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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:
intended to encourage creativity, originality and inventiveness in the face of severe odds and impossible financial restrictions.