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Space Canada Mission Statement

SPACE Canada is dedicated to promoting, supporting and encouraging international dialogue on space-based solar power through research, education and commercialization.

We will accomplish our mission by serving as a facilitator, enabling individuals, organizations and governments to engage in a dialogue that will transform our world view from one of isolated energy solutions to a comprehensive global system.




We are pleased to make public several presentations that were given at the recent International Symposium on Solar Energy from Space, held September 8-10, 2009 at the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto, Canada.
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ANNOUNCEMENT: Additional Forum and deadline Changes in the 2020 International Space Solar Power Student Competition

 

The 2020 International Space Solar Power Student Competition is a global, undergraduate and graduate level annual event sponsored by SPACE Canada, the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) Power Committee, National Space Society (NSS) among others, which is in its fourth year. The competition involves student team projects that address the sustainable and affordable new energy option of Space Solar Power (SSP). The event is typically staged in three rounds:

  • Initial proposals and selection of project teams to participate in the competition (circa end of March).
  • Presentations of initial project results by these semi-finalists in the late May or early June -- and selection of finalists. These semi-finalists projects have previously been presented at the International NSS Space Development Conference (ISDC).
  • And, presentation of the finalists’ project results at the International Astronautical Congress Space Power Symposium, followed by selection of a winner for the year.

 

The ISDC 2020 had been planned as being where the first round of presentations and judging would be held for the 2020 International Space Solar Power Student Competition. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis around the world, the ISDC was cancelled by the US-based National Space Society (NSS), resulting in initial changes in plans for 2020, which were posted earlier.

 

Unfortunately, this past week the 2020 International Astronautical Congress (IAC), planned for Dubai, UAE (in October 2020) was also cancelled due to the global COVID-19 epidemic.

 

As a result, additional significant changes in the planned Competition are hereby announced.

 

First and foremost, it is SPACE Canada's view that the 2020 International Space Solar Power Student Competition should continue this difficult year, especially in light of the even greater ongoing crisis facing us in terms of climate and CO2 levels.  As a result of the forum cancellations however, the contest will occur but with further adjustments in the implementation of the event.

 

Accordingly, the revised plan is as follows:

 

  • Step 1 will take place as usual; however, the deadline is extended further; proposals for 2020 student projects should be submitted by the end of May, 2020. Accepted projects will be announced by the end of June, 2020.
  • As announced earlier, Step 2 will take place virtually, by means of ZOOM presentations by the semi-finalist student teams. These semi-finalist ZOOM presentations will be delayed to the August timeframe to allow a greater opportunity for the teams to develop their projects. 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 ZOOM.
  • Finally, Step 3 will now also take place virtually for the selected finalist student teams by means of ZOOM presentations by the finalist teams. These finalist ZOOM presentations will be scheduled in the October 2020 timeframe, approximately when the IAC 2020 would have occurred. Each 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, make a presentation via ZOOM and deliver a technical paper in the formatting and style of an IAC paper.

 

The following additional changes are also announced:

  1. Three teams will be considered for selection as finalists in this year’s competition.
  2. In lieu of travel support for the finalist teams to attend the IAC, cash prizes will be awarded for the first ($3,000, USD), second ($2,000, USD) and third place ($1,000, USD).
  3. 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 2020.

 

If you would like to receive more information about the updated 2020 SSP student competition, please contact us at: .

 

For full details and rules guiding the Competition, see the 2020 announcement.

 

The deadline for submission of 2020 project team proposals is now May 31, 2020.

 

If you have already submitted a proposal, welcome!  Please confirm that you wish to participate under the revised terms of the competition for 2020.

 

Thank you and be safe.

Wireless Power Transmission Demonstration Project
One of the exciting sessions conducted at the International Symposium on Solar Energy from Space involved a demonstration of wireless power transmission. This demonstration utilized state-of-the-art solid state amplifiers in a retro-directive phased array system that beamed power with high efficiency across the Great Hall at the Ontario Science Centre.
Learn More >
 Day 1 - Just before Opening Session


FROM THE SUN
TO THE EARTH

Play the video to the right to learn about space-based solar energy.

SPACE Canada wishes to thank Kris Holland of Mafic Studios for his permission to use his beautiful images of solar power satellites in “From the Sun to the Earth”. We thank Kris for his generosity.