National Space Society Promotes Centennial Challenges

Recently Space Politics noted that the National Space Society will be testifying before the U.S. Senate in a hearing on "Reauthorizing the Vision for Space Exploration". NASA Watch has more on it, including links to all of the statements by the witnesses, in VSE Hearing.

In his testimony, George Whitesides, representing the National Space Society, promoted NASA's Centennial Challenges space prize program:

• Centennial Challenges – Congress should reinforce the important role Centennial Challenges can play in developing new technologies and capabilities critical to NASA’s mission, and in creating economic benefit for taxpayers. This is a relatively low-cost, low-risk way for the government to obtain the benefits of new technology, paying only for success.

The promotion continued as follows (this statement encompasses Centennial Challenges and several other approaches for NASA to encourage the private space sector):

All of these activities enable private citizens, especially our young people and students, to learn, develop, and be rewarded for new technologies.