Take the space challenge!

Exciting space competitions for all age groups

Below are seven competitions including some that will open later this year in which you or your friends could take part and win some exciting prizes.

To find out more, read on!

Primary School Students

Richard Garriot

1. Space Adventures and British National Space Centre invite you to design an experiment to be carried out on the International Space Station in October 2008 by British-born private space explorer Richard Garriott. Information is available on www.richardinspace.com. 
Closing date is 20 June 2008.
  
Winners will be invited to present their ideas in London to members of the Parliamentary Space Committee at the House of Commons towards the end of the year. 

Secondary School and College Students

2. Show the relevance and enterprise potential of science by thinking of winning ideas for the commercial uses of spaceflight. The challenge is set by Space Adventures and the British National Space Centre. Further information from www.richardinspace.com. Closing date 20 June 2008. Winners will be invited to present their business plans in London to members of the Parliamentary Space Committee at the House of Commons towards the end of the year.

3. Be a scientist for the day – take charge of the multi-million pound spacecraft Cassini as it takes images of Saturn.  Competition is organised by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory with Queen Mary, University of London. Closing date 21 May 2008. 

Further details from l.f.jackson@qmul.ac.uk


Watch this space for announcement of further challenges…

4. Design an experiment to be carried out on a sounding rocket. Competition details will shortly be announced by the Science and Technology Facilities Council. Further details will be available on www.stfc.ac.uk

5. Take part in the Virgin Galactic competition aimed at students in the first two years of secondary school. Competition challenge will be announced on 29 April 2008. 

Further details available on www.raes.org.uk and on www.virgingalactic.com

6. Design a flying aerospace vehicle that meets a specified set of mission and performance requirements. Students work in teams the same way aerospace engineers do. Competition details for 2009 will be announced on 18 July 2008 at a special fly-off at the Farnborough International Airshow. 

Further information available from www.ukayroc.org
 

University Students

Develop proposals for Earth observations in partnership with EADS Astrium, Centre for Earth Observation Instrumentation and Natural Environment Research Council. 

Further information is available from heather@venturethinking.com

Check out past competitions for ideas and inspiration

Six teams are currently battling it out to design an experiment to be carried on a satellite. Winners will be announced on 28 September 2008. More information from www.spaceexperiment.info