May 23, 2022

CNES challenges students with “Launch the Future” competition to invent space transportation of tomorrow

Monday 23 May, CNES is “Launching the Future” with an ambitious student challenge to imagine, invent, model and prototype the space transportation systems of tomorrow. Candidates have until 2 November to submit their projects and try to win a unique experience with CNES.

Through this competition, CNES is giving higher education institutions in France the opportunity to get students from their third year onwards to deepen their knowledge of space around an innovative technology project focused on tackling some of the major challenges that face us in the years and decades ahead. It also offers France’s space agency a chance to further strengthen its ties with students and academia and thus grow the French space ecosystem and get younger generations inspired by space careers.

Projects must propose real-world solutions in the following areas:
-    The eco-friendly launch base of the future
-    Zero-carbon launchers
-    Deorbiting or reuse of space debris
-    Transportation between Earth orbits
-    Transportation to the Moon or lunar orbit
-    Optimized interplanetary travel
-    Orbital transportation around another planet

The ten best candidates will be invited to pitch their projects at the Ground Based Space Facilities (GBSF) 2022 event organized by CNES, which will be bringing together stakeholders from launch bases and test facilities around the world from 6 to 8 December.

Consult the competition rules here

Know more about the competition here

CONTACTS           
Olivia Baumann    Press Officer    Tel. +33 (0)1 44 76 76 77    olivia.baumann@cnes.fr
Pascale Bresson    Press Officer    Tel. +33 (0)1 44 76 75 39    pascale.bresson@cnes.fr
Raphaël Sart    Head of Media    Tel. +33 (0)1 44 76 74 51    raphael.sart@cnes.fr