Who can compete?
All student members must be enrolled in high school (9th – 12th grade) or the equivalent home school level. Teams can consist of up to 5 students. Each team must have one adult advisor. Individual students can compete so long as one adult advisor is included.

How do we register our team?
All teams must register using the online form on the Conrad Award website. This form requires basic contact information only. Once your team is registered you will have access to post questions to our “ask an expert” forum and upload your submission documents.

When is the competition held?
Submissions for the Award will be due in early 2009. The final competition program will be held in Spring 2009, before the end of the school year. The exact deadlines and dates will be announced this summer.

Can students compete on more than one team?
Students may compete on one team in the Personal Spaceflight category and on one team in the Lunar Exploration category. However, you may not submit more than one entry to each category, and each entry must be unique.

What do teams have to do to compete in the Lunar Exploration category?
Teams must create an entrepreneurial venture for lunar exploration. What would you do on the Moon if you could go? How would you make a business out of it? Do you send manned missions, or robotic probes? Each team must detail their lunar enterprise in three documents:

1. A Technical Document that explains the venture in as much detail as possible. If you are launching a manned venture, how many people will go? Is it a one time mission or repeatable? What kind of vehicle would they go in? If it is a robotic probe, what is its purpose? How large is the vehicle? What instruments does it have and why?
2. A Business Document that explains how your venture will be used as a business. How much will it cost? Who are your customers? How much will you charge? How will you market your venture?
3. A Graphical Representation that shows in some media form what your concept is. This can be a CAD file, picture, drawing, model, video, etc.

What do teams have to do to compete in the Personal Spaceflight category?
Teams must create an innovative concept for use in personal spaceflight. Concepts can be anything that benefits humans in space. Ideas can be technical gadgets to improve space vehicles, space suits, or other spaceflight hardware, or they can be business plans for new space tourist activities such as a space sport, or game. Concepts could also be based on improving connections between space and people here on the Earth. Try to think about what we’ll need once the general public starts going into space. Some questions to help get you started:

• What type of new entertainment could be created in the zero-gravity environment of space?
• What services will we need to provide to the passengers on new space vehicles?
• How can we help passengers get the most out of their spaceflight?
• What type of experiences will be the most desirable in space?
• What types of new technologies could improve passenger experiences in space?

These are only some ideas to jog your imagination! Each team must detail their lunar enterprise in three documents:

1. A Technical Document that explains the concept in as much detail as possible.
2. A Business Document that explains how much will the concept cost; who your customers are; how you will market your venture, etc.
3. A Graphical Representation that shows in some media form what your concept is. This can be a CAD file, picture, drawing, model, video, etc.

Who is judging the event?
The first round of judging (to select the finalists) will be conducted by two panels of experts: a business panel and an industry panel. The first round of judging is based solely upon a team’s three documents submitted online. The final round of judging will be conducted at the X PRIZE Cup; teams will be required to present their concept to a panel of business and industry experts. Team concepts will also be voted on by the general public. Input from both the expert panel and the general public voting will be combined and considered for choosing the winning team. For exact judging procedures please review the official rules at: http://www.xprize.org/files/downloads/conrad/conrad_rules.pdf

If I am selected as a finalist, what will I be expected to do for the final competition?
The finals will be held at the X PRIZE Cup in the late fall. At least one member of your team must attend the final program in order to qualify for the awards. Finalists must create a tradeshow style booth (to fit within a 10’x10’) space, prepare a 15 minute presentation of their concept as though they were selling it to potential customers, and create a short video to post on the website explaining their concept (the video will be used for public voting on the website). Finalists will also have the opportunity to connect with industry entrepreneurs, and participate in special workshops, activities, and presentations. More information on the finalist program will be sent upon being selected.

What Prizes can I win?
Over $20,000 is available in grants, travel allowances, and other prizes. These will be distributed between the finalists and first ($5000), second ($2500), and third ($1500) place teams for each category. Some finalists will receive expense paid trips to the X PRIZE Cup. All finalists will be able to participate in special activities to connect students with the best entrepreneurs, engineers, and businessmen throughout the industry.

Where should I start?
First you should create a team and register on the Conrad Award web page for your team. This account will give you access to the “ask an expert” forum, document submission tools, and everything you need to create the next great aerospace concept. You should then work with your team on developing the concept that you will submit.

How do we submit our documents?
All three documents must be submitted through the Pete Conrad Spirit of Innovation Award website. Once you have registered your team you will be able to submit your documents.