Notice from NASA about the Centennial Break the Ice Lunar Challenge Phase 1

Notice from NASA about the Centennial Break the Ice Lunar Challenge Phase 1

Status report from: NASA HQ
Published: Thursday 19 November 2020

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 224 (Thursday, November 19, 2020)] [Notices] [Pages 73810-73811] From the Federal Register online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2020-25513]

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[20-096]

Break the Ice Lunar Challenge Phase 1 Centennial Challenge Notice

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

SUMMARY: The Break the Ice Lunar Challenge is open and teams wishing to compete can now register. Centennial Challenges is a sweepstakes program to drive innovation in technologies of interest and value to NASA and the nation. The Break the Ice Lunar Challenge is a prize competition with a total prize pool of up to $ 5,000,000 USD to incentivize innovative approaches to the excavation of frozen regolith and optimize logistics for transporting acquired resources, primarily water, into lunar environments. extremes. Right now, NASA is opening Phase 1 of the contest, which has a $ 500,000 USD prize pool. In this phase of the competition, the teams will design a system architecture to excavate frozen regolith and deliver water to the lunar surface in a hypothetical mission scenario based on anticipated mission operations and environmental characteristics of human and robotic exploration of the lunar surface. NASA is funding the prize grant and the administration of the competition.

DATES: Phase 1 registration opens on November 18, 2020 and will remain open until June 18, 2021. No further registration requests will be accepted after this date. Other important dates:

November 18, 2020 Registration for Phase 1 opens

June 18, 2021 Registration deadline August 13, 2021 Phase 1 winners announced

ADDRESSES: Phase 1 of the Break the Ice Lunar Challenge will be conducted virtually. Contestants will develop and present the system architecture, excavation plan and other presentation elements from their location.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT US: To register or learn more about the Break the Ice Lunar Challenge, please visit: www.nasa.gov/breaktheice. For general information on NASA’s Centennial Challenges program, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/challenges. General questions and comments regarding the program should be directed to Monsi Roman, Centennial Challenges Program, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL 35812. Email address: [email protected]. Phone: 256-544-4071.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Summary

Phase 1 of the Break the Ice Lunar Challenge is focused on fostering new ideas and approaches to a system architecture for excavating and moving ice regolith and water on the lunar surface. The challenge describes a hypothetical mission scenario and asks teams to design a system architecture that addresses the necessary hardware, concept of operations, lunar environmental conditions and specific performance analyzes, as well as the support materials that address the credibility and feasibility of the system architecture. In Phase 1, teams will have approximately seven (7) months to register and submit a system architecture. Phase 1 will last a total of nine (9) months, including approximately two (2) months of judging.

I. Prize amounts

The total prize pool for the Break the Ice Lunar Challenge is up to $ 5,000,000 USD (five million dollars) to be awarded in two (2) stages of the competition.

The prize pool for Phase 1 will total $ 500,000, with the following prize distribution: 1st place $ 125,000, 2nd place $ 75,000, 3rd place $ 50,000 and up to ten (10) side teams will receive up to $ 25,000 each as determined by the jury.

The stock exchange prize for Phase 2, if there are promising proposals in Phase 1 that demonstrate a viable approach, will be worth up to $ 4,500,000.

II. Eligibility

Eligibility to participate and win cash prizes

To be eligible to win a prize:

Individuals must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and be at least 18 years old.

Organizations must be an incorporated entity and maintain a principal place of business in the United States.

Teams must be composed of otherwise eligible individuals or organizations and led by an otherwise eligible individual or organization.

The group leader must be a US citizen or permanent resident.

Eligibility requirements can be found on the official challenge website: www.nasa.gov/breaktheice.

III. Rules

The complete rules for the Break the Ice Lunar Challenge can be found at: https://breaktheicechallenge.com.

Cheryl Parker, NASA Federal Registry Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 2020-25513 Filed 11-18-20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7510-13-P

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