On April 21-25, 2025, the XXIII All-Ukrainian Conference and Research Competition “Star Trek”, organized by the A.M. Makarov National Center for Aerospace Education of Youth, was held. This is a large-scale event that annually brings together young scientists, teachers and space dreamers from all over Ukraine.

This year the Conference-Contest gathered a record number of participants: 159 schoolchildren and students from 14 regions of Ukraine submitted 153 research papers in 10 scientific and practical areas. This interest proves once again that the generation of young Ukrainians has a remarkable scientific potential and a deep interest in studying the Universe, future technologies and the history of astronautics.

Over the course of 5 days, the participants presented their research papers in the following areas:

• Technical creativity and rocket and space modeling
• Spacecraft and launch vehicles
• Space medicine and biology
• Space physics
• Astronomy
• History of astronautics
• Computer technologies
• Spirituality and Space
• Natural phenomena and ecology of Space
• Scientific research in Space

Planetarium Noosphere has traditionally supported the initiative and joined the XXIII All-Ukrainian Conference-Contest of Scientific Research Papers “Star Trek”. This year, senior space guide Yegor Tur acted as a jury member and coordinator of the Astronomy (junior group), where 19 participants from different regions of Ukraine presented their research.



The defense of research papers took place on April 23 and 24 in an online format. The young researchers presented papers on topics covering a wide range of astronomical issues: from solar activity, moon phases, and Halley's comet to deep scientific concepts such as the mystery of dark matter, the multiverse, and the origin of the universe. The papers also included research on asteroid hazards, modern Mars exploration, galaxies, a parade of planets, and even a metaphorical vision - “The Universe as a box of chocolates.”

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All the participants impressed with their high level of preparation, out-of-the-box thinking, and sincere passion for science. Each of the works proved that the youth of Ukraine is extremely talented, intelligent and ready to create the future today!