According to News.com, NASA is planning a competition where companies will design and build a new generation of spacecraft, which NASA will then lease. The idea is to spur the private sector to action with prize money–$500 million worth. That’s a significant enough number that it should attract some attention–lookwhat the X Prize accomplished with the offer of a “paltry” $10 million.
This is some welcome news from our moribund space agency. I do take it with a grain of salt, since NASA does have a track record of good ideas being poorly executed.
Now, everyone, altogether:
GET US OFF THIS ROCK!