ATV Orbital Photo Contest

Snap a photo of ATV in free-flight orbit

Update 8 Oct: See all (fabulous!) entries here

This September, ATV Edoardo Amaldi is scheduled to undock from the ISS and make several orbits of Earth on its own before being commanded to a destructive reentry over an uninhabited area of the Pacific Ocean.

ESA’s ATV project team invite you to send us your photos of ATV-3 in space!

We’ll publish them, with full credit, right here in the ATV blog – and the top three photographers will receive some super-cool ATV prizes!

To take part, simply submit a previously unpublished photo of ATV-3 in free-flight orbit (not attached to the ISS).

Follow the ATV blog for the confirmed undocking date (to be posted later). We’ll also post details on the ISS orbit and undocking coordinates.

Multiple entries are OK, but only the most recent entry will be judged; the contest closes 24:00 CEST, 2 October 2012; the winner will be announced by 12 October.

For details, click on ‘Continue reading’ below.

To participate

To take part, simply submit a previously unpublished photo of ATV-3 in free-flight orbit (not attached to the ISS). If you submit more than one photo, only the latest will be judged.

Send your image via email. Size, format and other technical details are up to you, but, clearly, we have to be able to receive your image via email (so it can’t be too big) and we have to be able to view it on our Windows PCs (so the file type should be fairly well-known – JPG, PNG, etc.).

Submissions must include name, email address, telephone, home town and caption.

Judging

The judging panel will comprise senior managers from ESA’s ATV-3 project team. Photos will be ranked for originality, technical excellence and setting. Your caption will also be considered.

Deadline for Entering

Submissions must be received by 24:00 CEST, 2 October 2012; the winner will be announced by 12:00 CEST, 12 October (via the ATV blog).

Eligibility

Participation is open to citizens and permanent residents of ESA Member States, Canada, the USA, Japan and Russia who are 18 years of age or older on 2 October. The official contest language is English. Submissions may be made in any ESA Member State language. ESA staff and contractors working on the ATV team are not eligible.

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded to the top three entries, as judged by ESA’s ATV project team. Prize descriptions to follow shortly.

All winners must supply a postal address to receive their prize.

Terms and Conditions

By submitting a photo to enter the contest, participants:

• Agree that judge’s decisions are final.
• Agree that ESA may publicise their name, home town and entry.
• Grant ESA unrestricted permission to publish their entry.
• Understand that the contest may be cancelled at any time at ESA’s discretion.
• Certify that their submitted photo is an original work of their own and has not previously be published.
• Agree that the European Space Agency is in no way liable for any claim for any damage stemming from their participation.

Questions?

Contact us via the blog, via Twitter.