N-Prize

The N-Prize (the "N" stands for "Nanosatellite" or "Negligible Resources".^[1]) is a competition to stimulate innovation directed towards obtaining cheap access to space. The competition was launched in 2008 by Cambridge biologist Paul H. Dear, and is intended specifically to spur amateur involvement in spaceflight.^[2]

The challenge posed by the N-Prize is to launch a satellite weighing between 9.99 and 19.99 grams into Earth orbit, and to track it for a minimum of nine orbits. Most importantly, though, the launch budget must be within £999.99 (about $1500) - and must include the launch vehicle, all of the required non-reuseable launch equipment hardware, and propellant. According to the full rules of the N-Prize, it is "intended to encourage creativity, originality and inventiveness in the face of severe odds and impossible financial restrictions" and "is aimed at amateurs, enthusiasts, would-be boffins and foolhardy optimists."^[2]

In order to be eligible for the awards, the winning team must complete the challenge before 19:19:09 (GMT) on 19 September 2012. Doing so will earn the winning team a prize of £9,999.99.^[2]

List of Competing Teams

Some of the teams that entered the competition at one time or another include:

• Nebula ^{[3][non-primary source needed]}
• Epsilon Vee^[4]

• Vulcan^{[5][not in citation given]}

• Miicrolaunchers^{[6][not specific enough to verify]}

• Cambridge University Spaceflight^[7]

• Potent Voyager

• Prometheus

• Team 9.99 ^{[8][non-primary source needed]}

• Kiwi 2 Space^{[9][non-primary source needed]}

• Qi Spacecraft^{[10][non-primary source needed][dated info]}

• Aerosplice^{[11][non-primary source needed]}

• WikiSat^{[Full citation needed]}

See also

• Ansari X Prize
• Rockoon

Wakefield Aerospace

References

1. ^ "Whimsical 'N-prize' to spur ultra-cheap space launches". http://www.newscientist.com/blog/space/2008/04/n-prize-to-spur-ultra-cheap-space.html?feedId=space_rss20. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} ""Nines" have it for Nanosatellite space race: The N-Prize". ITWire. 2008-05-03. http://www.itwire.com/content/view/18033/1066/. Retrieved 2008-05-17. 
3. ^ n-Prize Patch, nebula-prize.com team website, "Featured image" page, date unknown, accessed 2010-12-07.
4. ^ Epsilon Vee website, 27 Jun 2008, no updates since (accessed 2011-09-21).
5. ^ South African Rocketry Association website, copyright 2008, no mention of N-Prize on this webpage
6. ^ Microlaunchers website, copyright 2007, unclear when last updated
7. ^ To the edge of space for £1,000, guardian.co.uk, 2006-09-16, accessed 2010-12-07.
8. ^ Team 9.99, team webpage, undated, accessed 2010-12-07.
9. ^ Kiwi 2 Space, Kiwi 2 Space webpage, date unknown, accessed 2010-12-07.
10. ^ Qi, Qi blog, last entry 2009-10-02, accessed 2010-12-07.
11. ^ Aerosplice, team webpage, date unknown, accessed 2010-12-07.

• N-Prize Founder, Dr. Paul Dear Talks to the Space Fellowship about Starting up a Space Prize (with a Bottle of Pinot Grigio)
• Generation Space (Team 5) Discuss Their N-Prize Plans
• Team Prometheus Discuss Their First Near-Space Mission

External links

• Cambridge University Spaceflight

External links

• N-Prize main website
• N-Prize official Forum
• Team 1 "Nebula Aerospace" Website
• Team 9 "Team Prometheus" Website
• Team 5 "Generation Space" open Official Forums