Signed up for NASA competition advisories at Challenge.gov?

[FictionBecomesFact]

:arrow: Have you signed up for social media advisories regarding your favorites among the potentially growing list of government-sponsored competitive prizes (including NASA's) at http://www.challenge.gov yet?


Meanwhile,what do you think is becoming, and should become of NASA's competitive prizes program?

http://www.CentennialChallenges.nasa.gov

The prizes have all been won (or have expired in one case). Isn't it time for more, and bigger prizes, including for launching? Or should Google's own space prize continue to dwarf that of tax-evading NASA?

http://www.GoogleLunarXPrize.org

Governmental prizes for high tech. breakthroughs are catching on:

http://www.hydrogenprize.org (Dept. of Energy)

http://www.lightingprize.org (Dept. of Energy)

https://networkchallenge.darpa.mil (Defense Department’s DARPA)

http://www.dod.mil/ddre/prize (Defense Dept.)

http://www.darpa.mil/grandchallenge (Defense Department’s DARPA)

http://www.greenaironline.com/news.php?viewStory=225 (FAA)

Why has NASA lost momentum with its prize offerings then? If it's so subjugated to pork-barreling interests, what does that say about whether we should continue supporting NASA?

As a sidenote, this is a great article about prizes' additional progress under the new presidential administration:

http://www.boston.com/news/science/arti ... cognition/

EXCERPT:

“Several politicians have proposed more prizes. Senator Olympia Snowe, a Maine Republican, co-sponsored a bill now in committee to offer cash prizes for innovations in nanotechnology. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont is pushing for a government-sponsored prize to encourage medical breakthroughs in areas that do not typically attract enough private industry investment, such as the development of a malaria vaccine.”


Other prizes in the private sector are worth noting:

http://www.mprize.org (immortality, anyone?)

http://www.XPrize.org

PETA’s in vitro meat challenge:

http://www.peta.org/feat_in_vitro_contest.asp

University (Mars) Rover Challenge:

http://www.marssociety.org/portal/c/urc/Teams

Team America Rocketry Challenge:

http://www.rocketcontest.org

http://www.GoogleLunarXPrize.org (mentioned above)

Also:

http://www.innocentive.com : where prize offerors and seekers meet…

http://www.innovationprizecentral.com : list of some additional prizes

http://www.ideaconnection.com/resources ... ntest.html

Shall we settle for the status quo, or finally boldly go?

 

[rockett]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): What next from NASA?

Downloaded the form from NASA. Going to suggest a race to the moon (unmanned) from LEO.
1. Start at ISS
2. Entrants will go from there to the moon.
3. Entrants judged on
-first there
-powerplant efficiency
-innovation

Think they would do it?

 

[access]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): What next from NASA?

Wouldn't happen, every time they want to test nasa would be paying for the flight to the station. If you made them pay for their chunk of the launch it would add a lot of cost and just make it the google lunar + ISS.

Copy the N prize- micro launcher
Otherwise prizes relating to getting industry into space more space-centrically would probably become interesting:
Solar power, fuel depot, all the usual contenders

 

[FictionBecomesFact]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): What next from NASA?

Might the answers to the interesting questions being posed be located in Congress and the White House, moreso than at NASA? I wonder what can realistically be done to get Congress and the White House on the right track to supporting NASA prize program enhancement? Any thoughts? Specific elected or appointed officials names and websites could be of interest to us all. A difference could be made, stemming right here at this forum.

 

[FictionBecomesFact]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): What next from NASA?

The White House has very recently launched an endeavor to get practically all federal agencies to embrace and facilitate competitive prize-offerings as a means of achieving desired technological and other breakthroughs:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/assets/me ... m10-11.pdf

An intergovernmental website will reportedly emerge before too much longer, enabling agencies to solicit public feedback about potential prize offerings., and to announce the emergence of new government-backed prizes. Isn't this long overdue? We're enduring similar national debt pressures as the late U.S.S.R., as this demonstrates:

http://www.usdebtclock.org

 

[FictionBecomesFact]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): What next from NASA?

Shouldn't most of NASA's budget go towards funding competitive prizes? Currently less than 1% of it does, with the predictable result that few advances are being made.

 

[kelvinzero]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): What next from NASA?

Rats. I have been looking around for that really good summary of the new budget that I found either here or at nasaspaceflight.

But aren't these competitive elements vastly increased in the new budget? I remember there was a section in the document next to a picture of the lunar lander challenge, and I thought there was a significant dollar value attached to that section.

Does anyone know the document I mean? I would like to find it again.

I think it was summarizing the budget over a five year period

(edit)

Ah, found it
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=22515

Some links from MW. I think it was the 2011 budget estimates, page 13, Space technology. About a billion a year but it wasnt clear what proportion was in prizes.

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/420990main_FY_2 ... b_2010.pdf

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): What next from NASA?

Prizes and competitions for students :

http://www.conradawards.org/

examples :

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDzemS8mA5k[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec-wG2nl-cQ[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z97a7rn2wyk[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=preSX5h4pj4[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz1Lp7PFvgE[/youtube]

and so on.

 

[FictionBecomesFact]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): What next from NASA?

The official NASA budget proposal link doesn't offer specifics about prizes funding, but according to this source:

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_s ... uffle.html

+ Centennial Challenges Program: New Program Office to manage $10 million in FY 2011 and $50 million over five years for this innovative prize program.

:? The question is, will pork-barreling Congress support that or greedily hoard ALL of NASA's annual $20 billion budget for pork projects?

 

[danhezee]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): What next from NASA?

The official NASA budget proposal link doesn't offer specifics about prizes funding, but according to this source:

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_s ... uffle.html

+ Centennial Challenges Program: New Program Office to manage $10 million in FY 2011 and $50 million over five years for this innovative prize program.

:? The question is, will pork-barreling Congress support that or greedily hoard ALL of NASA's annual $20 billion budget for pork projects?

I hope they do. The original Centennial Challenges had $12 million from the start to present day. A lot innovation was spurred from it. Imagine what will happen when they get $10 million a year for prizes.

 

[FictionBecomesFact]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): What next from NASA?

Is activity really brewing between NASA and the Google Lunar X Prize, which NASA funding may go towards supporting? Stay tuned...

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): What next from NASA?

http://www.nasa.gov : Interdisciplinary National Science Project Incorporating Research and Education Experience

Now accepting applications to the Online Learning Community from May 3 to June 30, 2010

The Interdisciplinary National Science Project Incorporating Research and Education Experience, or INSPIRE, is a multitier year-round program designed for students in ninth to 12th grade who are interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and careers.

The centerpiece of INSPIRE is the Online Learning Community, or OLC. The OLC provides a place for INSPIRE students to interact with their peers, NASA experts and education specialists. Through grade-level-appropriate educational activities, chats and discussion boards, students and their families are exposed to the many careers and opportunities NASA has to offer. In addition, the OLC provides the parents/guardians of participating students with resources designed to help them champion their child’s education and career goals.

To ensure all students have an opportunity to participate in the OLC, those who qualify for the National School Lunch Program are eligible to receive a free laptop.

To be considered for the INSPIRE Online Learning Community, applicants must:

* Be entering the ninth through 12th grade when the school year begins.
* Be at least 13 years of age or older at the time of application.
* Be a U.S. citizen.
* Have a minimum of a 2.5 academic grade point average on an unweighted 4.0 scale.
* Demonstrate the desire and the academic preparation to pursue a STEM-related field of study beyond high school.
* Complete the online application process with all required documentation.

http://www.nasa.gov : Brochure ( PDF )

Students in grades 9-12 can apply to be participants in the Interdisciplinary National Science Project Incorporating Research and Education Experience. INSPIRE is a one-year project for students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The Online Learning Community, the centerpiece of the project, allows INSPIRE students to interact with their peers, NASA experts and education specialists.

( .pdf in link )

The information in this document was accurate as of the original publication date.

 

[tampaDreamer]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): What next from NASA?

I'd like to see more ISRU and mining challenges. Autonomous would be nice, but remotely controlled seems ok given that the moon is likely the best target.

 

[access]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): What next from NASA?

That's actually a pretty good idea... I think... Ok pros and cons
I like ISRU and I think it would be good to support develop it as NASA doesn't seem really interested in it at the moment. It could directed to trying to make something out of simulated regolith. However that raises the question why isn't NASA doing their own work on it and the fact is that they don't have any particular use for it and even less does a private company have any interest in it. So I suppose that really I have some mixed feelings about that. ON one hand I'd like to see ISRU developed but then there isn't anything to do with it. Yet.

 

[tampaDreamer]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): What next from NASA?

All of this stuff is very forward looking.. space elevator is atleast as far away as isru. But I think we should be looking at robotic ore extraction and smelting etc as well with an eye toward building structures "up" there. You need more than just cement.

Another idea I had was a race to heliopause. Probably too long-term but it would be a neat idea. Restrict the mass to a very small package, would be fun to see a solar sail race vasimr and others.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): What next from NASA?

http://www.moondaily.com : MSU Robot Digs Most Moon Dirt

Bozeman MT (SPX) May 31, 2010

by Evelyn Boswell

A Montana State University student-built robot won a national contest at the Kennedy Space Center Friday by digging the most simulated moon dirt in 15 minutes.

Defeating robots from 21 other colleges and universities, Montana MULE removed 21.6 kilograms of regolith from a giant sandbox. That was far above the 10 kilograms required to qualify in the contest and far ahead of the nearest competitor in NASA's first Lunar Regolith Excavator Student Competition.

A robot from Auburn University dug 6.6 kilograms. The University of Southern Indiana's robot dug 2.4 kilograms. Montana MULE was the only robot that met and surpassed the minimum requirement, beating out other, larger universities such as Virginia Tech, Iowa State University and the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

John Ritter observes "Montana MULE" to see what needs to be done before the robot competes in a national contest at the Kennedy Space Center. Six MSU students and a faculty adviser will be in Florida for the NASA competition. (MSU photo by Jackson Harris).

Ching from Belgrade, an MSU senior in computer science, remotely steered Montana MULE to victory by using the controls of an X Box 360 computer game and wireless technology. Ching sat inside a building that was isolated from the arena, so he controlled Montana MULE by watching the robot on a screen. Helping him watch were teammates Jennifer Hane of Fort Shaw and John Ritter of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Ching said the screen refreshed at a low rate, which meant there were lags between what he was doing and seeing.

"It was pretty nerve-wracking," Ching said.

Students representing three departments and five majors in the College of Engineering, built Montana MULE this school year. Besides Ching, Hane and Ritter, the MSU team consisted of Ben Hogenson and Phillip Karls from Billings, Steve Pemble of Colstrip, Craig Harne of Cutbank and Paul Dallapiazza from Florence.

Their faculty advisers were LaMeres in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Lloyd in the Department of Computer Science, and Robb Larson, Mike Edens and Ahsan Mian in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.

LaMeres learned about the competition last year while attending a NASA workshop. He brought back the idea to MSU and obtained NASA funds for materials. The Montana Space Grant Consortium then awarded LaMeres, Lloyd and Larson additional funding for competition travel and for the development of formal senior design curriculum material based on this project so that future students can have a rewarding experience, too.

The Montana Space Grant Consortium also provided T-shirts for the students to wear during the competition. Hogenson received funds from MSU's Undergraduate Scholars Program to continue his participation after he finished his senior design class.

 

[access]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): What next from NASA?

Let me be the first to say OMG YOU CAN GET A ROBOT TO DIG!!!!!!!!

When I talk about creating a ISRU challenge I mean something to do with building something. Maybe a mooncrete contruction. Yes the actual extraction of regolith should be included but the real challenge is to process the material and possibly contruct something.

 

[kelvinzero]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): What next from NASA?

That's actually a pretty good idea... I think... Ok pros and cons
I like ISRU and I think it would be good to support develop it as NASA doesn't seem really interested in it at the moment. It could directed to trying to make something out of simulated regolith. However that raises the question why isn't NASA doing their own work on it and the fact is that they don't have any particular use for it and even less does a private company have any interest in it. So I suppose that really I have some mixed feelings about that. ON one hand I'd like to see ISRU developed but then there isn't anything to do with it. Yet.

NASA is doing various bits of work on ISRU, but I think it is way smaller than the amounts spent on shuttle launches etc.

I think the problem is that pretty much all NASA robotic missions are about space science. With the possible exception of a mars sample return mission, ISRU equipment would just eat up mass that could have been spent on on another piece of science equipment. Many people also seek to justify HSF according to how much space science can be achieved.

Whereas space science suits one off missions to unvisited locations, ISRU suits repeated visits to one location where an infrastructure can be built up.

So the key problem with ISRU for right now is that it is not applicable to current missions. I think we should turn this around. Rather than asking if ISRU suits a particular mission, learning ISRU should be considered a goal in itself, and some missions should be designed to achieve this goal. If you are living off bottled air and frozen food and flying in a spaceship created on earth then in a sense you haven't left earth at all. It is good enough to do space science, perhaps even visit mars and learn fantastic things about the origin of life, but if the goal is to learn to live off earth you have to be doing ISRU by definition.

(note: there seems to be a fair budget for ISRU in the 2011 budget proposal, which is great)

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): What next from NASA?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFhMCJ7lPcM[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHn0aRbIVaI[/youtube]

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): What next from NASA?

http://www.prnewswire.com : STAR TREK LIVE™ Debuts Worldwide at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., June 11 /PRNewswire/ -- STAR TREK LIVE, a new interactive stage show based on the popular science-fiction franchise, debuted to hundreds of guests at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on June 11, 2010, kicking off a summer of fun. The show takes audiences on an exhilarating 30-minute journey offering an unforgettable live theatrical experience for fans of all ages. The show combines fun special effects, audience interaction and an exploration of real space-age technology.

About STAR TREK LIVE

Audience members of all ages join Starfleet Academy only to be unexpectedly whisked into an adventure steeped in the grand tradition of Star Trek. STAR TREK LIVE combines fun special effects, audience interaction, cool science and on-screen appearances from Captain Kirk and Spock themselves to create an exhilarating and unforgettable theatrical experience.

Eager to learn from Starfleet's best and brightest, cadets assemble, anxious to prepare for their first day at the Academy. As they are introduced to the Academy, the Earth itself comes under attack from a renegade Romulan, leaving the fate of the future itself in the hands of cadets. Cadets must quickly learn the intricacies of living and working in space, modern space travel and the latest in communication and technology as they draw on the achievements of science in the 21st century. It will require cadets' knowledge, ingenuity, logic and an exploration of science to discover what is happening and how to set things right before it's too late!

http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/star-trek-live.aspx

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): What next from NASA?

http://www.spaceref.com : Sponsors Sought For NASA's Centennial Challenges Competitions

PRESS RELEASE

Date Released: Monday, June 14, 2010

Source: NASA Innovative Partnerships Program

NASA is seeking private and corporate sponsors for the Centennial Challenges, a program of incentive prizes designed for the "citizen inventor" that generates creative solutions to problems of interest to NASA and the nation. NASA is looking for companies, organizations or individuals interested in sponsoring the non-profit allied organizations that manage the prize competitions.

Since 2005, NASA has conducted 19 competitions in six challenge areas and awarded $4.5 million to 13 different teams. Each of the challenges is managed by non-profit organizations in partnership with NASA.

NASA provides prize purses for the challenges but not the funds to conduct the competitions. A group of allied organizations conducts and manages the competitions, typically raising additional funds through partnerships with private and corporate sponsors.

Potential sponsors can be for-profit companies and corporations, universities and other non-profit or educational organizations, professional or public organizations, and individuals. Those interested in discussing sponsorship opportunities should respond to a Request for Information at: http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/synopsis.cgi?acqid=141911

For additional information on the program, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/challenges

 

[FictionBecomesFact]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): new competitions soon!

Folks:
Ready for the next wave of NASA competitions to be announced?

http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/industry_day_info.html

Would anyone like to predict what at least some of the 3 new showdowns to be announced will involve? Launching, hopefully?

 

[ZiraldoAerospace]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): new competitions soon!

We need a prize for the building of room temp or close to room temp superconductors. I think that this will really help with future programs with magnetics and other things. And also, did anyone mention the N Prize?

 

[FictionBecomesFact]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): new competitions soon!

Might NASA be planning to announce, next week, an upcoming backing of the GoogleLunarXPrize.org endeavor?

 

[ZiraldoAerospace]

Re: Space prizes (Centennial Challenges): new competitions soon!

Might NASA be planning to announce, next week, an upcoming backing of the GoogleLunarXPrize.org endeavor?

I think that they are too busy making the Muslim world feel good about their contributions to math and science lol. But in all seriousness, I hope that they stay out of the Lunar X Prize.