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NASA Hoping To Create Super X-Prizes

Posted by michael on from the fly-by-night dept.

Rei writes "NASA is attempting to use a strategy of handing out contracts as prizes, akin to the Ansari X-Prize, instead of the contractor-preferred method of bidding and having payment before work is completed. They are hoping to have prizes worth as much as one billion dollars. The only hitch? Congress won't let them."

2 of 268 comments (clear)

  1. Good thing by Darthmalt · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This could turn out to be a good thing, Developer handles all of the R&D costs doesnt get a dime unless work is satisfactorily completed and cant go over budget.

    only down side I see is it could also scare off buisnesses not willing to take the risk of spending all that money and then not getting the contract.

  2. Re:Congress by Charcharodon · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Actually the old method does not insure that the money is spent well, but that it's spent in their consituants home town.

    This space station will cost only 3 billion dollars

    5billion...
    10 billion...
    15 billion...
    20 billion...
    30 billion...
    and going and going.....

    verses

    NASA would like to propose a new space station modual that has X characteristics and they'll give the first team that creates one that fullfills that need for 1 billion dollars and won't pay out a penny for those that don't

    It's called being a smart shopper you do it every day (hopefully) why shouldn't they?