The 2nd Mission Idea Contest

overview requirements schedule application frequently asked questions Contact
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Requirements

Category 1: Mission Idea and Satellite Design

application template for category 1Category 1 Full Paper Template

Eligibility:

Any individual, group, or company with space systems expertise and enthusiasm for micro/nano-satellites.

Requirements:

Exploitation of nano-satellites, e.g., free-flying satellites typically <50 kg (both constellation and non-constellation mission ideas will be welcome.) Reasonable, coherent story planning that answers the following questions are required:

  • Who will invest/sponsor your mission?
  • Which launch vehicle will you use?
  • Who is going to do ground operation and where?

Technical feasibility and financial feasibility (e.g. rough cost analysis) should be also discussed.

Evaluation Criteria
  • Originality (50 points)
    Novel mission concept not yet realized or proposed, or a new implementation of an existing capability or service (25)
    Impact on society (25)
  • Feasibility (50 points)
    Technical (20)
    Programmatic (cost estimate, development schedule, infrastructure requirements) (15)
    Operational (description of ground segment and communications architecture, e.g., planned use of existing infrastructure) (15)
Category 1 overview by
Professor Herman Steyn
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Category 2: Mission Idea and Business Model

application template for category 2Category 2 Full Paper Template

Eligibility:

Any individual, group, or company with business expertise and enthusiasm for micro/nano-satellites.

Requirements:

Proposal of business plan using micro/nano-satellite technology, e.g., free-flying satellites typically <50 kg (both constellation and non-constellation mission ideas will be welcome.)

We will provide various "cost vs. performance" model for each segment such as satellite bus, mission components (e.g., Earth observing camera or communication system), launch, and ground operation. We will also provide several mission ideas including Earth observation by visible sensors, launching something into space, launching into space and recovering at the ground of some payloads, data collection from ground sensors by satellites, etc. Any number of satellites and ground stations is possible, but you should think up a certain business plan which can get some profits considering the cost required for satellite, launch, ground operation and data analysis. The firmness of business plan, feasibility and effects on the society will be evaluated.

Evaluation Criteria:download criteria

  • Impact on society and environment (40) show detail
  • Business model structure (5W2H: who, to whom, what, when, where, how, how much). (15)
    You are encouraged to contact potential investors (“who”) such as private companies and government agencies as well as potential users (“to whom”) to develop your ideas. show detail
  • Business feasibility (15) show detail
  • Logistical feasibility based upon the cost model provided by the organizer. (15) show detail
  • Risk Analysis (15) show detail

NOTE: In building your own cost model, you must specify design parameters as to the system configuration (the number of satellites, ground stations, and so on). You should find the following references to be helpful in order to estimate the costs involved with your mission.

cost estimation tipsCost Estimation Tips (31 KB)
cost model guide bookCost Model Guidance Book (724KB)
Cost Model (63 KB)
Category 2 overview by
Professor Shinichi Nakasuka
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Category2 Evaluation Criteria
by Professor Hiroshi Kawahara
evaluation criteria
 

List of references

Regional Seminars for the Details

Our Regional Coordinators will organize regional seminars to facilitate your participation from all over the world.
Stay tuned for regional seminars.

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