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Schoolchildren in the UK have been set the challenge of designing an experiment that can be flown on a small satellite, the winner will work with a UK company to develop the flight hardware so that the experiment can take place, the contest has been organised by the British National Space Centre (BNSC) and Surry Satellite Technology (SSTL), and is open to students between the ages of 14 and 18.

Experiments should weigh up to 1 kilogram, and must have a development budget of under GBP 100,000 (?140,000). The volume should be no greater than a standard cubesat (10x10x10cm), and the experiment as a whole should consume no more than 1 watt orbit average power. Power will be supplied by the host satellite.

Other specifications are as follows: the experiment should return no more than 10 megabits of data per day via the host satellite's telemetry system. The package should also be designed to withstand the launch loads imposed by a range of launch vehicles, and construction within nine to 12 months must be possible.

Those behind the competition are hoping that it will boost interest in space science among schoolchildren. In their proposal they will be expected to explain the purpose of the experiment, as well as what data they expect to collect, how that data would be used, and how the experiment would advance space science or technology.

The judges will not be expecting detailed knowledge of satellite technology from the entrants, and will instead focus on looking for good ideas. Experts at SSTL will help the winning students get the details right.

The winning experiment will head into space in the third quarter of 2009.