Next NASA Centennial Challenge Competition

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,'"

Comments

Man.. I Can See Where This Is Going...

[ackthpt]

$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.

Meritocracy over aristocracy

[Safe Sex Goddess]

The article does make a good point when it says that these competitions let everyone compete on a level playing field.

We get to see a published set of standards, an open competition, and the winner isn't based on who has taken whom to dinner.

Wow! Making awards based on what one has accomplished rather than who one knows. This could have a major impact on business integrity if it's widely adopted.