ERPS Paper, Lunar Lander Schedule thoughts, Regolith notice, ISPCS panel, GLXP Sponsorship, more

I might debate about a point here and there, but the paper Fund to Advance Single Stage Technology sent by members of the Experimental Rocket Propulsion Society to the Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee is a thought-provoking read. Here's an excerpt:

... What is needed instead is a system to set forth goals, establish payments for meeting those goals, monitor the progress of those hoping to claim an award for those goals, and issuing checks to the successful ones who demonstrate the requirements of the goals. This is what an Awards Office does, and this is what we need.

Paper Submitted - Experimental Rocket Propulsion Society

Unreasonable Rocket discusses the 2009 Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge launch attempts that have been scheduled so far: Unreasonable rocket and NG-LLC schedule.

Armadillo going pro? - NASA Spaceflight.com has a recent discussion on Armadillo Aerospace, including some comments by Jon Goff of Masten Space Systems.

Amateur astronomers win comet finding prize - Space for All

Prizes - Space Elevator Blog gives us some thoughts by Jerry Pournelle

Notice of Centennial Challenges: 2009 Regolith Excavation Challenge - gpo.gov - Registration is open.

@fineri (Iain Finer of N-Prize team Kiwi 2 Space) - Check out the pictures:

http://twitpic.com/ep15w - Engine mockups, sounding rocket engine on left,sub-orbital engine on right.

http://twitpic.com/f7bzs - Engine Igniter, hopefully get it tested in the next few weeks..

@ARCAspace - http://www.trilulilu.ro/gyutza20/9a6770f8d186e8 Interviu Dumitru Popescu - Radio Romania Cultural

@OmegaEnvoy - Busy day today working on a special project with partner @4Frontiers. #GLXP

W Rameesha De Silva and Dr. Palitha Dassanayake, Lunar Rover Development - SYNERGY MOON

@glxp - RT @sponsorpitch: Property of the Day: Tranquility Trek to the Moon http://bit.ly/pC77G - Out of this world opportunity #GLXP #sponsorship

Also, don't miss the attached sponsorship presentation: Astrobotic Sponsorship Overview (PPT)

@ISPCS (International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight) - SPACE OPERATIONS PANEL TO EXAMINE LESSONS LEARNED, NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR INNOVATION at ISPCS 2009 - http://shar.es/TwMj

Michael Lopez-Alegria, Assistant Director ISS, JSC will chair "A pilot’s perspective flying the new space vehicles" at ISPCS www.ispcs.com

@SpaceX_Media - Great Popular Mechanics Piece: http://bit.ly/PSnh6