The EPFL Space Center (eSpace), supported by the Space Safety and Sustainability (SSS) Project Group of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), is honoured to invite participants of all ages, from all around the world to take part in this essay competition. Our competition will provide entrants with the opportunity to introduce new ideas on the topic of how to develop space logistics services, in a safe and sustainable way.

In recent years, the space industry has undergone profound changes. The drop in launch costs has been driven by numerous start-ups following the path of SpaceX in the launch industry. These new actors, in particular, SpaceX and Blue Origin, work tirelessly to effect a transformation in the space industry similar to that which occurred previously in the aviation industry. Moving from single-use to reusable rockets which only requires inspection between launches was a risky decision, but it has been vindicated by the significant reduction in the cost of access to space. Many new launchers intend to, and will, make space more accessible than ever before.

At the same time, small and nanosatellite formats and the standardization and industrialization of the production of satellites enable new innovative business models and missions. The space industry has evolved towards the predominantly commercial operation. But such new activities also introduce new challenges in terms of sustainability, such as the increase of the number of satellites and debris that will increase the probability of collision which could lead to a chain reaction, the current use of non-green propellant, or the limited in-situ resources for space exploration (Moon/Mars).