2021 LASC Rules & Requirements Document R00

Latin American Space Challenge
2021 LASC Online Edition

Rules & Requirements Document
The electronic version is the official, approved document.

Verify this is the correct version before use.
2021 Latin American Space Challenge Revision: 00
Rules & Requirements Document Effective Date: 25/07/2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
REVISION HISTORY 2
INTRODUCTION 3
BACKGROUND 3
PURPOSE AND SCOPE 4
TEAM COMPOSITION AND ELIGIBILITY 4
TEAM MEMBERS 4
TEAM ORGANIZATION AND SUBMISSION LIMITATIONS 5
APPLICATION AND REGISTRATION PROCESSES 5
ENTRY FORM 5
ACADEMIC INSTITUTION PARTICIPATION LETTER 5
ROCKET CHALLENGE 6
PAYLOAD 7
PAYLOAD MASS 7
INDEPENDENT PAYLOAD FUNCTIONALITY 7
PAYLOAD LOCATION AND INTERFACE RESTRICTED 8
RESTRICTED PAYLOAD MATERIALS 8
PAYLOAD FORM FACTOR 8
BOILERPLATE PAYLOAD 8
SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENT OR TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION PAYLOAD 9
ROCKET LIMITATION 9
RANGE TRACKING 9
OFFICIAL ALTITUDE LOGGING 9
SATELLITE CHALLENGE 10
DELIVERABLES 11
PROGRESS UPDATES 11
CRITICAL DESIGN REVIEW VIDEO 12
ROCKET CHALLENGE CDR VIDEO 12
SATELLITE CHALLENGE CDR VIDEO 12
PODIUM SESSION MATERIALS 12
PROJECT TECHNICAL REPORT 14
SCORING AND AWARDS 14
AWARDS 15
CHALLENGE OVERALL WINNER AWARD 15
CATEGORY "PLACE" AWARDS 15
TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 15
JOÃO B. G. CANALLE AWARD FOR TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE 16
RICK MASCHEK ENGINEERING AWARD FOR INNOVATION 16
TEAM CONDUCT AWARD 16
TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD 16
TEAM SPIRIT AWARD 17
PENALTIES FOR UNSAFE OR UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT 17
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING PAYLOAD REQUIREMENTS 17
DISQUALIFICATION FROM CONSIDERATION FOR ANY AWARD 17
WITHDRAWAL FROM COMPETITION 17
INSURANCE 18
APPENDIX A: ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND TERMS 19
APPENDIX B: DETAILS FOR THE TECHNICAL REPORT 20
APPENDIX C: DETAILING GRADING CRITERIA 24
Latin American Space Challenge | 1

REVISION HISTORY
REVISION DESCRIPTION DATE
Baseline of the 2021 LASC Rules & Requirements

00 25/07/2021
Document.

1. INTRODUCTION
The Latin American Space Challenge (LASC) is a competition which will set the background
and provide structure for the Latin America's largest experimental rocket and satellite
engineering competition.
It is widely recognized that such competitions foster innovation and motivate students to extend
themselves beyond the classroom, while learning to work as a team, solving real world
problems under the same pressures they will experience in their future careers
The LASC competition builds on the legacy of the joint ESRA – Experimental Sounding Rocket
Association and Spaceport America since their first annual IREC – Intercollegiate Rocket
Engineering Competition back in 2006, now known as the Spaceport America Cup. The LASC
Organization would like to take this moment and thank ESRA and the Spaceport America Cup
for their ground-breaking work in the making of the Spaceport America Cup competition.
2. BACKGROUND
The adrenaline of launching a rocket or testing a satellite encourages people to pursue science,
technology, and mathematics based careers and for the progress of the science and technology of
their countries. A space competition motivates them to extend themselves beyond the classroom
to design and build rockets and satellites themselves. Students, enthusiasts, startups and
amateurs enrolled in this challenge also could learn to work as a team, solving real world
problems under the same pressures they'll experience in their future careers.
The Latin American Space Challenge (LASC) has a mission to motivate people from all latin
american countries to develop and launch a rocket and develop a satellite as a payload. The
vision of the LASC is to provide motivation for latin american students and enthusiasts to
pursue their dreams.
3. PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This document defines the rules and requirements governing participation in the LASC, based
on the ruleset documentation of Spaceport America Cup. Major revisions of this document will
be accomplished by complete document reissue. Smaller revisions will be reflected in updates to
the document’s effective date and marked by the revision number.
Additional guidance for teams entered in the LASC is contained in the LASC Design, Test, &
Evaluation Guide (DTEG). The DTEG provides teams with project development guidance
LASC Organization uses to promote flight safety. Departures from this guidance may negatively
impact an offending team's score and flight status depending on the degree of severity. LASC
teams should avoid feeling constrained before seeking clarification and may contact LASC
Organization with questions or concerns regarding their project plans’ alignment with the spirit
and intent of this document.

Due to the COVID‑19 pandemic, the 2021 LASC Online will be an online event. Teams will be
challenged to develop, simulate and present their rocket and satellite projects submitting
progress reports, simulation results, project technical reports and videos describing their project.
4. TEAM COMPOSITION AND ELIGIBILITY
4.1. TEAM MEMBERS
A LASC Team may consist of one or a group of student members, non-students

members (i.e. enthusiasts, researchers, startup teams, amateurs and hobbyists) or mixed.
LASC Teams consisted only by students members who were matriculated in high
school, undergraduate or graduate programs (i.e. Masters or Doctoral students) during
the previous academic year (e.g. former students who graduated shortly before the
competition remain eligible) from one or more academic institutions (e.g. "joint teams"
are eligible) may receive bonus points in addition to their total score.
There is no limit on the overall number of people per team. Each individual is free to
participate on multiple teams, so long as each team is led by a different individual.
4.2. TEAM ORGANIZATION AND SUBMISSION LIMITATIONS
Teams shall submit no more than three projects into the 2021 LASC Online. Each
project shall be in a different category. Teams may participate in both challenges.
For example, Team ABC may register a project for the 1 km AGL apogee with
hybrid/liquid propulsion system category, a project for the 3 km AGL apogee with solid
rocket propulsion system category, and another cubesat-style satellite project.
Therefore, no team may be entered in the same category twice at the LASC. Although,
as previously noted, teams are permitted to switch categories as necessary prior to
submitting their final Project Technical Report.
The event organizers will track and evaluate each project separately, regardless of
common student membership or academic affiliation.
5. APPLICATION AND REGISTRATION PROCESSES
Each team shall inform the LASC Organization of their desire to compete in the 2021 LASC
Online by registering as a new team on the Latin American Space Challenge website.
Details on this selection process will be published on the event website once the applications
open. All teams will be contacted by e-mail about the outcome of the selection process.

5.1. ENTRY FORM
Each team shall inform LASC of their desire to compete in the 2021 LASC Online by
registering on the LASC website. Total completeness of the entry form is required.
Requests for entries made after the application deadline should be accompanied by an
e-mail addressed directly to the LASC Organisation. Requests will be assessed and, if
accepted, such entries will receive their Team ID shortly after receipt of the entry form,
participation letter and student identification.
The Team ID is the competition officials' primary means of identifying and tracking the
teams. Once assigned, any correspondence between a team and the organisers must
contain the respective team's ID number to enable a timely and accurate response.
5.2. ACADEMIC INSTITUTION PARTICIPATION LETTER
Only Students Teams willing for Bonus Points are required to ask the academic
institution(s), in which its members are enrolled, to provide a signed letter to LASC,
acknowledging the team as the institution’s representative and its intention to participate
in the event. The signatory shall be a senior faculty member or senior staff
representative (e.g., professor). Academic institutions sending more than one team to
the LASC need only to write one participation letter, covering all their teams, but each
included team must submit an individual copy of that letter. In the case of a joint team,
composed of students from multiple academic institutions, each affiliated institution
must provide its own signed letter to the team. On or before a specified date prior to the
event, teams shall submit digital, PDF copy(s) of their signed participation letter(s)
through the LASC website.
5.3. TEAM REGISTRATION FEES
All accepted LASC Teams must purchase at least 1 Student Team Ticket which grants
you 10 individual student tickets.
• Student Team Ticket: R$ 500,00
The Student Team Ticket is necessary for the LASC Organization to make down
payments on trophies, certificates, web domain, web hosting and additional services
before the event.
• Individual Rocketeer/Sateliteer Ticket: R$ 35,00
Additional tickets can be purchased either individually or as additional team tickets (for
larger teams). Participants willing to receive a digital certificate of participation shall
have a ticket.

6. ROCKET CHALLENGE
In general, teams competing in the 2021 LASC Online Rocket Challenge must design,
simulate, and present a rocket project carrying no less than 0,25 kg (0.55 lb) of payload to a
target apogee of 0.5 km (1,640 ft) above ground level (AGL) or 0.8 kg (1.8 lb) of payload to a
target apogee of 1 km (3,300 ft) AGL or 4 kg (8.8 lb) of payload to a target apogee 3 km
(10,000 ft) AGL.
Projects will be divided into one of the following five categories based on the type of project
attempted – defined by the target apogee and selected propulsion system. Teams are permitted to
switch categories as necessary prior to submitting their final Project Technical Report.
• Entry-level: 0.5 km AGL apogee with a solid rocket propulsion system;

• 1 km AGL apogee with solid rocket propulsion system;
• 1 km AGL apogee with hybrid or liquid rocket propulsion system;
• 3 km AGL apogee with solid rocket propulsion system;
• 3 km AGL apogee with hybrid or liquid rocket propulsion system.
Table 1: Flight categories: target apogee vs. minimum payload.
Target Apogee 0.5 km 1 km 3 km
Solid 0,25 kg 0,8 kg 4 kg

Propulsion
System
Hybrid/Liquid 0,8 kg 4 kg
LASC reserves the right to change the category in which a project is initially entered based on
the design presented.
All chemical propulsion types (solid, liquid, and hybrid) are allowed. Note that all propellants
used must be non-toxic. Ammonium perchlorate composite propellant (APCP), potassium
nitrate and sugar (aka "rocket candy"), nitrous oxide, liquid oxygen (LOX), hydrogen peroxide,
kerosene, propane and similar substances, are all considered non-toxic.
Toxic propellants are defined as those requiring breathing apparatus, special storage, transport
infrastructure, extensive personal protective equipment, etc. (e.g. Hydrazine and N2O4).
Note that multistage launch vehicles are not allowed. Propulsion systems containing PET-bottles
or water-based rockets are not allowed. Teams with propulsion systems based mainly on
gunpowder, also known as black powder, will be penalized half points off their total earned
score.
Competition Officials will evaluate competitors for Place Awards within each competition
category based on the quality of required project documentation, the quality of their system’s
overall design and simulation, and finally the team’s overall excellence, efficiency and
performance demonstrated at the Project Technical Report.

For teams participating in the 2021 LASC Online submitting a rocket project and not registered
for the 2021 LASC Online Satellite Challenge, the Section 6.1 must be followed by the team.
Teams submitting a rocket project containing a satellite registered for the 2021 LASC Online
Satellite Challenge may receive bonus points.
6.1. PAYLOAD
6.1.1. PAYLOAD MASS
The launch vehicle shall carry no less than 0.25 kg of payload for 0.5 km apogee or 0.8
kg of payload for 1 km apogee or 4 kg of payload for 3 km apogee. Payload is defined
as being replaceable with ballast of the same mass, with no change to the launch vehicle
trajectory in reaching the target apogee, or its successful recovery.
This payload may be assumed present when calculating the launch vehicle's stability. In
other words, launch vehicles entered in the LASC need not be stable without the
required payload mass on-board.
6.1.2. INDEPENDENT PAYLOAD FUNCTIONALITY
Although non-functional "boiler-plate" payloads are permitted, teams are encouraged to

launch creative scientific experiments and technology demonstrations; however, launch
vehicles shall be designed to deliver the payload to the target apogee and recover
themselves independent of any active or passive payload function(s).
For example, an active launch vehicle stability augmentation system is a launch vehicle
subsystem – not a payload. Such launch vehicle subsystems will contribute to
competition officials’ overall evaluation of a project, and may be submitted to the 2021
LASC Online Virtual Podium Session, but they are not payloads.
6.1.3. PAYLOAD LOCATION AND INTERFACE RESTRICTED
Neither the payload location in the launch vehicle nor its method of integration and
removal is specified; however, competition officials will verify simulated weight of the
payload(s) independent of all launch vehicle associated systems.
6.1.4. RESTRICTED PAYLOAD MATERIALS
Payloads shall not contain significant quantities of lead or any other hazardous materials
(e.g. radioactive materials). Finally, payloads shall not contain any live animals.
6.1.5. PAYLOAD FORM FACTOR
The following sections concern the required shape and dimensions of payload(s)
submitted for weigh-in. These requirements are different if the payload is a

non-functional “boilerplate” (i.e. mass emulator) or if it is a functional scientific

experiment/technology demonstration.
6.1.5.1. BOILERPLATE PAYLOAD
Any launch vehicle carrying strictly non-functional “boilerplate” mass as its

payload shall do so in the form of one or more PocketQubes, CanSats or
CubeSats depending on apogee target. Each apogee target categories has its
minimum payload size:
• For 0.5 and 1 km AGL apogee categories: Each PocketQube shall be no less
than 1P in size. One PocketQube Unit (1P) is defined as a 5cm×5cm×5cm cubic
structure. Similarly, three PocketQube Units (3P) constitute either a single
structure or a stack measuring 5cm×5cm×15cm. CanSats are also permitted and
defined as a 66mm diameter and 115mm height.
• For 3 km AGL apogee categories: Each CubeSat shall be no less than 1U in

size. One CubeSat Unit (1U) is defined as a 10cm×10cm×10cm cubic structure.
Similarly, three CubeSat Units (3U) constitute either a single structure or a
stack measuring 10cm×10cm×30cm.
6.1.5.2. SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENT OR TECHNOLOGY

DEMONSTRATION PAYLOAD
Any functional scientific experiment or technology demonstration payload and

its associated structure may be constructed in any form factor, provided the
experiment/technology and its associated structure remain in compliance with
Sections 6.1.1, 6.1.2, 6.1.3, and 6.1.4 of this document. With special regard to
compliance with Section 6.1.1, the required minimum payload mass should be
achieved primarily by the experiment(s)/technology and associated support
structure.
The payload design may incorporate a limited amount of additional

“boilerplate” mass (limited at 1/4th the required minimum) to meet the required
minimum. Competition officials may impose a point penalty on any team
believed to be violating the spirit and intent of this rule.
Finally, despite this exemption, LASC highly encourages teams to adopt the
PocketQube, CanSat or a CubeSat standard for their payload(s) whenever
possible depending on its apogee target.
6.2. ROCKET LIMITATION
Launch vehicles entered the LASC Event shall not exceed an installed total impulse of 40,960
Newton-seconds.

6.3. RANGE TRACKING
Launch vehicles, and any deployable payload(s), shall carry a radio beacon or similar
transmitter aboard each independently recovered assembly to aid in locating them after
launch.
Tracking systems using the Global Positioning System (GPS) or equivalent global navigation
satellite systems (GNSS) and an automatic packet reporting system (APRS) are strongly
preferred, but not mandatory.
6.4. OFFICIAL ALTITUDE LOGGING
Launch vehicles shall carry a COTS barometric pressure altimeter with on-board data storage,
which will provide an official log of apogee for scoring. This may either be a standalone
COTS product or a feature of a COTS flight computer - also used for launch vehicle recovery
system deployment. If a deployable payload is integrated on the launch vehicle, the official
altitude logging system shall be mounted to the launch vehicle and not the payload.
While the on-board log is considered the primary data source for official altitude reporting,
telemetry – if implemented – may be accepted under certain circumstances defined in this
document. If implemented, this telemetric data shall originate from the same sensor source as
the official on-board data log.
7. SATELLITE CHALLENGE
In general, teams competing in the 2021 LASC Online Satellite Challenge must design a space
mission and present a satellite project. LASC will accept registrations for the Satellite Challenge
of teams competing only with a satellite project. A rocket project will not be mandatory for
this challenge.
Projects will be divided into one of the following three categories based on the type of project
attempted. Teams are permitted to switch categories as necessary prior to submitting their final
Project Technical Report.
• PocketQube-style satellite project;

• CanSat-style satellite project;
• CubeSat-style satellite project.
Each PocketQube project shall be no less than 1P in size. One PocketQube Unit (1P) is defined
as a 5cm×5cm×5cm cubic structure. Similarly, three PocketQube Units (3P) constitute either a
single structure or a stack measuring 5cm×5cm×15cm.
Each CanSat project shall be defined as a 66mm diameter and 115mm height.

Each CubeSat project shall be no less than 1U in size. One CubeSat Unit (1U) is defined as a
10cm×10cm×10cm cubic structure. Similarly, three CubeSat Units (3U) constitute either a
single structure or a stack measuring 10cm×10cm×30cm.
Teams may use Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) educational satellites for the 2021 LASC
Satellite Challenge. For the 2021 LASC Online, only educational satellites from the PION Labs
Engenharia Ltda. are approved as a COTS. More information on COTS educational satellites
may be accessed on <www.pionlabs.com.br>.
Competition Officials will evaluate competitors for Place Awards within each competition
category based on the quality of required project documentation, a Virtual Poster Session, the
quality of their system’s overall design and simulation, and finally the team’s overall excellence,
efficiency and performance demonstrated at the Virtual Project Session.
Furthermore, Competition Officials will select no less than five teams to present a particular
aspect of their work in a Virtual Podium Session held during the 2021 LASC Online. These
teams are eligible to receive certain Technical Achievement Awards.
8. DELIVERABLES
The following sections define the deliverable materials (e.g., paperwork and presentation
materials) competition officials require from teams competing in LASC – including each
deliverable's format and minimum expected content. All deliverables will be submitted to LASC
per the instructions provided to the teams.
Only correct, complete, and timely submission of deliverables will guarantee that the maximum
points possible are achieved in the overall team score. The scheduled due dates of all required
deliverables will be recorded on the LASC website.
8.1. PROGRESS UPDATES
Teams shall submit updated versions of a specific form, the Progress Update, on occasions
prior to the competition. The Progress Update link will be available on the LASC website.
This form will record changes in the project's technical characteristics during development.
Competition officials understand not all technical details will be known until later in the
design process. Therefore, all Progress Updates prior to the final submission will be evaluated
based only on their timeliness and completeness – defined as follows.
Total completeness of the Progress Update form is required at all times. Reasonable
engineering estimates and approximations are expected during the application process, but
will be subject to progressive additional scrutiny in the subsequent Progress Updates.
Teams should briefly mention their ongoing discussions and analysis in the comment fields
for any numerical submissions that are known to be unreasonable or remain undecided.

Teams may also respond to undecided criteria by demonstrating their understanding of any
applicable event guidance or best practice governing the particular detail.
In general, LASC expects technical information to change, but information must always be
provided. Only teams whose application meets this standard will be evaluated for entry into
the competition. Accepted teams will be announced by the release of a Team ID list after the
end of the application deadline.
Between the time when a majority of Entry Forms are received and the due date of the first
progress update, LASC will issue every team a numeric Team ID. Entries made later in the
academic year should be accompanied by an email addressed directly to LASC:
lasc@lasc.space, alerting the organizers to check for the late entry. Such entries will receive
their Team ID shortly after receipt of the entry form.
The Team ID is the competition officials’ primary means of identifying and tracking all the
many teams. Once assigned, any correspondence between a team and the organizers must
contain that team's ID number to enable a timely and accurate response.
8.2. CRITICAL DESIGN REVIEW VIDEO
Each team shall submit a Critical Design Review Video explaining the rocket or/and satellite
project: mission, general concept of operations, systems, projected cost, schedule constraints
and the basis for proceeding with detailed design.
The Critical Design Review Video shall be no longer than five minutes of total duration. The
video shall be submitted via link that will be available on the LASC Website.
8.2.1. ROCKET CHALLENGE CDR VIDEO
• Mission, performance: flight profile simulations, altitude predictions with simulated

vehicle data, component weights, simulated motor thrust curve, stability margin,
simulated center of pressure and simulated center of gravity;
• Selection, design, and simulation of the Propulsion Subsystem;
• Recovery subsystem and Avionics subsystem.
• Airframe and Structures subsystem;
8.2.2. SATELLITE CHALLENGE CDR VIDEO
• Selection and design of the Space Mission;

• Satellite concept features and systems: power system, command and data handling,
communication system, antenna system, payloads.
• Describe the budget, timeline and its status.
On or before a specified date prior to the event, teams shall submit the YouTube link of the
video using the appropriate location indicated on LASC website. The video shall be uploaded

on YouTube with a title as “Team Your Team ID Critical Design Review to the 2021 Latin
American Space Challenge".
For example, a team assigned the Team ID "19", competing in the 2021 LASC, would subtitle
their YoutUbe Video as "Team 19 Critical Design Review to the 2021 Latin American Space
Challenge".
8.3. PODIUM SESSION MATERIALS
Each team shall submit an Extended Abstract on a particular aspect of their work for
competition officials and the judging panel to consider including in a Virtual Podium Session
held during the 2021 LASC Online.
Teams whose topics are accepted into the Podium Session will be considered eligible for
Technical Achievement Awards defined in a specific section of this document.
The Extended Abstract shall be formatted according to the style guide of the American
Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), using a provided Microsoft® Word
document template.
The Latin American Space Challenge Extended Abstract template is available for download
on the LASC website. Always check the template maintained on the website before drafting
your Extended Abstract to ensure you are using the latest version.
The Extended Abstract's main title is left to the team's discretion, however; the document
shall be subtitled "Team Your Team ID Technical Presentation to the Year Latin American
Space Challenge". For example, a team assigned the Team ID "19", competing in the 2021
LASC, would subtitle their Extended Abstract "Team 19 Technical Presentation to the 2021
Latin American Space Challenge".
The Extended Abstract shall be no less than 500 words long and shall not exceed two pages,
not including footnotes, sources, or source endnotes. The Extended abstract should not
contain any tables, figures, nomenclature lists, equations, appendices etc. The submission
must include sufficient detail to demonstrate its purpose, the technical foundation for the
topic discussed, and any preliminary results to date.
The topic a team selects for their Virtual Podium Session submission should be an aspect of
their project which they are particularly proud of, excited about, learned the most in the
process of, creates new knowledge, advances the field's understanding of a particular area,
presented a unique technical challenge they overcame, and/or otherwise best demonstrates the
team's technical excellence and/or innovation in a particular aspect of their work.
On or before a specified date prior to the event, teams shall submit a digital, PDF copy of
their Extended Abstract using an appropriate link on LASC website, with the file name "Your

Team ID_Extended Abstract". For example, a team assigned the Team ID "19" would submit
a digital copy of their Extended Abstract using the filename "19_Extended Abstract".
The event organizers will post these files in an online archive of the conference day
proceedings. At the same time they submit their Extended Abstract, teams shall also submit a
digital, PDF copy of any slides they wish to use in their presentation, with the file name
"Your Team ID_Presentation_Slides".
For example, a team assigned the Team ID "19" would submit a digital copy of their slide
deck using the filename "19_Presentation Slides". The event organizers will post these files in
an online archive of the conference proceedings.
No more than 10 teams will be accepted into the Podium Session. Each presentation will be
allotted 15 minutes, with an additional 5 minutes reserved for Q&A with judges and other
audience members.
8.4. PROJECT TECHNICAL REPORT
Each team shall submit a Project Technical Report which overviews their project for the
judging panel and other competition officials. The Project Technical Report shall be
formatted according to the style guide of the American Institute of Aeronautics and
Astronautics (AIAA), using a provided Microsoft® Word document template or LaTeX
template.
The Latin American Space Challenge Project Technical Report template is available for
download on the LASC website. Always check the template maintained on the website before
drafting your Project Technical Report to ensure you are using the latest version.
On or before a specified date prior to the event, teams shall submit a digital, PDF copy of
their Project Technical Report, with the file name "Your Team ID_Project Report". For
example, a team assigned the Team ID "19" would submit a digital copy of their Project
Report using the filename "19_Project Report".
The Project Technical Report's main title is left to the team's discretion, however; the paper
shall be subtitled “Team Your Team ID Project Technical Report to the Year Latin American
Space Challenge". For example, a team assigned the Team ID "19", competing in the 2021
LASC, would subtitle their Project Technical Report "Team 19 Project Technical Report to
the 2021 Latin American Space Challenge".
The Project Technical Report shall be no longer than 30 pages, including figures, footnotes,
sources, source endnotes, nomenclature lists, equations, explanations of variables etc. This
does not include the Appendices. However, appendices can have additional pages but are not
necessarily read in detail by the officials.

Further information is given in Appendix B: Details for the Technical Report, including an
overview of the required minimum Technical Report sections and appendices. Additional
sections, subsections, and appendices may be added as needed.
9. SCORING AND AWARDS
Teams will be scored in four different scoring categories or areas, which are (1) Team Effort, (2)
the Technical Report, (3) the Design Implementation, and (4) the Podium Session. These are
weighted according to the table below.
Table 2: Weight of the Scoring Categories.
Scoring Categories Possible Points % of Total Points
Team Effort 200 20%
Project Technical Report 350 35%
Design Implementation 300 30%
Podium Session 150 15%
TOTAL 1000 100%
In each scoring category, a set of grading criteria is established. These criteria will be evaluated
by the jury for each team individually. Each grading criterion has several, more detailed, topics
that establish what the jury will look for during the grading process. These detailed topics are
weighed equally within each criterion, while the main criteria are weighted differently within
each competition category. The details of the grading criteria can be found in Appendix C:
Detailed Grading Criteria.
Bonus Points may be awarded for Student Teams and/or LASC Teams participating in both
LASC Challenges limited up to 50 points.
9.1. AWARDS
The 2021 LASC Online will award teams on the First Place and Second Place of each
Category for both challenges, the two Technical Achievement Awards, the Team Awards, and
the Overall Winner for the 2021 LASC Online Rocket Challenge and Overall Winner for the
2021 LASC Online Satellite Challenge. There will be a total of 23 awards.
9.1.1. CHALLENGE OVERALL WINNER AWARD
One team among the First Place Award winners in each challenge defined in this
document will be named the overall winner. The recipient of this prestigious award is
determined by qualitative assessments of the competition officials made throughout the
entire event.

9.1.2. CATEGORY "PLACE" AWARDS
A First Place Award will be granted to the highest scoring, eligible team in each of the
Challenges and Categories defined in this document. A Second Place Award will be
granted to the second highest scoring, eligible team in each category.
A team is considered eligible for the place award(s) in its category after participating in
the 2021 LASC Online submitting all documents, reports and activities. In the event no
teams meet this definition in a given category, competition officials may issue Category
Place Awards at their discretion based on multiple factors – including points accrued,
participation and engagement, and overall performance.
9.1.3. TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
LASC presents two awards recognizing technical achievement to deserving teams

competing in the 2021 LASC Online. One of these is awarded based on the
competition officials’ qualitative assessments made during the Virtual Podium Session.
The final award is awarded to any LASC team based on their performance in the overall
event.
9.1.3.1. JOÃO B. G. CANALLE AWARD FOR TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE
The João B. G. Canalle Award for Technical Excellence recognizes a team which
demonstrates exceptional overall engineering discipline and technical skill through
their analyses and conclusions, project or program planning and execution,
operational procedure, manufacturing processes, iterative improvement, systems
engineering methodology, robust design, etc.
A team is considered eligible for the João B. G. Canalle Award for Technical
Excellence if they are accepted into – and participate in – the Virtual Podium
Session held during the conference day at the Latin American Space Challenge.
9.1.3.2. RICK MASCHEK ENGINEERING AWARD FOR INNOVATION
The Rick Maschek Engineering Award for Innovation recognizes a team whose
project includes one or more features (including analytic or operational processes
as well as components or assemblies) the judging panel finds genuinely "novel",
"inventive", or solving a unique problem identified by the team.
A team is considered eligible for the Rick Maschek Engineering Award for
Innovation if they are accepted into – and participate in – the Podium Session held
during the conference day at the Latin American Space Challenge. In 2021, the
Rick Maschek Engineering Award for Innovation will be awarded also based on
competition officials’ qualitative assessments.

9.1.4. TEAM CONDUCT AWARD
LASC presents one award recognizing a team competing in the LASC whose conduct
throughout the Latin American Space Challenge is exemplary of goals and ideals held
by the event organizers. The Latin American Space Challenge should be an event
where academia, industry, and the public may come together to preserve, popularize,
and advance space science in a collaborative environment energized by friendly
competition. The Team Conduct Award will be awarded to a single team chosen by the
LASC Organization.
9.1.5. TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
The Team Sportsmanship Award recognizes a team which goes above and beyond to
assist their fellow teams and the event organizers assure the Latin American Space
Challenge is a productive, safe, and enjoyable experience for all involved. They may do
this in many ways, such as making themselves available to lend-a-hand whenever and
however they can (whether they are asked to or not), being positive role models for their
fellow teams, and generally being a "force for good" in every activity in which they
involve themselves. The Team Sportsmanship Award will be awarded to a single team
chosen by the LASC Organization.
9.1.6. TEAM SPIRIT AWARD
The Team Spirit Award recognizes a team that has displayed an outstanding effort as
working as a unit towards a common goal, by being exceptionally organized, reliable,
and prepared in all aspects of the competition, be it deliverables, communication, or
operation, and goes above and beyond to display a great sense of team spirit and
sportsmanship.The Team Spirit Award will be awarded to a single team chosen by the
LASC Organization.
9.2. PENALTIES FOR UNSAFE OR UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT
Teams will be penalized 100 points off their total earned score for every instance of unsafe or
unsportsmanlike conduct recorded by competition officials. Unsportsmanlike conduct
includes, but is not limited to, hostility shown towards any Latin American Space Challenge
Participant, intentional misrepresentation of facts to any competition official, intentional
failure to comply with any reasonable instruction given by a competition official.
9.3. PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING PAYLOAD REQUIREMENTS
Teams will be penalized 100 points off their total earned score for each of the five payload
requirements described in this document in spirit or intent. These include Mass, Independent
Function, Location & Interface, Restricted Materials, and Form Factor. With regard to mass,

due to the allowance made for differences in measuring devices, teams will not be permitted
to modify their payloads with additional mass to avoid penalty at the event.
9.4. DISQUALIFICATION FROM CONSIDERATION FOR ANY AWARD
A limited number of criteria constitute grounds for disqualification from consideration for
any award. These can include a failure to meet the defining LASC mission requirements of
this document, failure to submit a Project Technical Report or final progress update at any
time prior to the Latin American Space Challenge (or otherwise failing to provide adequate
project details in required deliverables), and failure to send eligible team member
representatives to the Latin American Space Challenge.
Finally, any Team or Individual found to have accrued safety or unsportsmanlike conduct
infractions at any time during the Latin American Space Challenge will be disqualified or
removed and barred from participation in the remainder of the Latin American Space
Challenge.
9.5. WITHDRAWAL FROM COMPETITION
Teams that decide to formally withdraw from the LASC at any time prior to the event must
send an e-mail entitled "TEAM Your Team ID FORMALLY WITHDRAWS FROM THE
Competition Year LASC" to lasc@lasc.space.
For example, a team assigned the Team ID "19" would withdraw from the 2021 LASC by
sending an e-mail entitled "TEAM 19 FORMALLY WITHDRAWS FROM THE 2021
LASC" to lasc@lasc.space.
10. INSURANCE
The organization of the event will NOT be responsible or pay for any accidents, damaged
property, and injuries related to the event and caused by enrolled teams; including if a team’s
activity damages a person or property. Also, if the person or property owner decides to sue the
team, the event’s policy does NOT protect the team from the additional lawsuit.

APPENDIX A: ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND TERMS
ACRONYMS & ABBREVIATIONS
AGL Above Ground Level
AIAA American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
APCP Ammonium Perchlorate Composite Propellant
APRS Automatic Packet Reporting System
CONOPS Concept of Operations
GPS Global Positioning System
LOX Liquid Oxygen
STEM Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
TERMS
14 CFR, Part 1, 1.1 defines an amateur rocket as an unmanned rocket

that is "propelled by a motor, or motors having a combined total
Amateur Rocket impulse of 889,600 Newton-seconds (200,000 pound-seconds) or less,
and cannot reach an altitude greater than 150 kilometers (93.2 statute
miles) above the earth's surface".
Excessive damage is defined as any damage to the point that, if the

systems intended consumables were replenished, it could not be
launched again safely. Intended Consumables refers to those items
Excessive Damage which are - within reason - expected to be serviced/replaced following
a nominal mission (e.g. propellants, pressurizing gasses, energetic
devices), and may be extended to include replacement of damaged fins
specifically designed for easy, rapid replacement.
For the purposes of the LASC, the event organizers consider

ammonium perchlorate composite propellant (APCP), potassium
Non-toxic nitrate and sugar (aka "rocket candy"), nitrous oxide, liquid oxygen
Propellants (LOX), hydrogen peroxide, kerosene, propane and similar, as non-toxic
propellants. Toxic propellants are defined as requiring breathing
apparatus, special storage and transport infrastructure, extensive
personal protective equipment, etc.

APPENDIX B: DETAILS FOR THE TECHNICAL REPORT
B.1. ABSTRACT
The Project Technical Report shall contain an Abstract. At a minimum, the abstract shall
identify the launch vehicle mission/category in which the team is competing, identify any
unique/defining design characteristics of launch vehicle, define the payload mission (if
applicable), and provide whatever additional information may be necessary to convey any other
high-level project or program goals & objectives
B.2. INTRODUCTION
The Project Technical Report shall contain an Introduction. This section provides an overview
of the academic program, stakeholders, team structure, and team management strategies. The
introduction may repeat some of the content included in the abstract, because the abstract is
intended to act as a standalone synopsis if necessary.
B.3. SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE OVERVIEW
The Project Technical Report shall contain a System Architecture overview. This section shall
begin with a top-level overview of the integrated system, including a cutaway figure depicting
the fully integrated launch vehicle and its major subsystems – configured for the mission being
flown in the competition. This description shall be followed by the following subsections.
Each subsection shall include detailed descriptions of each subsystem, and reflect the technical
analyses used to support design and manufacturing decisions. Technical drawings of these
subsystems should be included in the specified appendix.
B.4. MISSION CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS OVERVIEW
The Project Technical Report shall contain a Mission Concept of Operations (CONOPS)
Overview. This section shall identify the mission phases, including a figure, and describe the
nominal operation of all subsystems during each phase (e.g. a description of what is supposed to
be occurring in each phase, and what subsystem[s] are responsible for accomplishing this).
No matter how a team defines mission phases and phase transitions, they will be used to help
organize failure modes identified in a Risk Assessment Appendix – described in this document.
B.5. CONCLUSIONS AND LESSONS LEARNED
The Project Technical Report shall contain Conclusions and Lessons Learned. This section shall
include the lessons learned during the design, manufacture, and testing of the project, both from
a team management and technical development perspective.

Furthermore, this section should include strategies for corporate knowledge transfer from senior
team members to the rising underclassmen who will soon take their place.
B.6. WEIGHTS, MEASURES, AND PERFORMANCE DATA APPENDIX
The first Project Technical Report appendix shall contain Weights, Measures, and Performance
Data. This requirement will be satisfied by appending the Final Progress Report as the first
appendix of the Project Technical Report.
B.7. HAZARD ANALYSIS APPENDIX
The second Technical Report appendix shall contain a Hazard Analysis Report. This appendix
shall address as applicable, hazardous material handling, transportation, storage procedures, and
any other aspects of the design which pose potential hazards to operating personnel. A
mitigation approach – by process and/or design – shall be defined for each hazard identified.
B.8. RISK ASSESSMENT APPENDIX
The third Technical Report appendix shall contain a Risk Assessment. This appendix shall
summarize risk and reliability concepts associated with the project.
All identified failure modes which pose a risk to mission success shall be recorded in a matrix,
organized according to the mission phases identified by the CONOPS. A mitigation approach –
by process and/or design – shall be defined for each risk identified.
A common description of the Risk Assessment is FMECA (Failure Mode and Effect Criticality
Analysis). A risk assessment/FMECA is often represented as a spreadsheet matrix. The input to
the matrix is listed as follows:
• A description of the identified failure mode.

• The likelihood of the failure mode occurring.
• The severity and impact of the failure mode occurring
The likelihood of a failure mode occurrence and the severity of the occurrence is assigned
values according to the following tables:
Table B.1: Likelihood of Failure.
Failure Probability Value Assessment of Risk
Remote 1 This is unlikely to happen.
Occasional 2 This might happen.
Probable or likely 3 This is likely to happen.

Table B.2: Severity of Occurrence.
Mishap Severity Value Effect of Failure Mode
Minor or negligible 1 Minor impact on mission.
Critical 2 Deterioration of performance and mission.
Catastrophic 3 Safety hazard and/or likely loss of mission
The "Criticality Ranking" is the product of the Failure Probability and the Mishap Severity. The
criticality rating is a measure of how urgent and how severe mitigation actions will have to be
taken, to reduce the Criticality Ranking.
Table B.3: Criticality Ranking.
Mishap Severity Value Effect of Failure Mode
1 Minor This failure mode is not a concern.
2 Minor This failure mode is of very minor concern.
3 Medium Justification needed. Jury may decide to review.
4 High Technical jury approval needed before launch / injection.
6 Critical Action required to reduce ranking before launch / injection.
9 Critical Action required to reduce ranking before launch / injection.
The output of the matrix is highlighting and ranking failure mode liabilities to the mission, and
the justifications and mitigations to reduce the Criticality Ranking. A typical FMECA scale for
the complexity of projects attending LASC should feature no less than 10 identified, ranked,
commented, and justified failure modes – these should address at the minimum all important
and critical failure modes. An illustrating excerpt is given below:
Table B.4: Risk Matrix.
Failure Mission Failure Mishap Critically

Team’s Comments
Mode Phase Probability Severity Ranking
COTS solid motor with COTS

Ignition Ignition igniter is highly reliable and
1 1 1
failure phase consequences of a misfire are
very minor.
Antenna deployment of Pico &

Antenna Nano satellites are mandatory for
Deployment
Deployment 2 3 6 communication to the ground
phase station. A redundant system is
failure
required.

B.9. ENGINEERING DRAWINGS APPENDIX
The final Project Technical Report appendix shall contain Engineering Drawings. This appendix
shall include any revision controlled technical drawings necessary to define significant
subsystems or components.
B.10. OPTIONAL APPENDICES
Other optional appendices can include, but are not limited to further Subsystem Details, Launch
Support Equipment Details, Detailed Structural and Mechanical Calculation, Detailed Logical
Process Diagrams, Detailed Software Architecture, and Detailed Electrical Architecture.

APPENDIX C: DETAILING GRADING CRITERIA
The grading will be conducted by the jury based on the individual grading criterion in the
respective competition categories and scored according to a scheme of 1 to 4. This is meant to
be an intuitive and transparent scheme for the jury to follow and the teams to understand.
For countable criteria, "2" is the standard grade and can be understood in a sense that a criterion
is fulfilled by the team in general conformity, but no complete conformity is reached
(corresponding to "3") or a outstanding conformity (corresponding to "4"), nor complete lack of
conformity (corresponding to "1").
An example of a countable criteria would be the amount of errors in scientific terms or formulas
in the technical report and the engineering details developed.
For relative criteria,"2" is the standard grade and can be understood in a sense that a criterion is
fulfilled by the team in an average satisfactory manner, but neither sticks out to be particularly
well done (corresponding to "3") or to be of exceptional quality (corresponding to "4"), nor does
it stick out to be poorly done or of below average quality (corresponding to "1").
An example of a relative criteria would be the quality in description of system architecture and
mission concept of operations in the technical report.
An exception is the absolute criteria, meaning things that can be either done or not done, the
scoring scheme simplifies fulfilment or non-fulfilment corresponding to either 0% or 100% of
the points. An example of an absolute criteria would be the submission of deliverables (they are
either delivered or not).
Teams will get feedback on their scoring after the award ceremony, but no more than 90 days
after the closing ceremony. A summary and overview of the grading scheme is given below for
clarity.
Table C.0: Grading Scheme.
For Countable For Relative For Absolute

Count Count Count
Criteria Criteria Criteria
Outstanding Outstanding
4 4 1 Yes
Conformity Quality
General
3 3 High Quality 0 No
Conformity
Lack of No Greater than

2 2
Conformity Average
Absence of
1 1 Poor Quality
Conformity

C.1. TEAM EFFORT
Table C.1: Team Effort Grading Criteria.
Criterion Possible Points Details
Entry Form
Deliverables
Progress Update
(correct,
120
complete,
CDR Video
timely)
Student Team Ticket
Clear, open, honest, reliable, timely, and efficient

communication in written and spoken word prior and
during the event.
Organization and Reliability of the Team, e.g., team is

Organization, present in time at the start of the event, team is reliable
Operation, 80 and in time for scheduled briefings and meetings, clear
Communication responsibilities and roles within the team, clear points
of contact towards the event officials.
High quality, clarity, and competency of CDR Video

presentation of the team towards the jury and the
public.
C.2. PROJECT TECHNICAL REPORT
Table C.2: Project Technical Report Grading Criteria.
Grammar, spelling, typing errors ("typos"),

punctuation, sentence structure.
Correct use of scientific terms, units, dimensions,

consistency, and usefulness of significant digits.
Technical clarity and disambiguation, correctness of

Correctness 100 scientific statements regarding general scientific
knowledge.
Coherent stylistic appearance in terms of font, font size,

style elements, colours, paragraphs, headlines,
sufficient resolution of figures, presence of figure axis
labels, clear and readable graphs/tables, etc.

Contains all required contents according to the

Completeness 100
requirements in a complete but concise fashion.
Explanation of key-design decisions, including

tradespace analysis description (e.g., why was one
option chosen over the other), constraints, and decision
rationale.
Clarity, understandability, and thoughtfulness in

description of system architecture and mission concept
of operations
Discussion of key verification & validation tests

Analysis 150 performed on final design and possible previous
designs, demonstrate complete and valid conclusions
drawn from the results.
Appropriate use of tables, figures, and appendices to

clearly organize and communicate information to the
reader.
Quality, thoughtfulness, usefulness, and practicability

of risk assessments, hazard analysis, checklists,
technical drawings
C.3. DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION
Table C.3: Design Implementation Grading Criteria.
All features of the project reflect strong competency in

the physical principles governing the design.
Design quality enables operation as intended without

risk of premature failure due to fatigue or reasonably
expected loading.
Competency of
120 Robustness of design characteristics, decreasing the
Design design's sensitivity to reasonably expected variations in
"real-world" operations.
Overall system engineering maintained throughout

development (e.g., not having any features which are
both critical systems, and yet clearly implemented as
"afterthoughts" to the intended system).

Demonstration of a clear, achievable strategic vision for

how challenges were selected to advance strategic
goals, mirrored by the project’s design implementation.
Strategic Design
100 Degree of strategic consideration given to the design
Decisions
and inclusion of COTS and SRAD in the project, also
in keeping in line with the teams' articulated strategic
vision.
Selection and implementation of a challenging and

novel design feature in one or more particular aspects,
either to enhance the team’s understanding of that
subject, or to develop technology necessary for
achieving a longer term performance goal (e.g., active
Design
80 control, guidance).
Challenges
Selection and implementation of a novel or challenging
propulsion and/or staging system, and development of
the technology necessary for achieving a successful
implementation.
C.4. PODIUM SESSION
Table C.4: Team Effort Grading Criteria.
Selection and implementation of an aspect of their

project which they are particularly proud of, excited
about, learned the most in the process of, creates new
knowledge, advances the field's understanding of a
Technical particular area, presented a unique technical challenge
they overcame, and/or otherwise best demonstrates the
Excellence and 150
team's technical excellence and/or innovation in a
Innovation particular aspect of their work.
Technical clarity and disambiguation, correctness of

scientific statements regarding general scientific
knowledge.

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Latin American Space Challenge

2021 LASC Online Edition

The electronic version is the official, approved document.

Latin American Space Challenge | 1

REVISION DESCRIPTION DATE

Baseline of the 2021 LASC Rules & Requirements

Latin American Space Challenge | 2

3. PURPOSE AND SCOPE

Latin American Space Challenge | 3

4. TEAM COMPOSITION AND ELIGIBILITY

4.1. TEAM MEMBERS

A LASC Team may consist of one or a group of student members, non-students

4.2. TEAM ORGANIZATION AND SUBMISSION LIMITATIONS

5. APPLICATION AND REGISTRATION PROCESSES

Latin American Space Challenge | 4

5.1. ENTRY FORM

5.2. ACADEMIC INSTITUTION PARTICIPATION LETTER

5.3. TEAM REGISTRATION FEES

• Student Team Ticket: R$ 500,00

• Individual Rocketeer/Sateliteer Ticket: R$ 35,00

Latin American Space Challenge | 5

• Entry-level: 0.5 km AGL apogee with a solid rocket propulsion system;

Table 1: Flight categories: target apogee vs. minimum payload.

Target Apogee 0.5 km 1 km 3 km

Solid 0,25 kg 0,8 kg 4 kg

Latin American Space Challenge | 6

6.1.1. PAYLOAD MASS

6.1.2. INDEPENDENT PAYLOAD FUNCTIONALITY

Although non-functional "boiler-plate" payloads are permitted, teams are encouraged to

6.1.3. PAYLOAD LOCATION AND INTERFACE RESTRICTED

6.1.4. RESTRICTED PAYLOAD MATERIALS

6.1.5. PAYLOAD FORM FACTOR

Latin American Space Challenge | 7

non-functional “boilerplate” (i.e. mass emulator) or if it is a functional scientific

6.1.5.1. BOILERPLATE PAYLOAD

Any launch vehicle carrying strictly non-functional “boilerplate” mass as its

• For 3 km AGL apogee categories: Each CubeSat shall be no less than 1U in

6.1.5.2. SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENT OR TECHNOLOGY

Any functional scientific experiment or technology demonstration payload and

The payload design may incorporate a limited amount of additional

6.2. ROCKET LIMITATION

Latin American Space Challenge | 8

6.3. RANGE TRACKING

6.4. OFFICIAL ALTITUDE LOGGING

• PocketQube-style satellite project;

Latin American Space Challenge | 9

8.1. PROGRESS UPDATES

Latin American Space Challenge | 10

8.2. CRITICAL DESIGN REVIEW VIDEO

8.2.1. ROCKET CHALLENGE CDR VIDEO

• Mission, performance: flight profile simulations, altitude predictions with simulated

8.2.2. SATELLITE CHALLENGE CDR VIDEO

• Selection and design of the Space Mission;

Latin American Space Challenge | 11

8.3. PODIUM SESSION MATERIALS

Latin American Space Challenge | 12

8.4. PROJECT TECHNICAL REPORT

Latin American Space Challenge | 13

9. SCORING AND AWARDS

Table 2: Weight of the Scoring Categories.

Scoring Categories Possible Points % of Total Points

Team Effort 200 20%

Project Technical Report 350 35%

Design Implementation 300 30%

2021 LASC Rules & Requirements Document R00

2021 LASC Rules & Requirements Document R00