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NASA Seeks Geniuses and Visionaries

Posted by Zonk on from the plenty-of-those-around-here,-right? dept.

Dotnaught writes "The NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts has put out a call for 'revolutionary ideas to advance the Vision for Space Exploration.' Would-be visionaries are invited to submit their ideas by February 13, 2006, as explained in this Call for Proposals. Phase 1 grants range from $50K to $75K. Phase 2 grants go up to $400K. Sample grand visions include how to create a 'self-sustaining, human presence throughout the solar system' and 'truly autonomous robotic operations for exploration and habitation.'" If any Slash users end up with the grants, we call dibs on interviews.

3 of 246 comments (clear)

  1. Here's some by hackstraw · · Score: 0, Troll


    How about space exploration that does not wreck or blow up?

    That is a $50k one, not $75k or $400k.

    How about either changing the name, or do something with the first 'A' of their name?

    Here you go, how about ditching NASA and NSF and joining them?

    NASA has turned into a poor version of an employment agency that mismanages contractors at an inflated salaries so that they can dump them easier than dumping a government employee proper. Honestly, this proposal of looking for "Geniuses" and "Visionaries" is similar to NSF grants, but NSF grants pay money. Any scientist or researcher would give NASA a $50k or $75k idea in exchange for a publication. Putting a $50k to $75k open invitation is going to cost much more reading the crap from dumbasses like me and every other dumbass that is looking to get rich off of top prizes from "legalized" gambling from the government.

    No, I didn't RTFA. If I were a genius or visionary, I would apply for a job as an imagineer at Disney or a job at Pixar or one of the Lucas spinoff companies. Not for some lottery for a failing government agency.

  2. Re:My idea by mboverload · · Score: 0, Troll
    You mean the main external tank (the big rust colored thing). It stores liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. They cool them down into a liquid state and put them in the tank (which fuels the actual Shuttle engines during launch). The foam is there to try and keep the cold in (actually keep the heat out). However, the foam eventually "freezes" and ice also forms on the outside of the tank. That's what leads to all these problems.

    They used to have a much better foam but due to some enviromental concerns they had to stop using it.

  3. Mod him up!!! by mu22le · · Score: 0, Troll
    One conclusion was that sending a ship across the heavens would require the dedicated effort of a large chunk of humanity, and that the required level of committment has thus far only been observed in religious believers. [...] So if I were NASA, I would be seeing what I could learn from the Catholic church.

    Man I really think you got it! Try submitting NASA a proposal to start a religion, or maybe they could band together with one of those already existing.

    Yeah! A Crusade to the Stars is all we need... (maybe not)

    PS
    I really think that a good amount of faith and devotion is needed to earn us the stars.