Congratulations to Erik STYLIANIDIS (PSIA International Economic Policy/ISAE-SUPAERO) & Hector VESPROUMIS (School of Public Affairs/ISAE-SUPAERO) who won the 2nd Prize of the prestigious USAIRE Student Awards 2024!

The USAIRE Student Awards is an international competition, designed by USAIRE and co-organized by ORAJe, which challenges students worldwide to reshape the future of the aerospace and defense industry. Created by Michel Dubarry in 2006, now ex-President of Rolls-Royce International in Europe and North Africa, the competition's aim is to give students an opportunity to awake their spirit of innovation and to get closer from Aerospace and Defense stakeholders.

This year's topic invited students to reflect on the major forces like disruptive innovations, new business models and geopolitical upheaval that are transforming the aerospace and defense industry at an unprecedented rate. Erik and Hector proposed the deployment of a small constellation of nuclear reactors, supported by laser and microwave relays, to establish an orbital power distribution network.
The proposal was backed by a business case demonstrating the project’s feasibility and profitability. As such, Erik and Hector distinguished themselves with a bold yet convincing paper on an in-orbit satellite charging system, which impressed the professional jury with its originality and business-awareness. 

Wanna be part of the USAIRE Student Awards adventure? Stay tuned for the subject reveal and call for papers in February!

More information:

• the USAIRE Student Awards;
• the 2024 ceremony;
• In 2023, the laureates of the USAIRE Student Awards were already students of the School of Public Affairs (FR)