N-Prize

The N-Prize (the "N" stands for "Nanosatellite" or "Negligible Resources".[1]) is an inducement prize contest intended to "encourage creativity, originality and inventiveness in the face of severe odds and impossible financial restrictions"[2] and thus stimulate innovation directed towards obtaining cheap access to space. The competition was launched in 2008[3] by Cambridge biologist Paul H. Dear,[4] and is intended specifically to spur amateur involvement in spaceflight as it is "aimed at amateurs, enthusiasts, would-be boffins and foolhardy optimists."[5]

Dr. Dear died on 11 March 2020, and the prize was subsequently closed.

The challenge posed by the N-Prize is to launch a satellite weighing between 9.99 and 19.99 grammes into Earth orbit, and to track it for a minimum of nine orbits. Most importantly the launch budget must be under £999.99 including the launch vehicle, all of the required non-reusable launch equipment hardware, and propellant.[5]

In order to be eligible for the awards the challenge initially had to be completed before 19:19:09 (GMT) on 19 September 2013, however later it was decided that the prize will remain open until won.[6] Doing so will earn the winning team a prize of £9,999.99.[7]

List of competing teams

The official site of the N-Prize includes an animated page listing over fifty teams together with contact information and links to any team websites.[8] Examples of teams[9] that have entered the competition at one time or another and who also have or had web pages include:

See also

References
  1. "Whimsical 'N-prize' to spur ultra-cheap space launches". New Scientist. 21 April 2008. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  2. "Rules in full". N-Prize. §1. The Spirit of the N-Prize Challenge. Retrieved 21 March 2014. intended to encourage creativity, originality and inventiveness in the face of severe odds and impossible financial restrictions.
  3. "Halfbakery: N-Prize". 13 February 2008. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  4. "Paul H. Dear - Aerospace". Paul H. Dear. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  5. ""Nines" have it for Nanosatellite space race: The N-Prize". ITWire. 3 May 2008. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  6. "N-Prize reopened". N-Prize. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  7. "N-Prize Founder, Dr. Paul Dear Talks to the Space Fellowship about Starting up a Space Prize (with a Bottle of Pinot Grigio)". 16 June 2008. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  8. "N-Prize teams". N-Prize. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  9. "N-Prize: Team profiles". 22 October 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  10. "Nebula Aerospace login page". Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  11. "UK Team "Nebula" Talk to the Space Fellowship about Entering the N-Prize". Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  12. "Epsilon Vee's weblog". 11 June 2008. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  13. "A Q&A session with N-Prize contenders "Epsilon Vee"". Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  14. "South African Rocketry Association". Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  15. "South African Rocketry Association Projects". Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  16. "Microlaunchers". Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  17. "Microlaunchers N-Prize Presentation". 2 April 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  18. "Cambridge University Spaceflight - A student society aiming to get a rocket into space for less than £1000 per launch". Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  19. "To the edge of space for £1,000". the Guardian. 16 September 2006. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  20. "Potent Voyager". 8 August 2008. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  21. "Team Prometheus - Advocates of the New Space Frontier". Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  22. "Team Prometheus - Upcoming Tests, The N-Prize and the GLXP". 11 January 2010. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  23. "Team 9.99 // N-Prize Competitors". Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  24. "Team Indians - Aerospace/Defense". Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  25. "Kiwi2Space - New Zealand Back yard space pioneers". Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  26. "Qi Spacecraft". Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  27. "New N-Prize Team - Qi Spacecraft". 24 November 2008. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  28. "Aerosplice". Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  29. "New N-Prize Team - Aerosplice". 18 February 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  30. "Wikisat - Opening space to everyone". Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  31. "Una lanzadera 'low cost' para satélites enanos". el Mundo. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
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