Space Resources Challenge

The second Space Resources Challenge was launched last week, an opportunity for innovators to pioneer the technologies that will help humankind live and work sustainably on the Moon. 

The competition, launched by ESA in partnership with the Luxembourg Space Agency and their common European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC), welcomes all participants – from engineering students to space technology start-ups – with Exotopic serving as a Team Partner to provide guidance and support.

The first Space Resources Challenge held a few years ago invited European industries and research institutions to develop innovative methods for prospecting lunar resources, the first step for any ISRU activity. Thirteen teams competed in a first field test in the Netherlands and five finalists participated in a second field test in Luxembourg, with the winning group earning a €500,000 development contract with ESA. 

The second Space Resources Challenge is focused on collecting and processing lunar regolith and will take place at LUNA, the newly inaugurated state-of-the-art facility at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. Participants will have to design and operate robotic systems capable of collecting and sorting lunar regolith simulant and prepare the extraction of enough oxygen for a crew of astronauts on the Moon. Teams have until 20 February 2025 to submit their proposals; after an evaluation process, the selected teams will be invited to the field test in LUNA taking place in October.