The 2024 International Space Solar Power Student Competition is a global, undergraduate and graduate level annual event presented by SPACE Canada, in partnership with the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) Power Committee, National Space Society (NSS), and the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), is in its eighth year. This year the competition will encompass multiple disciplines related to Space Solar Power technologies, including but not limited to:

Acceptable disciplines/fields for research projects include:

• architecture level system design activities, cost-benefit studies, environmental footprint studies, etc.;
• end-to-end energy concepts & technology (including wireless power transmission (WPT), solar power generation and distribution, etc.);
• structural systems, in-orbit assembly, controls and dynamics technology, and modeling of these considerations;
• flight and/or space transportation technology and engineering for the SPS (including Earth-to-orbit or in-space transportation and/or propulsion);
• ground systems and integration

In addition, acceptable cross-cutting topics of general interest include:

• the potential value of SPS in reaching goals to mitigate climate change issues; and,
• near-term demonstration of relevant SPS concepts and technology;
• mid-term demonstrations of relevant SPS concepts and technology (for example in low Earth orbit);
• space resources utilization for SPS;
• space policy, legal and regulatory considerations across all of the above (including international cooperation, spectrum management, space debris, etc.); and,
• financing concepts for SPS systems and development.

Calling all students! Join The 2024 International Space Solar Power Student Competition. The deadline for abstract submission of project team proposal is April 16, 2024. Submit your abstract today!

The competition is staged in three rounds:

1. Initial proposals and selection of project teams to participate in the competition. The first deadline for participation in the 2024 competition is development and submission of an abstract for a proposed student research project by not later than April 16^th, 2024. Accepted projects will be announced by early May 2024.
2. Presentations of initial project results by the chosen semi-finalists at the International NSS Space Development Conference (ISDC). For those able to travel, semi-finalists projects shall be presented in person, to be held this year during May 23-26, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Each semi-finalist project team will be required to satisfy the normal requirements for the Competition, and to submit a slide deck on the project for evaluation – as well as making a presentation via online presentations.
3. Presentation of the finalists’ project results at the International Astronautical Congress, followed by selection of a winner for the year. The 2024 International Astronautical Congress (IAC) is planned for Milan, Italy on October 14-18, 2024 on site. These finalists will also be invited to participate at the Space Generation Congress (SGC) 2024 to join in workshops, conferences, and presentations. Each finalist project team will be required to satisfy the normal requirements for the Competition, to submit a slide deck on the project for evaluation, make an online/onsite presentation and deliver a technical paper in the formatting and style of an IAC paper.

PRIZES & AWARDS

1. Up to six teams will be considered for selection as semi-finalists, held at the ISDC following which the Judges will select the finalists in this year’s competition.
2. Support for travel to the ISDC in Los Angeles, California, USA will be provided for semi-finalist teams totaling up to USD $1,500 per team in expense reimbursement, with the actual amount to be determined based on the location at which the student team is based.
3. Up to three teams will be considered for selection as finalists in the 2024 Competition.
4. Where applicable, two representatives from each finalist team will be compensated for their attendance at the SGC and the IAC. This includes reimbursement for registration, travel and accommodation (up to a value of $3000 USD per team).
5. Submitted papers and presentation slide decks from all three teams will be posted on the SPACE Canada website to become part of the literature of Space Solar Power for 2024.

If you would like to receive more information about the updated 2024 International SSP student competition, please contact us at: [email protected]

For full details and rules guiding the Competition, see the 2024 announcement. Learn more by visiting spacecanada.org

The deadline for submission of 2024 project team proposals is April 16, 2024.

Please confirm that you wish to participate under the revised terms of the competition for 2024.