Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

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."

5 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. I'd like to have seen that proposal by BitwizeGHC · · Score: 5, Funny

    Head of NASA: Mr. Senator, in light of the recent (airquotes) "X-Prize" I'd like for NASA to receive funding to sponsor contract prizes of its own, in amounts up to..... (pinky to corner of mouth) ONE BILLION DOLLARS.

    --
    N4st0r, trixx0r h0bb1tz0rz! Th3y st0l3 0ur pr3c10uzz!
  3. First Order of Business: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    NASA needs to create a $10 million X-Prize going to the congressman that can secure them the most funding.

  4. 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?

  5. Re:no way by Headw1nd · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Ok, I can't imagine that you know much about the way gov't contracts are run.
    For one, who is to say they won't overpay for something? I mean even if they offered a prize somewere more reasonable like around 10 million dollars, what if the first company to "make it work" could do it for 3 million. That means nasa has just waisted 7 million dollars that could have went to another project

    So let's say the idea is 10 mil to get a man into orbit. OK, so they do it for 3 million. So they find a more cost effective way of doing things, which can be used in future spaceflight technology, and leads to greater savings in the long run.

    But far more important that that, there's no way for the project like this to go overbuget. Look at the history of the shuttle, and you'll see a project that far exceeded it's initial cost estimate. Once you've sunk a few billion, though, it's a hard to back out and lose everything to save a billion or two. Especially when you've made promises to everyone and their mother to get the funding in the first place. This is what really saves you money.

    As for the idea that companies wouldn't take the financial risks if uncertain of a reward, it's demonstrably untrue. This happens in the world of defense contracts all the time. Most large defense contractors, especially in areospace, have lost large sums of money developing prototypes, in failed bids to secure larger contracts.

    As a final note, there are already congressmen who have made careers out of attacking NASA's budget. They point to the billions invested in space flight, and the lack of any visible progress. I can't imagine a program that guarantees results would make that any easier.