BAT :: spacejunk

» Varulkarie Collector Development Programme

BAT is holding a development programme, available to any person or group world-wide to enter, to develop a small reusable Spacecraft to collect small and large objects of debris from Space, and return them into Earth via a payload bay or removing debris out of orbit.

The Varulkarie debris collectors will be taken up into orbit in the J2000 HYT, and must be relatively small so it can be transported with payloads not using the entire HYT cargo bay. A lifting body type with suitable robotic equipment on board to retrieve debris is preferred which can safely push large objects out of orbit without the need to drag them back into the atmosphere. Varulkarie may use a net for example to fulfil this role and release the net of debris as the craft re-enters the atmosphere at a safe predetermined location or return to orbit. Varulkarie returns to earth intact, landing to be re-used.

Spaceflights biggest hazard is space junk left in orbit; 18,000 pieces over 10cm are being monitored with the number expected to grow by 50% within the next ten years. Future space missions will be far more dangerous and if the situation is left unchecked may be impossible within 50 years. The first collision of satellites, with no warning, occurred in February 2009 between a communication satellite and an abandoned military satellite, adding at least 600 pieces of debris to Space. Many other close calls have occurred, often becoming known about after the near-miss encounter

» Capital Offered

Two designs will receive $500 million from Briggs Aerospace Technologies HYT syndicate to build their design and orders placed for ten units each (initial).

» Design specification outline: Varulkarie

• Low purchase cost, preferably under $100 million per unit.

• Able to collect at least 10-20 items of various sizes per mission.

• Be light in weight.

• Able to change orbits.

• Safe for flight transition to orbit aboard an HYT.

• Smaller vehicles preferred: so one can be deployed per J2000 HYT light regardless of mission payload.

• Preferred dimensions 6m x 6m x 15m or under, to fit in the front of an HYT, so it can still carry another payload almost unaffectedly.

• Option of being able to fly on other rockets an advantage (if the rocket does not incur the maximum debris payload).

• Return debris to earth via safe trajectory (not all debris will burn up upon re-entry).

• Be able to bring back material to earth that may have high re-cycle value.

• Collector must be totally re-usable.

• Preferred low maintenance costs.

» Your Varulkarie design will require;

•	Tracking and interception equipment and power-plant(s).
•	A collection basket/net or payload area.
•	Arm/grapplers to retrieve debris if required.
•	A net or bag to catch the debris if required.
•	A payload bay for recyclable objects/materials with a means to get the object into the bay (cutters).
•	Fuel/thrusters for extended flight and orbital modification.
•	Equipment for unmanned (or remote operated) operation and return to earth (builders discretion).

The two best designs received by Briggs Aerospace Technologies obtain $500 million development capital from the J2000 HYT syndicate and a construction order for 10 units.

» Entry Format

Entries for the Varulkarie development money must be received by the 6 November 2012. The two best Varulkarie designs gain the development funding.

Provide entries in a clear, jargon free context. The development programme is open to all entries with genuine designs and demonstrated ability via a development plan to build them. This allows talented individuals, university groups, companies and others with a design and production plan to enter and compete.

» Entries into the Varulkarie programme to obtain the development funds are to be in the following format only;

•	Main brief must be contained to 2 sheets of A4 paper with a normal type-face format, including a development through to production, and operational use plans for the collector, and operational aspects and techology.
•	Additionally, applicants must address entry criteria, where their product/ design exceeds, meets or fails to meet guidelines with brief reasons/evidence maximum 2 pages: A4 sized.
•	All of this must be completed in the English language.

» Desired points may assist your entries chances but are not compulsory;

•	A scale model of the collector features if desired, another sheet of A4 paper is permitted to explain characteristics and features.
•	A video/film, maximum of 3 minutes explaining how the collector will work, optional.

Forward this to BAT headquarters by 6 November, 2012.