WHY ‘BLUE DOT’?

“Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it, we go nowhere.”

A Pale Blue Dot, A Bold New Generation

Inspired by Carl Sagan. Designed for dreamers.

In 1990, NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft turned its camera back toward Earth from 6.4 billion kilometers away - and captured a photograph of our planet as a tiny blue speck, barely visible against the vastness of space.
Astronomer and writer Carl Sagan called it the “Pale Blue Dot”. His reflection on that image became one of the most powerful meditations on human existence, humility, and hope:

”That’s here. That’s home. That’s us.. On a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.”

The Blue Dot Challenge is named in honor of that vision - not only of our planet’s fragility, but of our extraordinary capacity to imagine, design, and act with care.

Why Carl Sagan?

Carl Sagan believed in the beauty of science, but also in the power of storytelling, empathy, and wonder. He didn’t just explain the universe - he invited people into it.
He saw curiosity as a moral act, and knowledge as something deeply human.
In that spirit, the Blue Dot Challenge encourages middle and high school students around the world to ask questions that matter, and build ideas that speak to their generation’s most urgent concerns.

Have Questions?

If you’re unsure about anything - the application process, eligibility, or whether your idea is a good fit - don’t hesitate to reach out. Every question matters.