Space Canada Mission Statement

The 2022 International Space Solar Power Student Competition

*** The deadline for entry has been extended from March 31, 2022 to April 30, 2022 ***

The 2022 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 sixth year. The competition will encompass multiple disciplines, but will be focused this year around a particular Solar Power Satellite concept considered as a stage one for the achievement of this technology. During 2022, the focus will be on highly-modular microwave wireless power transmission (WPT) Solar Power Satellite (SPS) concepts applicable to upper atmosphere/Low Earth Orbit demonstrator ground to device or device to ground testing and proof of concept.

• architecture level system design activities, cost-benefit studies, etc.;
• end-to-end energy concepts & technology (including wireless power transmission (WPT), solar power generation, etc.);
• structural systems, 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

• 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 this new 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 April 30, 2022).
• Step 2: Presentations of initial project results by the chosen semi-finalists. For those able totravel, semi-finalists projects shall be presented in person at the International NSS Space Development Conference (ISDC), to be held this year during May 27-29, 2022 in Arlington, Virginia. For those unable to travel due to COVID-19 or other restrictions, online presentation options will be arranged, for example using zoom.
• Step 3: Presentations of the finalists’ project results will be at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2022) Space Power Symposium - this year to be held in September 18-22, 2022 in Paris, France - followed by selection of a winner for the year. Again, it is expected that for those able to travel, finalist projects will be presented in person at the IAC 2022; for those unable to travel due to COVID-19 or other restrictions, online presentation options will be arranged, for example using zoom.

1. Up to ten 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 Washington DC 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. Support for travel to the IAC 2022 will be provided for the finalist teams totaling up to $4,000 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 COVID-19 or other 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 2022 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 2022 SSP student competition, please contact us at: .

For full details and rules guiding the Competition, see the 2022 announcement.

The deadline for abstract submission of 2022 project team proposals is April 30, 2022.

Please confirm that you wish to participate under the terms of the competition for 2022.