Institute Submits Proposal for NASA RFI - December 16, 2004
A recent "Request for Information" (RFI) was released by NASA inviting non-governmental organizations to propose ways that they can support NASA's Centennial Challenges initiative. The Centennial Challenges program will eventually award private sector efforts to develop space-related technology and processes of potential use to NASA with cash prizes worth up to tens of millions of dollars. (Note, however, that NASA is still waiting to receive Congressional approval enabling the agency to distribute such large sums.)
The President's Space Commission earlier this year recommended that NASA greatly increase their partnering with the private sector. Through such partnering, NASA will tap into the creativity, innovation, and talent of private industry to find better methods of accessing and working in space.
In response the recent RFI, the Space Settlement Institute has submitted a proposal outlining the lunar land claims recognition concept as the ultimate space development prize. Should NASA adopt land claims recognition as a Flagship Challenge for the Centennial Challenges program, it would be the largest space prize ever - potentially worth billions of dollars to the private sector companies who complete the challenge.
To read a summary of the original RFI, see the Request for Information - Synopsis page on the NASA website. The full text of the Institute's proposal (in .pdf format) can be accessed by clicking the link below.
With some luck, the Institute will make it to the next round of consideration by NASA. Stay tuned!
If you agree with the objectives advocated by the Institute in its response to NASA's RFI's, please contact your Congressmen through email, postal mail, or phone and express your support. The Contact Congress and the Media page provides access to the postal and email addresses of the Senators and Congressman for your district. Writing to Congress makes a difference - it has been said that for every letter or email they receive, Congressmen assume there are at least 500 other people who feel the same way but did not take the time to write.
