NASA Offers $50,000 for ‘Game Changing’ Space Innovation

President Barack Obama’s new space policy puts a lot of emphasis on the development of “game changing” technology that will allow us to explore and settle the cosmos.

The approach will get an early test run next month during the 2010 Rice Business Plan Competition in House. NASA’s Johnson Space Center recently announced the addition of a $50,000 “Game Changer” Commercial Space Innovation Prize to the contest.

“The new $50,000 NASA ‘Game Changer’ Commercial Space Innovation Prize will recognize the team’s business plan with the best idea related to commercial space innovation,” said David Leestma, director of the Advanced Planning Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. “The award encourages the identification and development of new breakthrough technologies and business models in the commercial space market or market creation to realize this value.”

“For decades, the NASA space program has been a source of technology advances which provide benefits not only in space, but also on Earth, which are supported by the Engineering and Life Science awards. The new “Game Changer Award” brings a dynamic twist with an increased emphasis on commercial applications,” added Brad Burke, managing director, Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship. “It is always exciting to see the business ideas and to contribute to the success of NASA space flight programs.”

Areas covered by the prize include:

Sub-orbital

• Microgravity Entertainment/Tourism Flights (using sub-orbital reusable launch vehicles RLVs)

Earth Orbit

• Space Taxi (Earth to Orbit Space Transportation)
• Microgravity Research
• Servicing of Satellites

Moon & Beyond

• Space Tourism
• Participatory Exploration, Media
• Transportation to & from the Lunar Surface
• Power Delivery Service
• Food and Water Innovations (e.g. growth, acquisition, disposal, and/or reuse)
• Medical Support Services
• Space Suits and Personnel System

The new prize increases the amount of prize money that NASA is offering to $110,000. This marks the third year that NASA Johnson has sponsored the competition, which is run by Rice University’s Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship. Other NASA awards for this year include:

• Two $20,000 Earth/Space Engineering Innovation Prizes for the best business plans with engineering technology;
• One $20,000 Earth/Space Life Science Innovation Award for the best business plan that uses life science technology.

In addition to winning NASA awards, entrants will be competing for overall awards totaling more than $800,000.  The Grand Prize winner is eligible to receive a package worth up to $325,000, including up to $225,000 in equity investment, $20,000 in cash, plus over $80,000 in mentoring and incubation services.

The competition will be held April 15-17 in Houston. Click here for more information.