SPACE Canada Mission Statement

The 2026 International Space Solar Power Student Competition

*** The deadline for abstract submission of 2026 project team proposals is April 30, 2026 ***

The 2026 International Space Solar Power Student Competition, a global, undergraduate and graduate level annual event presented by SPACE Canada, in partnership with the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) Power Committee, International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) Space Solar Power Permanent Committee, the National Space Society (NSS) International Space Development Conference (ISDC) SSP Track, and the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), is in its tenth year.

The competition will encompass multiple disciplines related to Space Solar Power technologies, including but not limited to:

• 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.

• 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.

Abstracts can be submitted through the registration button below.

This year of the competition will be staged this year in three rounds:

• Step 1: Initial proposals and selection of project teams to participate initially in the competition (circa end of April).
• Step 2: Presentations of initial project results by the chosen semi-finalists. For those able to travel, semi-finalists projects shall be presented in person at the International NSS Space Development Conference (ISDC), to be held this year during June 4-7, 2026 in McLean, Virginia. For those unable to travel due to restrictions, online presentation options will be arranged, for example using zoom.
• Step 3: Presentations of the finalists’ project results will be at the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026) Space Power Symposium – this year to be held in October 5-9, 2026, in Antalya, Turkey – followed by selection of a winner for the year for the Mark Hopkins Award. Again, it is expected that for those able to travel, finalist projects will be presented in person at the IAC 2026;

1. Up to six teams will be considered for selection as semi-finalists (Step 2 above) following which the Judges will select the finalists in this year’s competition.
2. Support for travel to the ISDC in McLean, Virginia, USA will be provided for semi-finalist teams totaling up to USD $1,000 per team in expense reimbursement, with the actual amount to be determined based on the location at which the student team is based.
3. Support for travel to the IAC 2026 will be provided for the finalist teams totaling up to USD $3,000 per team in expense reimbursement, with the actual amount to be determined based on the location at which the student team is based.
4. For teams that are unable to attend events above due to travel restrictions, cash prizes will be awarded; these cash prizes will not exceed 50% of the travel support amount per team as shown above. Specific amounts will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
5. IAC 2026 submitted papers and presentation slide decks from all teams will be posted on the SPACE Canada website to become part of the literature of space solar power for the dissemination of knowledge for the benefit of the public.

 

If you would like to receive more information about the 2026 SSP student competition, please contact us at: .

If you have any question about the acceptability of your prospective topics, feel free to contact us at:

 

For full details and rules guiding the Competition, see the 2026 announcement.

 

The deadline for abstract submission of 2026 project team proposals is April 30, 2026.

 

Please confirm that you wish to participate under the terms of the competition for 2026.