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:
