Centennial Challenges
The Centennial Challenges are NASA inducement prize contests for non-government-funded technological achievements by American teams.
Challenges
The Challenges have not been finalized. Candidates include:
- Very Low Cost Spacecraft Missions: Micro reentry vehicles, lunar robotic landings, Mars and asteroid microspacecraft missions, and solar sail missions.
- Breakthrough Robotic Capability Competitions: Robotic triathalon, telerobotic construction race, robotic insect, rover survivor, and an Antarctic rover traverse.
- Revolutionary Technology Demonstrations: Lunar resource utilization, long-term propellant storage, astronaut glove, precision lander, autonomous drill, battery breakthrough, in situ life detector, extreme environment computer, nanotube tether, and very low cost suborbital launch.
Origin
The Centennial Challenges are based on a long history of technology prize contests, including the Longitude prize (won by John Harrison), the Orteig Prize (won by Charles Lindbergh), the ANSARI X PRIZE and the DARPA Grand Challenge. A key advantage of prizes over traditional grants is that money is only paid when the goal is achieved. A 1999 National Academy of Engineering committee report recommended that "Congress encourage federal agencies to experiment more extensively with inducement prize contests in science and technology". A 2003 NASA Space Architect study, assisted by the X PRIZE Foundation, led to the establishment of the Centennial Challenges. The prize contests were named "Centennial" in honor of the 100 years since the Wright brothers' first flight in 1903.
Budget
For Financial Year 2004, each prize will be $250 000 or less.
The Financial Year 2005 budget includes $20 million for Centennial Challenges. Prizes larger than $250 000 will be offered if legislation (2005 NASA Authorization Act) allows them.
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