The N-Prize, Prize for putting a nano-satellite into orbit

[diamondspaceguy]

<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><em>For those of you who haven yet heard of the N-Prize, the N-Prize is a &pound;9,999.99 (sterling) cash prize which can be claimed by any individual, or group, who are able to prove that they have put into orbit a small satellite. The satellite must weigh between 9.99 and 19.99 grams, and must orbit the Earth at least 9 times. This project must be done within a budget of &pound;999.99 (sterling). For more details about the 'N-Prize' you can visit the website at: </em></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><em>www.n-prize.com</em></font></p><p><font size="3">&nbsp;There is a new in depth interview at</font></p><p><font size="3">http://spacefellowship.com/News/?p=5715</font></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><font size="3">New X-prize maybe?</font></p><p>&nbsp;</p>

 

[aphh]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>For those of you who haven yet heard of the N-Prize, the N-Prize is a &pound;9,999.99 (sterling) cash prize which can be claimed by any individual, or group, who are able to prove that they have put into orbit a small satellite. The satellite must weigh between 9.99 and 19.99 grams, and must orbit the Earth at least 9 times. This project must be done within a budget of &pound;999.99 (sterling). For more details about the 'N-Prize' you can visit the website at: www.n-prize.comThere is a new in depth interview athttp://spacefellowship.com/News/?p=5715New X-prize maybe?&nbsp; <br /> Posted by diamondspaceguy</DIV></p><p>I was thinking of a sounding rocket or a balloon, that lifted a modified rifle high enough that when fired would have enough energy so that the bullet would circle the earth on a ballistic trajectory.</p><p>The muzzle velocity, however, is not enough for a orbital velocity, so it is unlikely that the bullet would circle earth 9 times. Maybe 1 orbit would be doable, if the altitude was high enough.</p><p>But then again, what is the feasibility of putting a rifle bullet on orbit?&nbsp;</p>

 

[BrianSlee]

Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I was thinking of a sounding rocket or a balloon, that lifted a modified rifle high enough that when fired would have enough energy so that the bullet would circle the earth on a ballistic trajectory.The muzzle velocity, however, is not enough for a orbital velocity, so it is unlikely that the bullet would circle earth 9 times. Maybe 1 orbit would be doable, if the altitude was high enough.But then again, what is the feasibility of putting a rifle bullet on orbit?&nbsp; <br />Posted by aphh</DIV><br /><br />You would need something akin to a sabot round or a light gas gun.&nbsp; The 120 mm smoothbore on the m1 spits out&nbsp; projectiles at very high&nbsp;(hyperkinetic) velocities.&nbsp; don't know the exact number,&nbsp; but you would be&nbsp;a lot closer than a regular bullet.&nbsp; Of course given the constraints you would have to scale down the concept. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>"I am therefore I think" </p><p>"The only thing "I HAVE TO DO!!" is die, in everything else I have freewill" Brian P. Slee</p> </div>

 

[aphh]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>You would need something akin to a sabot round or a light gas gun.&nbsp; The 120 mm smoothbore on the m1 spits out&nbsp; projectiles at very high&nbsp;(hyperkinetic) velocities.&nbsp; don't know the exact number,&nbsp; but you would be&nbsp;a lot closer than a regular bullet.&nbsp; Of course given the constraints you would have to scale down the concept. <br /> Posted by BrianSlee</DIV></p><p>120 mm diameter would perhaps allow some useful sensors and payload built inside the projectile. Besides testing low-cost launch methods, I don't see the point of putting one more piece of debris into orbit, as mentioned.&nbsp;</p>

 

[BrianSlee]

Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>120 mm diameter would perhaps allow some useful sensors and payload built inside the projectile. Besides testing low-cost launch methods, I don't see the point of putting one more piece of debris into orbit, as mentioned.&nbsp; <br />Posted by aphh</DIV><br /><br />I think the real killer is doing it for under a 1000 quid.&nbsp; <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>"I am therefore I think" </p><p>"The only thing "I HAVE TO DO!!" is die, in everything else I have freewill" Brian P. Slee</p> </div>

 

[aphh]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I think the real killer is doing it for under a 1000 quid.&nbsp; <br /> Posted by BrianSlee</DIV></p><p>Weather balloon launch probably costs almost 1000 quids aswell. This would provide some 30 - 40KM of altitude for the 2nd stage for a near-space launch.</p><p>Calculations would be needed for the volatiles required to reach orbital velocity from that altitude.&nbsp;</p>

 

[Cygnus_2112]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>he muzzle velocity, however, is not enough for a orbital velocity, so it is unlikely that the bullet would circle earth 9 times. Maybe 1 orbit would be doable, if the altitude was high enough.&nbsp; <br /> Posted by aphh</DIV></p><p>No, height has nothing to do with it.&nbsp; If is doen't have orbital velocity, it isn't even going to do 1 orbit. </p>

 

[aphh]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>No, height has nothing to do with it.&nbsp; If is doen't have orbital velocity, it isn't even going to do 1 orbit. <br /> Posted by Cygnus_2112</DIV></p><p>This is debatable. If you took the rifle high enough, the ballistic trajectory of the bullet would cover one complete orbit at certain altitude. Ofcourse the trajectory would decay constantly.&nbsp;</p>

 

[keermalec]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>This is debatable. If you took the rifle high enough, the ballistic trajectory of the bullet would cover one complete orbit at certain altitude. Ofcourse the trajectory would decay constantly.&nbsp; <br />Posted by aphh</DIV></p><p>You would have to take it really high then. Typical rifle bullet velocities are around 300-400 m/s and orbital velocity&nbsp;in LEO is 7900 m/s...</p><p>For the orbital velocity to drop below 1000 m/s you would have to take your rifle way up farther than the Moon...</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><br /><br />&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>“An error does not become a mistake until you refuse to correct it.” John F. Kennedy</em></p> </div>

 

[Prometheusnprize]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>You would have to take it really high then. Typical rifle bullet velocities are around 300-400 m/s and orbital velocity&nbsp;in LEO is 7900 m/s...For the orbital velocity to drop below 1000 m/s you would have to take your rifle way up farther than the Moon...&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />Posted by keermalec</DIV></p><p><font size="3">My,my you guys are smart over here! I just found this fourm! I am a member of Team Prometheus one of the contenders for this prize! Im impressed yes this is our plan. A balloon launch rocket to space and fire a light gas gun that has a total velosity capable of LEO! Come check this out! http://groups.google.com/group/n-prize?hl=en<br /></font></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Monroe Lee King Jr. </div>

 

[Prometheusnprize]

<p>&nbsp;</p><p><font size="2">Sounding balloons are cheap! 4 of them can carry a 250 lb. rocket and the design for a compound light gas gun weighs 27lbs.</font></p><p><font size="2">&nbsp;By the way the sat. burns up on re-entry so it isent space junk or dangerous to people on the ground!</font></p><p><font size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; You can scrounge alot of the materials and build the componets it can be done!</font></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Monroe Lee King Jr. </div>