Could the X Prize Cup help NASA develop a Lunar RLV?

The Space Review ^ | 11/07/05 | Taylor Dinerman

[KevinDavis]

The news that NASA is talking to the X Prize Foundation about supporting a series of Centennial Challenge competitions to encourage the design of rockets for use on the Moon is pretty good news. If all goes well, NASA will offer a purse—perhaps a million dollars or more—to the winning team. The only question is, what exactly is the prize for?

According to the NASA press release there will in fact be two prizes “tentatively named the Suborbital Payload Challenge and the Suborbital Lunar Lander Analog Challenge.” Both the space agency and the foundation are expected to work out the details within the next several weeks. It seems that the second part of the competition is oriented towards developing a Lunar Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV).

[KevinDavis]

The answer is yes...

[KevinDavis]

[keithtoo]

You know? That's a great idea. Let's take NASA's budget, cut it in half, and make it a prize, given to whomever meets NASA's current goals privately

[anymouse]

You know? That's a great idea. Let's take NASA's budget, cut it in half, and make it a prize, given to whomever meets NASA's current goals privately.

And after the riots in Clear Lake, TX, Huntsville, AL, Greenbelt, MD, Cleveland, OH, Cocoa Beach, FL, etc. what would you do? (/sarcasm)

Note, I didn't say it was a bad idea. ;)

[Young Werther]

The 2006 NASA budget contains discretionary funds that the NASA Director can use vis a vis the X-Prize to stimulate new technologies and thinking!!!

So what else is new?

[keithtoo]

Nerds don't riot.....but they do flame and frag.

[anymouse]

Well that was what they thought in Toulouse, France. ;)