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Carmack 100kft Micro Prize
The Carmack 100kft Micro Prize
In discussions on the mailing list aRocket of the relative difficulty of launching a rocket to 100,000 feet, John Carmack established a $5,000 prize for the first person or group to reach that goal.
This page logs the rules set up for that competition, and archives the text of the emails that established the prize and its rules. If someone registers a launch attempt or wins the prize, that information will be recorded here as well.
The Rules:
The prize is $5000 USD, and has been augmented with a further $5000-$5500 by the people listed at the end of this page. The collection of the prize from each benefactor is up to the prize winner.
The launch attempt must be registered by a post to aRocket at least 30 days prior to the attempt, with the following information:
A reasonable description of the vehicle
The launch location
The launch date
The rocket must gain 100,000 feet from launch altitude using rocket propulsion.
The rocket must record a GPS serial log of the flight with at least one report above 100,000ft plus the launch altitude.
The rocket must be recovered essentially intact, the recovery system having functioned.
The rocket must be recovered within 24 hours of launch.
A report on the vehicle and operations must be made available on the web for posterity, with a level of quality suitable for publishing in a magazine. The report's author retains copyright.
Good video of at least the launch must be shared. Ideally video is captured of the entire flight to recovery, but this is not required.
If multiple stages are used, they must all be recovered successfully.
Armadillo Aerospace is disqualified from the competition.
The competition is judged by John Carmack.
Any revisions or additions to the rules will be recorded here.
Launch Attempts
As of late August 2011 no one has attempted a launch. Launch attempts in the near future registered on ARocket are:
Rocket Rocketeers Launch Location Launch Date
FourCarbYen Jim Jarvis Black Rock Desert, NV 30 September - 2 October 2011
Qu8k Derek Deville Black Rock Desert, NV 30 September - 2 October 2011
Proteus 7 Curt Newport and Jeff Taylor Black Rock Desert, Nevada, USA 1-2 October 2011
Black Streak Robin Hague Mull of Galloway, Scotland, UK 1 September 2011
