[hackerspaces-announce] NASA has a challenge for you and prize money too

[Ortega, Samuel A. {Sam}(MSFC-MP92)]

Hello Hackerspace List,
NASA has three new Centennial Challenge competitions starting in 2011.
The three new challenges have a prize purse of $5 million. NASA sponsors prize competitions because the agency believes citizen-inventors, student teams and private companies of all sizes can provide creative solutions to problems of interest to NASA and the nation.
The Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge is to place a small satellite into Earth orbit, twice in one week, with a prize of $2 million. The goals of this challenge are to stimulate innovations in low-cost launch technology and encourage creation of commercial nano-satellite delivery services.
The Night Rover Challenge is to demonstrate a solar-powered exploration vehicle that can operate in darkness using its own stored energy. The prize purse is $1.5 million. The objective is to stimulate innovations in energy storage technologies of value in extreme space environments, such as the surface of the moon, or for electric vehicles and renewable energy systems on Earth.
The Sample Return Robot Challenge is to demonstrate a robot that can locate and retrieve geologic samples from wide and varied terrain without human control. This challenge has a prize purse of $1.5 million. The objectives are to encourage innovations in automatic navigation and robotic manipulator technologies.
Centennial Challenges are extended to individuals, groups and companies working outside the traditional aerospace industry. Unlike most contracts or grants, awards only are made after solutions are successfully demonstrated.
All three are just beginning and should have rules out for public comment this year with team registrations happening later in 2011
There are two current Centennial Challenges open to new competitors:
-- The Strong Tether Challenge: Teams must demonstrate a material that is at least 50 percent stronger than the strongest commercially available. This competition is still open to new competitors.
-- The Power Beaming Challenge: Teams must transmit power wirelessly to a device, so it can operate in various situations. Currently teams have been transmitting ~8kw to power devices. This competition is still open to new competitors.
For more information visit http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/Centennial_Challenges
Or send any questions to centennialchallenges at nasa.gov<mailto:centennialchallenges at nasa.gov>
Thanks,
Sam Ortega
NASA’s Centennial Challenges Program Manager



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