Aditya

     

     

    May 12, 2024 7:45 am CDT New Horizons vs. Voyager

     

     

    May 12, 2024 7:45 am CDT Psyche vs. CAPSTONE

     

     

    May 12, 2024 9:45 am CDT Pioneer vs. New Horizons

     

     

    May 12, 2024 9:45 am CDT SLIM vs. Juno

     

     

    May 12, 2024 9:45 am CDT SOHO vs. Psyche

     

     

    May 18, 2024 7:45 am CDT Aditya vs. SOHO

     

     

    May 18, 2024 7:45 am CDT

    May 18, 2024 9:45 am CDT CAPSTONE vs. SLIM

     

     


    May 12, 2024 9:45 am CDT