A Texas zero gravity experiment has won a $25,000 cash
award and a free ride into space aboard a privately built rocket.
The winning team from the University of Texas would see
their work go up on a Falcon
9 rocket from private spaceflight firm Space Exploration Technologies
(SpaceX), one of the sponsors for the first Microgravity Research Competition.
Other competition sponsors included The Heinlein Prize Trust and the Rice
Alliance.
"Microgravity opens
a new window on biological and physical processes, enabling innovation in
biotech, nanotech, and other fields," said Art Dula, a trustee for the
Heinlein Prize Trust. "Furthermore, microgravity can now be accessed by
companies and universities on a commercial basis."
The proposed experiment focuses on developing drug
delivery systems for medical applications. The results could help promote the
science and technology of implantable devices for controlled, long-term drug
release — research which could yield treatment means for diseases such as
cancer.
"The winner's experimental payload will be launched
on a future flight of SpaceX's
Falcon 9 rocket and remain in a microgravity environment onboard SpaceX's
DragonLab spacecraft for an extended period of time before returning to Earth,"
SpaceX officials said in an online statement.
The Hawthorne, Calif.-based SpaceX has begun testing on
its Falcon 9 rocket at Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for its first
launch later this year. The firm has already signed
a contract for its rocket and Dragon spacecraft to help haul NASA cargo to
and from the International Space Station, and could take on private paying
customers too.
SpaceX previously celebrated its first
successful launch of the smaller Falcon 1 rocket in September 2008, proving
that fourth time's the charm after three failed attempts.
The company had delayed its latest launch attempt, a
planned Monday Falcon 1 liftoff to carry a Malaysian satellite into orbit,
while engineers study compatibility issues between the rocket and its payload.
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