Space is a key asset for Europe as it stimulates technical innovation and inspiration, and increases the understanding of our planet and the Universe. The European Space Agency’s (ESA) vision positions space exploration as a global endeavour, which benefits society at large. In doing so, ESA focuses on a destination-driven space exploration strategy for low Earth orbit (LEO), the Moon and Mars. The Space Exploration Masters, initiated by ESA and AZO, is Europe’s first innovation competition dedicated to space exploration.
The awards ceremony on 30 October 2018 in Bilbao brought new business ideas and personalities on stage. ESA-Astronaut Matthias Maurer held the keynote and presented the awards to the winners.
The team around the overall winner “Alginity” – Maria Teresa Perez Zaballos, Cheng Kang Lee, Yixuan Jin and Christopher Koch – intend to solve the problem of having an autonomous food and oxygen supply at a lunar base. Thus, Alginity aims to develop a space-grade bioreactor and harvester with an all-in-one, autonomous environment control unit. With this innovative idea, Alginity won 2 challenges besides beeing the Overall Winner 2018: The Sustainable Exploration Challenge and the ESA Space Solutions Prize.
Read the current press release here.
