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Rules Set for $50 Million America's Space Prize

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the didn't-have-enough-fun-with-the-x-preise dept.

An anonymous reader wrote in to say that The rules have been set for Robert Bigelow's $50 million 'America's Space Prize'. The gist of it is that the winner needs to get a crew of five people up 400km, complete two orbits of the Earth, and then do it again within 60 days. I've got a gremlin and a huge rubber band... now if I only had 4 friends!

3 of 548 comments (clear)

  1. Re:80% reusable? by tepples · · Score: 5, Funny

    Then begin your rationalizing by claiming that the part that lifts off is the 20 percent, and the launch pad is the 80 percent.

  2. Re:80% reusable? by Zarniwoop_Editor · · Score: 5, Funny
    Can the crew be part of the expendable 20%?

    Might save on life support overhead for the two orbits. ;-)

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    - F1 NEWS
  3. Orbital Gremlins by jshark · · Score: 5, Funny

    The aerodynamics of a Gremlin are such that the giant rubber band will give insufficient lift to attain orbital velocity. You'll be better off with a good strong plank and one of those weights from Acme that read 16 TONS on the side.

    The only drawback is that the sudden acceleration may cause your passengers to look like pancakes of mercury on the floormats, assuming they don't just flow through the rust holes in the floorboards.

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    If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough.