N-Prize

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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]

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:

• Nebula^[10][11]
• Epsilon Vee^[12][13]
• Vulcan^[14][15]
• Microlaunchers^[16][17]
• Cambridge University Spaceflight^[18][19]
• Potent Voyager^[20]
• Team Prometheus^[21][22]
• Team 9.99^[23]
• Kiwi 2 Space^[24]
• Qi Spacecraft^[25][26]
• Aerosplice^[27][28]
• WikiSat^[29][30]

• Ansari X Prize
• Rockoon
• List of space technology awards

• N-Prize main website
• N-Prize official forum
• Space Fellowship official N-Prize forum