[amsat-bb] Re: Here's something we could try.

[ryan woods]

I say we go for it!

________________________________
From: "Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL" <vlfiscus at mcn.net>
To: amsat-bb at amsat.org
Sent: Tuesday, November 1, 2011 7:36 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Here's something we could try.


If Amsat won, we could use the winnings to launch a HEO.
KB7ADL



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RELEASE: 11-370

NASA AND SPACE FLORIDA SMALL SATELLITE RESEARCH CENTER PARTNER IN SPACE LAUNCH CHALLENGE

WASHINGTON -- NASA has signed an agreement with the Space Florida
Small Satellite Research Center of Cape Canaveral, Florida, to manage
the Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge, one of the agency's new
Centennial Challenges prize competitions.

The Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge is to launch satellites with a
mass of at least 2.2 pounds (1 kg) into Earth orbit, twice within the
span of one week. The new challenge has a NASA-provided prize purse
of $2 million.

The objective of the competition is to encourage innovations in
propulsion and other technologies, as well as operations and
management relevant to safe, low-cost, small payload delivery system
for frequent access to Earth orbit. Innovations stemming from this
challenge will be beneficial to broader applications in future launch
systems. They may enhance commercial capability for dedicated
launches of small satellites at a cost comparable to secondary
payload launches -- a potential new market with government,
commercial, and academic customers.

"Monday's agreement between NASA and Space Florida for use of
facilities at the Kennedy Space Center even better positions the
organization for managing this new Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge,"
said Michael Gazarik, director for NASA's Space Technology Program at
NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Space Florida has extensive
experience working with NASA, the FAA, the Air Force, commercial
spaceflight companies and universities to advance their plans for
spaceflight operations. We look forward to having the Space Florida
Small Satellite Research Center overseeing the competition and
bringing together innovative teams with creative problem-solving
ideas."

Space Florida submitted a proposal last spring in response to a NASA
solicitation for this partnership opportunity. They will now begin
detailed preparations for the challenge, publishing rules and then
registering competitors. The first competition launch attempt is
expected to take place in the summer of 2012.

The Centennial Challenges seek unconventional solutions to problems of
interest to NASA and the nation. Competitors have included private
companies, student groups and independent inventors working outside
the traditional aerospace industry. Unlike contracts or grants,
prizes are awarded only after solutions are successfully
demonstrated.

NASA's Centennial Challenges program provides the prize purse for the
technology and innovation competitions. The competitions are managed
by non-profit organizations that cover the cost of operations through
commercial or private sponsorships.

In October, NASA awarded the largest prize in aviation history
following Pipistrel-USA's win of the agency's CAFE Green Flight
Challenge, sponsored by Google. NASA's $1.35 million first prize and
a $120,000 second prize recognized competitors using electric
airplanes to break all previous fuel efficiency records. The
technology and innovation used in electric aircraft may end up in
general aviation aircraft, spawning new jobs and new industries for
the 21st century.

There have been 22 Centennial Challenges competition events since
2005. NASA has awarded nearly $6 million to 15 different
challenge-winning teams. Centennial Challenges is one of the ten
Space Technology programs, managed by NASA's Office of the Chief
Technologist. For more information about the program and descriptions
of each of the challenge competitions, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/challenges

For more information about Space Florida and updates on the
Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge, visit:

www.spaceflorida.gov/r-d 
_______________________________________________
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