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Next NASA Centennial Challenge Competition

Posted by Zonk on from the ready-set-space dept.

Andrew-Unit writes "NASA today announced the next competition in the Centennial Challenge series. A prize of $250,000 USD will be awarded to the team that can autonomously deliver the most lunar regolith to a collection device in 30 minutes. From the press release: 'This challenge continues NASA's efforts to broaden interest in innovative concepts ... We hope to see teams from a broad spectrum of technical areas take part in this competition,'"

6 of 109 comments (clear)

  1. Man.. I Can See Where This Is Going... by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Funny
    $250,000 USD will be awarded to the team that can autonomously deliver the most lunar regolith to a collection device in 30 minutes.
    I can see exactly where this is going*...
    • 300,000 USD First craft to achieve orbit.
    • 350,000 USD First craft to carry man in orbit.
    • 400,000 USD First craft to reach Moon.
    • 450,000 USD First craft to orbit Moon and return.
    • 500,000 USD First craft to take man to Moon orbit and return.
    • 550,000 USD First craft to land on Moon, take off and return.
    • 600,000 USD First craft to land Man on Moon, take off and return.
    • 650,000 USD First craft to land materiel on Moon, build structure.
    • 700,000 USD First craft to land Man and materiel on Moon, build structure, inhabit for one day and return.
    • 750,000 USD (optional) First craft to land Man on moon who spends 1 night in haunted Moon Mansion and return alive (Bonus: Gets eccentric uncle's inheritance)
    • 800,000 USD First to build town on Moon
    • 850,000 USD First to build domed city on Moon
    • 900,000 USD First to build Monorail (Monorail, a monorail!) on Moon

    NASA, if very, very cagey can do what they want on a pittance, letting people knock each other over trying to do for piddly prizes. Of course, Richard Branson will probably end up owning the Moon anyway...

    *Prizes not necessarily in order. Actual prize amount may vary. NASA employees and their family members not eligible (especially if an abnormal amount of materiel is missing from NASA) Offer subject to withdrawal at whim of sponsor or Congress.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  2. Can't wait to get started by joeflies · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now where did I leave my Saturn V and lunar lander? Maybe I can get one on Ebay?

  3. Wow, Imagine that. by GeneralEmergency · · Score: 4, Funny



    Millions of years of evolution.

    Thousands of years of painstaking acquisition of knowledge.

    Decades of space exploration.

    The next big challenge:

    -- How to get dirt into a bucket. --

    "How do I get out of this chicken shit outfit?"

    --
    "A microprocessor... is a terrible thing to waste." --
    GeneralEmergency
  4. What about gravity? by Dareth · · Score: 3, Funny

    Will the difference in gravity between Earth and the moon make a difference in the performance of these devices?

    Oh, and will any of them bounce over craters, and have massive 2 directional (front and above) firepower?

    --

    I only look human.
    My mother is a halfling and my dad is an ogre, so that makes me an Ogreling
  5. And the winner goes to: by temojen · · Score: 4, Funny

    Catterpillar. Oh wait... there's probably weight restrictions.

  6. My idea by SpaceAdmiral · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm just going to buy a Roomba and spray-paint my name on it.