Monthly Archives: June 2024

BARCELONA ZEROG CHALLENGE

Send your proposals before 15th September 2025 to fly your experiment in microgravity in Barcelona !!!

See below for requirements & details — send proposal & questions to:

barcelona.zerog@gmail.com // info@upc.edu

BARCELONA ZEROG CHALLENGE – 2024 EDITION

The competition challenges young studentsโ€™ teams of 2-4 people between ages 18-35 to submit proposals for experiments to be conducted in a zero-G environment. 

Undergraduate, Master and PhD students from any part of the world are encouraged to apply. The top team with the best proposal, endorsed by an academic professor will actually get their experiment flown in parabolic flight.

Flights with a certified aerobatic plane will be conducted at Sabadell Airport (30 minutes drive from Barcelona, Spain) and media will be present to cover the event. Diverse, international and intercultural teams are most welcome.  The projects will be assessed by their: suitabilitiy, scientific merit, safety, mentor endorsement, international and diversity perspective; and your outreach planning.

DO YOU HAVE A ZEROG EXPERIMENT DESIGN READY TO FLY? THE WINNER TEAM WILL GET HIS EXPERIMENT FLOWN IN PARABOLIC FLIGHT ALONG WITH A + 500 EUROS + GRANT !!

Phase 1: SUBMIT YOUR EXPERIMENT BEFORE 30th June 2024.

Phase completed!

Phase 2: Selection: July 2024.

Selection completed!

Phase 3: ZeroG Flight of the Experiment:  Fall 2024 UPCOMING !!!

information: barcelona.zerog@gmail.com ; info@upc.edu

Twitter: @BarcelonaZeroG

We are grateful to UPC- UNIVERSITAT POLITรˆCNICA DE CATALUNYA for a grant under

the framework ICE “Institut de Ciรจncies de l’Educaciรณ”- “Galร xia Aprenentatge 2023”.

ORGANIZING TEAM 

Daniel Ventura-Gonzรกlez (pilot) โ€“ Aeroclub Barcelona-Sabadell 

Gloria Garcรญa-Cuadrado โ€“ Estudio Brainstorm SL 

Maria Josep Martรญ โ€“ Sociedad Espaรฑola de Medicina Aeroespacial

Jordi Torner, Miguel Brigos, Francesc Alpiste LAM-EEBE UPC BarcelonaTech

Coordinator: Prof. Antoni Perez-Poch   LAM-EEBE  UPC BarcelonaTech

CSmicrogLab.upc.edu

EXPERIMENT REQUIREMENTS : 

Maximum size of 50 x 50 x 80 (height) cm.  Maximum weight: 20kg.  Batteries should be included in the experiment. 

Free-fall time: Up to 20 parabolas lasting 8.5 ZERO-G seconds each.

Experiments will be checked and re-checked for safety before flight. THINK SAFETY FIRST !

WHAT SHOULD YOU SUBMIT FIRST?  
1. A 2-3 pages proposal that includes: Scientific or technical (if it is a demonstration) objectives. Experimental expected results both on earth and in flight. Why ZeroG is needed? A description of the experiment. How data will be processed and analysed. A brief summary on why the experiment is relevant. A brief rรฉsumรฉ of each member on the team; diverse, international,intercultural teams are highly encouraged. An endorsing letter from a professor or tutor from an academic institution.You can  also contact the contest barcelona.zerog@gmail.com for any questions.  A confirmation reply will be sent. 

SEND YOUR PROPOSAL IN A ZIP FILE TO barcelona.zerog@gmail.com BEFORE 3Oth JUNE 2024.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Will I be reimbursed for the construction of my experiment? Participants are responsible for funding the construction and design of their experiments. Winners will get a 500 euros to support the costs.
Q: What is the allowed geometry/size of the experiment?A: Maximum size of the experiment is 80x50x50 cm. There should beno moving parts outside. The maximum weight is 20kg. There should be no hazardous materials, and if liquids are present, the equipmentmust be completely watertight.
Q: What are the interfaces to attach it to the zero-g airplane? Experiments must be designed to be ATTACHED TO THE AIRCRAFT or WEARABLE, as part of the payload specialistโ€™s clothingand will not be allowed to freely float into the cockpit.They should be electrically autonomous.
Q: What is the exact duration? The duration of free-fall is up to 20 parabolas ofup to 8,5 seconds each, for every experiment.
Q: What is the g-profile during this duration? The maximum g load is 3.5 g on pull-in and pull-out manoeuvres before and after each parabola. Real zero-g gravity between pull-in and pull-out.
Q: What kind of power and data acquisition units are available on board? The experiment should not need any external components or electric plugs.
Q: Will there be travel and lodging provided? Please note that participants will be responsible for their lodging and travelling to the airport..Participants are responsible for lodging and travel to Spain, and are encouraged to find sponsors for funding their experience.
Q: Are there any restrictions for who may apply? Undergraduate, Master and PhD students from all over theworld of any disciplines are welcome.
Q: Who will be flying the aircraft? The flight will be operated by Aeroclub Barcelona-Sabadell,with an expert in zero-g parabolas aerobatic licensed pilot-in-commandand a licensed pilot, payload specialist for the airplane. Due to current safety restrictions, students will stay on ground for pre-briefings and  later analysis of the experiment.

SELECTION PROCEDURE: Selection of the winning experiment will be independently performed by experts in aerospace research. Winning students will be encouraged to submit their results to relevant symposiums and journals of the field. Results of this selection procedure will be final.Please note: In this edition students will NOT be flying inside the aircraft.Their expriment will be flown by certified pilot(s) from Barcelona-Sabadell Aviation Club.

Legal disclaimer and other legal issues UPC, Barcelona-Sabadell Aviation Club, or any person taking partin the organization of this competition are not legally responsible for the activities involved with the contest,nor are they responsible for damages to the experimentsor persons on board or to third parties. 

HOW CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION? WHICH ARE THE EXPERIMENTS THAT WERE FLOWN BEFORE IN THIS CONTEST? Please find it in the following papers:

https://futur.upc.edu/18816481

https://futur.upc.edu/14916823

https://upcommons.upc.edu/handle/2117/374185

Meet Vera Gravitas, from Univ. Antioquia (Medellรญn, Colombia),
winners of the last edition of the Barcelona ZeroG Challenge (in Spanish):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua5YkaR8EGQ
https://eebe.upc.edu/ca/noticies/l2019equip-201cvera-gravitas201d-guanya-la-barcelona-zerog-challenge-2021
https://www.ieec.cat/en/vera-gravitas-the-female-team-winner-of-the-barcelona-zerog-challenge-takes-off-its-experiment-in-zero-gravity/

Read the Press Release from UNIVERSITAT POLITรˆCNICA DE CATALUNYA:
(in Catalan)
https://eebe.upc.edu/ca/noticies/sobre-la-convocatoria-del-zerog-challenge-2024-per-a-participar-amb-experiments-cientifics-realitzats-en-microgravetat-1


MORE UPDATES ON THIS EDITION WILL BE COMING THIS FALL 2024 !!!

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