PARIS, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- The European Space Agency says entries are now being accepted for the 4th Global Trajectory Optimization Competition.
The competition, being organized this year by the French space agency, seeks to find the best solution to an interplanetary trajectory problem.
"Space travel can often be a long process, with years or even decades of cruise time before any science can be done," the ESA said. "This competition was initiated in 2005 by ESA's Advanced Concepts Team to stimulate research into techniques for finding the optimal trajectory for different missions." The space agency said the event has proved to be an opportunity for scientists to test new ideas and compare methods.
"The competition is like The America's Cup, with the winners organizing the next round," said Dario Izzo of ESA's Advanced Concepts Team.
The French space agency won the last competition with a solution to the way a single spacecraft could launch from Earth, rendezvous with three asteroids from a specified group of targets and then return to Earth within 10 years of departure. They are currently preparing this year's challenge.
Entries must be received by Feb. 27. The problem will be released on March 2 and solutions must be submitted by March 30.
