IN ORBIT

Singapore Space Challenge

growing in quantity & quality
T
he Singapore Space Challenge 2009
saw an increase in the number of
participants — from eight to 22 en-
tries — and the increase was not
only in quantity but quality as well.
Professor Lui Pao Chuen, adviser to Singa-
pore’s National Research Foundation, who pre-
sented the prizes to the top three teams, said:
“I am happy to note a growing interest among
students in space technology. I was very im-
pressed with the detailed work and strong dis-
play of innovation and creative thinking.
“With the growth of Singapore into a lead-
ing global hub for research, innovation and
enterprise, we can expect to see much more
of such activities geared at developing the na-
tion’s budding scientists.”
Creativity and innovation paid off for
‘Team Brittania’ from the NUS High School of
Mathematics and Science (NUS High School).
The four-member team surpassed stiff compe-
tition to earn the top honour and grand prize
of S$10,000. The first and second runners-up
were ‘Space Rounders’ from Nanyang Tech-

This year, the main objective of the Singapore Space Challenge was
to demonstrate how space infrastructure provides critical support in
marine operations and national security.

40 AEROSPACE SINGAPORE Aug-Oct 2009

nological University (NTU) and ‘Vigilant’ of
Temasek Polytechnic respectively.
The judges were full of praise for NUS
High School’s unique and creative concept for
its students’ system of three satellites and not-
ed the team’s excellent written and graphical
presentation of the concepts. They also com-
mended the runner-up teams for their sound
technical justifications, depth of research and
ability to address key fundamental concerns.
Jonathan Hung, president of the Singapore
Space and Technology Association (SSTA),
added: “With the Singapore Space Challenge,
we hope to generate a better understanding of
the relevance of space technology in everyday
life. We’d like more people to know that space
technology is multi-faceted and has important
applications in many industries, including the
communications, marine, oil and gas, defence,
transport and logistics sectors.
“This year, the main objective was to dem-
onstrate how space infrastructure provides
critical support in marine operations and na-
tional security. As the sea lanes around Sin-
gapore and along the Straits of Malacca and
With the Singapore
Space Challenge,
we hope to generate a
better understanding of
the relevance of space
technology in everyday
life. We’d like more
people to know that space
technology is multi-
faceted and has important
applications in many
industries, including the
communications, marine,
oil and gas, defence,
transport and logistics
sectors.”
Jonathan Hung
President
Singapore Space and
Technology Association
(SSTA)
South China Sea witness robust shipping ac-
tivity, the likelihood of accidents, oil spills and
pirate attacks are high. Hence, a space-based
system would provide the necessary monitor-
ing infrastructure to facilitate a prompt re-
sponse to any incident.”
Sharing SSTA’s vision are big names in
the marine, communications, logistics, elec-
tronic and aviation industries as well as vari-
ous science and defence agencies, which have
lent their support to this project by signing on
as sponsors.
One of these is Dassault Systemes, the
French company noted for its high-tech exper-
tise encompassing a wide variety of industrial
applications, including aviation, transporta-
tion and industrial design.
“We are proud to be sponsoring the compe-
tition this and next year as we feel it presents
exciting opportunities for youth with a keen
interest in science and space technology. In
the long term, we also recognise that in dis-
covering and grooming young talent, such
initiatives will benefit the industry and help
put Singapore at the leading edge of space
technology,” said Gilles Cruanes, vice-presi-
dent (PLM Sales & Distribution) of Dassault
Systèmes South Asia.
The participating teams in Singapore
Space Challenge 2009 are from Nanyang Girls
High School, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, NTU,
NUS, NUS High School, Victoria Junior Col-
lege and Temasek Polytechnic, the winner of
last year’s challenge.
Project to track
pirates wins
top prize
CASHING in on recent headlines on the
audacity of pirates wreaking havoc on
the high seas, four NUS High School
of Mathematics and Science students
have designed a satellite system which
provides an eye in the sky to identify and
track pirates.
The system consists of three satellites
— a master and two revolving micro-
satellites — working together to create
a three-dimensional image of each ship.
Linking the system to a communication
network with legitimate vessels enables
the system to pinpoint pirate ships and
even provide their dimensions.
Work on the project started in January
this year and was submitted as an entry
for the Singapore Space Challenge,
organised by the Singapore Space
and Technology Association (SSTA), in
conjunction with the Centre for Research
in Satellite Technologies at the Nanyang
Technological University (NTU).
The pirate-tracking system came up
tops in the Space Challenge and bagged
the S$10,000 prize money.
In second place was an effort by
seven NTU engineering students who
designed a satellite system for launch
into Low Earth Orbit. The students were
from India and Sri Lanka. The system
fulfilled the operational criteria of being
able to monitor the seaways around
Singapore, help in search-and-rescue
operations, and monitor pirate activities
in the region.
Participation was via a detailed
mission paper and computer simulation
of the satellite system.
This year’s projects highlighted how
space technology can support marine
operations and security.
Said SSTA president Jonathan Hung:
“With the Singapore Space Challenge, we
hope to generate a better understanding
of the relevance of space technology in
everyday life. It’s not just about launching
astronauts into space.”
This is the second year that the
competition has been held and 22 teams
took part. Teams were from tertiary
institutions, junior colleges and high
schools.
Registrations for the 2010 challenge are now
open. For details, log on to http://www.space.
org.sg
Aug-Oct 2009 AEROSPACE SINGAPORE 41