[meteorite-list] ESA Looking For Innovative Ideas From Students, Universities To Enhance Aurora Programme

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:18:28 2004
Message-ID: <200302191610.IAA20714_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEM5KU1A6BD_index_0.html

Calling all students and universities
European Space Agency
18 February 2003

The European Space Agency (ESA) is looking for innovative, imaginative
ideas, concepts and technologies to enhance Europe's long-term Aurora
programme for the robotic and human exploration of the Moon, Mars and
asteroids.

Teams of graduate and undergraduate students from universities in Europe and
Canada are invited to participate in this exciting programme by entering the
Aurora Student Design Competition. Student teams will be expected to work
with their professors and supervisors to produce a project relevant to the
Aurora programme.

Each University, through its student team, can submit one project in each of
the following five categories:

Flagship class missions

These are major missions intended to achieve important technological and
scientific goals within the framework of the Aurora programme, such as
carrying out a soft landing on a planetary surface or returning a sample
from another object back to Earth. They may involve several independent
elements, such as orbiters, sub-satellites, landers, rovers, penetrators,
airborne robots, planetary ascent vehicles or re-entry vehicles.

Arrow class missions

These are cost-capped, rapid development missions to demonstrate new
technologies or mission approaches (e.g. in preparation for more complex
Flagship class missions). They might provide engineering or scientific data
needed to constrain later mission designs. Arrow missions will also include
concepts that exploit opportunities for 'hitchhiker' payloads to be carried
on already planned European or international missions.

Human missions

Crewed missions beyond Low Earth Orbit, i.e. to beyond the International
Space Station. The mission concepts might involve exploration of the Moon,
Mars or asteroids, setting up of exploration-enabling space infrastructure
or preparation/training activities required for later, more ambitious
missions.

Surface robotics

Robotic systems enabling mobility or interaction of a landed or airborne
spacecraft with the surrounding environment. They may include power
generation, improved survivability, extension of lifetime and exploration
capabilities, alternative locomotion systems, novel resources, such as
energy or fuel, management approaches, alternative architecture,
non-conventional materials etc.

New enabling technologies

Innovative technological concepts to enable or facilitate robotic and human
exploration of the Moon, Mars and asteroids. Some of the key technology
areas include power generation, propulsion, atmospheric entry, descent and
landing, and communications.

Each team selected to represent its university in the contest is invited to
send in an outline of its proposal by 9 March 2003, together with a
supporting letter from the university.

Judging of the entries in each category, by a panel of experts, will take
place at a special event scheduled to take place in September 2003.

Competition prizes

ESA, together with other sponsors and partners, will be offering prizes for
the best projects in each category. The full list of prizes will be
announced at a later date. However, first prize for each category is likely
to be one of those detailed below or another of comparable importance:

   * a professional visit to the European space centres, including the
     European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana;
   * attendance at the IAF Congress in Vancouver, Canada, at ESA's expense;
   * sponsorship to present the winning project at suitable conferences and
     symposia.

Important dates

9 March 2003 - deadline to submit outline of the design project

14 March 2003 - notification of the selected teams

30 July 2003 - deadline to submit the final project

8 - 9 September 2003 - Aurora Academia Workshop, project presentations and
prize award The rules for the competition can be seen at: Student design
content

Please send project outlines and any queries to:
student4aurora_at_esa.int
Received on Wed 19 Feb 2003 11:10:53 AM PST