Awards

The following awards will be presented:

Mission to the Stars Award
Awarded for the best Mission Proposal, based on the highest score in the Mission Proposal category.

Satellite Spark Award
Awarded for the best Logo Design, based on the highest score in the Logo Design category.

Morning Star Naming Award
Awarded for the best Project Name, based on the highest score in the Project Name category.

Galaxy Pick
Awarded based on public voting. Given to the Mission Proposal that captured hearts, sparked curiosity, or just looked plain awesome. Voting will take place through a separate channel and will not follow rubric scoring.

Mission Proposal 

The 3U cubesat mission proposal will be judged according to the following criteria: 

• Creativity and Mission Concept 
  The proposal should present a bold, exciting idea. Whether observing Earth, connecting students, or trying something never done before, originality will shine. 

• Social Benefit to New Zealand 
  The proposal should show how the mission helps or inspires New Zealanders through science, education, community impact, or even just sparking curiosity. 

• Student Interaction 
  The proposal should include ways students across the country can connect with the satellite once it’s in space, like tracking it, collecting data, or participating in experiments. 

• Feasibility 
  While deep technical knowledge isn’t required, the proposal should show a basic understanding of what a small CubeSat (like a 3U) can realistically do. Ambitious is great, but believable is better! 

• Clarity and Presentation 
  The proposal should be well-organized, easy to follow, and visually clear. Including drawings, diagrams, or other visuals can help tell the story. 

Logo Design for the Student Satellite Project

The logo will be evaluated based on the following: 

• Creativity and Originality 
  A highly unique and innovative design will receive a higher score. Basic or derivative designs will score lower. 

• Relevance to Theme 
  The logo should clearly align with the mission’s theme and effectively communicate the project concept. 

• Visual Impact and Clarity 
  The logo must be visually clear, easy to understand, and professionally presented. 

Project Name for the Student Satellite Project

The project name will be assessed according to: 

• Creativity and Relevance 
  The name should be highly creative and directly reflect the theme of the mission. 

• Clarity and Impact 
  A strong name will be clear, memorable, and impactful. 

Additional Competition Rules 

• An entry may win even if no fully viable mission is proposed, based on the overall quality and potential of the idea. 

• In the case of duplicated or similar proposals, judges will first compare the quality of the concepts. If the quality is very similar, the prize will be awarded to the earliest submission. 
• Please read the Terms and Conditions for making submissions to the Mission Proposal Competition here.

Read or download the full rule below