NASA wants ideas to continue missions to the moon in the dark, which could be the key to settlements.
If NASA is going to have a long-term presence on the Moon, it will need an alternative to standard solar power, and lunar nights can last for more than two weeks in some cases. In such cases, the space agency is turning to third parties for help.
Specifically, it's partnering with HeroX on a crowdsourcing challenge called " Watts on the Moon " that offers up to $5 million in prizes if you can create energy solutions for missions to the moon. Pioneers won't even have to wait until the technology is approved before embarking on a lunar journey.
The three-phase challenge begins with creators providing solutions that can enhance a mission across three activities. NASA judges will select three winners for each activity and award them $100,000, with four runner-ups earning $50,000 each.
Phase 2 will task the winners with developing prototypes and awarding prizes worth up to $4.5 million. If one or more companies make it to the third phase, they will work with the agency to build hardware for an “operational demonstration” on the Moon.
Individual participants only need to be U.S., while organizations must operate primarily outside the U.S.
Note that there's no guarantee that this will work as promised, according to Engadget. However, NASA clearly has an incentive to explore options from multiple sources. While this technology won't necessarily be ready for the first humans returning to the Moon, theoretically by 2024, it won't go far if long-term missions and settlements can't stay viable in the dark.
