The contest involves simulating a crew escape scenario from a rocket-powered-glider. The students are challenged to release a small, simulated crew-escape module (an egg) from a glider so that the escape module would arrive safely at a specified location. Requirements include a minimum time to altitude, a minimum altitude to release the module, and a safe return to a designated target. These requirements encourage the use of rocket propulsion, aeronautics, and tracking/navigation sensors. The dynamic, hands-on nature of the rocket launch, glide control, and payload drop should stimulate enthusiasm and participation in both university and high-school groups.

The probable basic carrier vehicle is the “Aerotech Phoenix” model rocket glider, which is a rocket-launched, radio-controlled glider. It has the potential to be modified to carry the desired crew escape module and release mechanism, yet will challenge the students' ingenuity, technical skill, and teamwork capability in multiple disciplines. The “Aerotech Phoenix” can be launched to a maximum altitude of 300 meters. It has a wingspan of 1.3 meters and a launch weight of 0.7 kilograms. It is powered by RMS-RC 32 reloadable rocket motors, which have a total impulse of either 60 or 100 Newton-seconds. Control is provided by three microservo channels, commanded by radio controllers.

How students achieve the design objectives is open to their ingenuity. One possibility is to design the crew escape module with a release mechanism to be added to the rocket glider, and then develop a ground-based and/or on-board tracking and navigation system. Adding a payload module would require assessment of its effect on glider aerodynamics, flight mechanical performance, and stability and control. Design iterations will be necessary, possibly including wing redesign. The tracking and navigation requirement will again challenge the students' ingenuity, and may be approached either in a rudimentary or a sophisticated manner. Throughout the feasibility assessment phase, the students will focus on the goal of developing a marketable contest concept for wide applicability to the target groups.

For the university design teams competing to develop a marketable contest concept, there will be challenges in the technical areas of aeronautics, propulsion, mechanical design, control, navigation, instrumentation, communication, and economics.