Clark Lindsey has a first-hand report:
Mr. Bolden, a couple of House members and a representative of the administration all said very good things about not just the NGLLC but about prizes in general and their ability to leverage lots of innovation and productivity at low cost. Got the impression that there will be more money coming for Centennial Challenges and other prize programs.
Dave Masten and Phil Eaton gave brief but eloquent remarks.
Two former NSS executive directors were there: Lori Garver, now Deputy NASA Administrator, and George Whitesides, now NASA’s Chief of Staff. With entrepreneurial firms getting big checks via an innovative program like Centennial Challenges, which was inspired by the X PRIZE, and with space advocates in NASA management, I get the feeling that the NewSpace current is starting to flow into the mainstream.
Whatever comes of the Constellation mess, this at least is encouraging.
[Mid-afternoon update]
Chuck Divine also attended, and has more details.
Damn. Clark beat me to it. My posting is longer, though. See Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge Awards.
It was an excellent event with lots of happy people. Now it is off to the Koshland Science Museum to hear Dan Goods of JPL talk about data and art. I may blog about that, too. But not tonight.
Imagine what could be done with a half billion dollars in prize money? Or $40 billion?
It’s sad that NASA has veered so far from its mission.
Bring on the Fuel Depot Demonstration Challenge!
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=efbc01c804c74fcf02da84272f6a6b0d&tab=core&_cview=1