The European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) was proud to host the winner of the European Space for Sustainability Award, Dennis Jöckel, at its premises in Vienna, Austria.
Founded in 2012, the award aims to raise awareness and promote creative ideas. The European Space Agency (ESA), the European Interparliamentary Space Conference (EISC), and ESPI’s Centre for Sustainability and Resilience sponsor the award as part of their efforts to find new ways to lighten the space industry’s footprint on Earth, in orbit and beyond.
As part of winning, Dennis participated in a dedicated mentorship programme, spent one day at the European Astronaut Centre and spent four weeks as a visiting researcher at ESPI’s premises in Vienna, Austria.
“ESPI provided an unparalleled opportunity to connect with global space leaders. I’ve gained vital insights into policy, diplomacy, and the synergies between resilience and sustainability while enjoying the magic of Vienna. It was a fast-paced, fun, and deeply educational research visit that has truly reshaped my perspective on the space sector.”
Dennis’s research tackles a growing conflict in space sustainability: as satellite operators increasingly dispose of spacecraft through atmospheric re-entries to avoid space debris, the environmental consequences of materials burning up in the atmosphere remain poorly understood. His study applies the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method to atmospheric re-entries of electronic components and energy materials, aiming to identify which materials cause the least ecological damage during demise and laying the foundation for a new category of “sustainable re-entry materials.”
About Centre for Sustainability and Resilience
The Centre for Sustainability and Resilience (CSR) was established by the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI), as its dedicated platform for societal engagement, evidence integration, and impact-oriented collaboration across the Space – Earth continuum. CSR responds to a growing need: sustainability challenges in orbit increasingly affect societies on Earth, while resilience challenges on Earth increasingly rely on space-based insights. CSR aims to bridge these gaps by creating structured, multi-level engagement pathways that link evidence, policy, practice, and community needs.
