Vienna, Austria – 27 March 2008 – The Space Generation Advisory Council, the world’s largest group representing youth perspectives on space exploration to the United Nations and national space programs today announced an international youth technical paper competition to develop unique and innovative concepts for how to deflect an asteroid or comet that could impact the Earth (referred to as mitigation). Financial support for this competition is provided by Northrop Grumman Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, SpaceWorks Commercial, and The Planetary Society.
The competition calls for individuals or teams under 33 years of age to write and submit a 3-10 page original technical paper on their innovative concept for mitigation. The 1st place award is a trip to present the winning paper at this year's Space Generation Congress (SGC) and International Astronautical Congress (IAC) which take place in Glasgow, Scotland from late September until early October 2008. The 2nd place award is a trip to present at the SGC. Entries are due on 09 June 2008 and winners will be announced on 30 June 2008, the 100th anniversary of the Tunguska Event, the largest asteroid/comet impact event in Earth's recent history.
The contest calls for papers to describe in technical detail a concept to move an asteroid or comet that is at least 140 meters in diameter. The contestants should make their own reasonable assumptions on asteroid composition, density, and orbit. The goal is to not constrain the authors of the technical paper with a specific target asteroid or comet. It is suggested that the authors apply their concept on reasonable asteroid/comet examples. This competition is intentionally broad. Concepts can be very widely applicable to a large variety of asteroid/comets or targeted for a specific asteroid/comet. Contestants should attempt to understand the overall challenge of asteroid/comet mitigation.
For more rules and submission information, individuals can visit: http://www.spacegeneration.org/asteroid
"Asteroids are an ever-present threat and the growing awareness of this problem is something future generations will have to deal with", said Alex Karl, Co-Chairperson of the Space Generation Advisory Council. "We are pleased to give young people a chance to think creatively about such an important issue, and to introduce these people to the world space community at the Space Generation Congress in Glasgow later this year."
The Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) is a non-government organization with observer status within UN COPUOS dedicated to representing the voice of today’s youth on tomorrow’s space issues. The SGAC was formed following the 1999 UNISPACE III conference in which 5 youth recommendations were included in the Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development. SGAC has since dedicated itself to the pursuit of these recommendations and to encourage youth participation in space exploration and its applications on Earth. Space Generation Advisory Council projects rely entirely on volunteer contributions and support.
For more information about the Space Generation Advisory Council, please visit:
Donations: http://spacegeneration.org/donate
Space Generation Projects: http://spacegeneration.org/projects
Website: http://spacegeneration.org/
info@spacegeneration.org
Phone: +43 1 718 11 18 30
Fax: +43 1 718 11 18 99
For more information about the “Move An Asteroid 2008” International Student & Young Professional Technical Paper Competition, please visit:
Competition Website: http://spacegeneration.org/asteroid
Mr. A.C. Charania
Coordinator
"Move An Asteroid 2008": International Technical Paper Competition
Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC)
asteroid@spacegeneration.org
Phone: +1 770 379 8006 (USA)
For more information on the Space Generation Congress (SGC) or the International Astronautical Congress (IAC), please visit:
Space Generation Congress (SGC): http://glasgow.spacegeneration.org
International Astronautical Congress (IAC): http://www.iac2008.co.uk
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