NASA Centennial Challenges

Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge

Preliminary Rules Discussion

Saturday, November 6, 2010Menlo Park, California

Andrew PetroNASA Headquarters

Eligibility

Goal is to be inclusive - get the best ideas but keep a level playing field and not discourage new participants from diverse backgrounds

US Congress dictates that prizes can only be awarded US entities or US citizens or permanent residents

Teams maintain rights to their intellectual property

Limits on government support for the effort Data or assets from government-funded work can be used if available to all

Team registration required (comments on registration fees?)All team members specified – what constitutes a team member?

Team reporting requirement – summary of expenditures

The rules should not exclude satellite delivery concepts that are not conventional rocket vehicles.

Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge - Preliminary Rules Discussion

Challenge Attempts

Advanced notification of attempt required: specified time period, number of attempts within time period (unlimited?), contingency days for weather, how far in advance for notification? When to make notification public?

Attempts scheduled - one team at a time, without conflictsScheduled time period more than one weekExtent of on-site monitoring by judges (potentially long time commitment)

Launch locations – limit to US?, any other limitations?

Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge - Preliminary Rules Discussion

Winning Criteria

Winner is the first to accomplish the objective in a scheduled time period- As opposed to an open period with tie-breaker if more than one team is

successful

Objective: two satellites placed in Earth orbit within one week

Definition of Earth orbit: Minimum altitude: x km No requirement for inclination, eccentricity or other parametersHow to verify successful orbit?One orbit, two orbits to verify? (At what longitude does orbit begin?)

Twice in one week – no more than 168 hours from completion of first orbit of first satellite to completion of first orbit of second satellite. (What is the best reference point?)Successful satellite deliveries do not have to be on successive attempts if still within time period.

Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge - Preliminary Rules Discussion

Winning Criteria – Continued

Definition of Payload: Payload should not contain any components necessary for the operation of the launch vehicle or delivery system. The launch system should be able to function just as well if the payload were not present or were replaced with ballast. The payload cannot contain the computer or navigation system for the launch system.

Payload Mass: At least 1 kg.

Payload size – at least 10 cm in all three orthogonal dimensions Spherical, cylindrical or irregularly-shaped payloads must be able to contain an imaginary 10-cm cube.

We don’t want to discourage larger payloads or multiple payloads.

We do want to exclude award of prize for conventional satellite launches that incidentally meet criteria without demonstrating a cost-effective approach or innovation.

Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge - Preliminary Rules Discussion

Safety and Regulations

Abide by all applicable laws and regulationsFAA permits and licensing – may be a difference between test flights and orbital attempts

Extent of inspections of systems and monitoring of operations – for judges and for regulators

Range Safety and Other Safety Requirements – shutdown and abort systemspropellant typesconsiderations for unconventional systems

Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge - Preliminary Rules Discussion

Other Rules Issues and Considerations

Ideas for student involvement – directly or in parallel activities

Other ideas and suggestions to enhance the value of the Challenge

Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge - Preliminary Rules Discussion