Program Overview

Introduction to the Space Sustainability Course

The Space Sustainability Course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in space sustainability. The course aims to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to design, operate, and manage space missions with a sustainability perspective.

Objectives of the Course

The course objectives include:

• Tackling the history of space sustainability and geopolitical challenges
• Presenting different tools and methods for measuring, analyzing, and acting towards more sustainable space missions
• Introducing the concept of Environmental Social Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
• Providing a platform for in-depth exchanges with experts

Target Audience

The target audience for the course includes:

• Space stakeholders (engineers, scientists, non-technical managers, policy practitioners, etc.)
• Individuals active in space agencies, aerospace industries, or related fields
• Those concerned about preserving the sustainability and safety of the space environment in the long-term

Organisation

The course is organized by:

• EPFL Space Center (eSpace), EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne), Switzerland In collaboration with:
  • Karman Project
  • European Space Agency (ESA)

Teaching Approach

The teaching approach includes:

• In-class teaching
• Meetings with practitioners
• Group work

Course Details

• Dates: March 16 to 19, 2026
• Registration deadline: December 14, 2025
• Location: Campus UNIL-EPFL, Lausanne (Switzerland)
• Participants are required to bring their own laptop for hands-on experience
• Tuition fee: CHF 2'400, with a 10% discount for contributing members of EPFL Alumni & EPFL Partners

Our Teachers

The course features a range of expert instructors, including:

• Sabrina Alam, KPMG Luxembourg
• Vitali Braun, IMS Space Consultancy
• Romains Buch, ClearSpace
• Emmanuelle David, Postdoc Researcher
• Stephan Hellmich, Swiss Astronaut
• Claude Nicollier, Engineer and Student Coordinator
• Mathieu Udriot, Engineer and Student Coordinator

Testimonial

A testimonial from a course participant, Lucie Poulet, a Karman Fellow, is available, highlighting her inspiring experience in the Space Sustainability course.