X-Prize now government policy

[selenite0]

NASA's new budget includes $20M for prizes going to people who actually accomplish particular goals. That's a big change from NASA business as usual. Have to see what they'll actually offer prizes for, but "low cost space missions" are on the list.

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/55407main_24%20Exploration.pdf

Comments

[selenite.livejournal.com]

The nice thing about prizes is the mission/demo happens first before any money is handed out, so the bureaucrats have no chance to constrain things. The danger I worry about is giving a prize for a laboratory demonstration of some tightly defined material, so it's still effectively constrained.

If the prizes succeed NASA may still have a purpose in life after shuttle/station go away.