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NASA Offers $2 Million Prize for Nanosatellite Competition

By Staff Writer | July 14, 2010

      [Satellite TODAY 07-14-10] NASA has initiated a nanosatellite Centennial Challenge contest, offering a prize purse of $2 million for technological achievements by independent teams who work without government funding, the agency announced July 13.
          The Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge involves placing a small satellite into Earth orbit twice in a week. NASA said the goals of this challenge are to stimulate innovations in low-cost launch technology and encourage creation of commercial nanosatellite delivery services.
          “NASA sponsors prize competitions because the agency believes student teams, private companies of all sizes and citizen-inventors can provide creative solutions to problems of interest to NASA and the nation. Prize competitions are a proven way to foster technological competitiveness, new industries and innovation across America,” NASA Chief Technologist Bobby Braun said in a statement.
          NASA has conducted 19 competition events in six challenge areas since 2005  and has awarded $4.5 million to 13 different teams.