ProSpace March Storm Space Activism and a Space Prize Bill

Space Politics posts on some space activist efforts, including the ProSpace March Storm that advocates several positions favorable to commercial space, including the Aeronautics and Space Prize Act. See the March Storm Agenda Update and an earlier post on ProSpace in 2008. Among other points, they state:

We also welcome the introduction of the Aeronautics and Space Prize Act (H.R. 4917), which proposes and aeronautics and space prize program to develop aerospace research and development.

I'm a little worried about this part of the Act:

(2) with the advice of NASA and other agencies as appropriate, to carry out a program for tasteful advertising of commercial products and services in conjunction with the Nation's aeronautics and space endeavors in conjunction with NASA, other agencies involved in aeronautics and space, or independently; and

It seems like this might compete with entrepreneurs, and even prize competitors and alliance organizations running the prize competitions, if they want to get sponsorships. Last year it seemed to me that the Space Act of 2007 that ProSpace supported didn't have this potential disadvantage.

NASA Innovation Fund and Sponsorhip Act

Spaceref presents a press release from Representative Ken Calvert on the NASA Innovation Fund and Sponsorship Act, H.R. 4308. The Act would allow NASA to earn money for the NASA Centennial Challenges prizes by offering advertising - a prospect that doesn't make commercial space companies that seek advertising sponsorship very comfortable. This concept was debated quite a bit earlier this year; check the "Ads for CC" tag below to see earlier posts and links on it.

The consensus in the discussions I read was that NASA should simply fund Centennial Challenges adequately and refrain from competing with private industry. This would be easy enough to do, since Centennial Challenges, even if considerably expanded, would still be a tiny part of NASA's budget, and there are certain activities with a troubled history that NASA currently does where budgets could be made available by trimming back NASA in-house efforts and using private services instead.

Having said all that, it would be good to have a funding source for Centennial Challenges. Here's an article by Representative Calvert promoting the idea.

Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH) is a co-sponsor of the bill.

Update (Dec 9): Check RLV News, including the comments section there.

2008 Regolith Excavation Challenge Rules; Transforming Space Conference

The California Space Authority hopes to release the official rules for the 2008 Regolith Excavation Challenge on the week of November 5 (that's next week). There's a note about the Transforming Space conference, which the California Space Authority is also hosting, but it's not clear to me, even though the conference is November 5-8, if the rules will be presented at that conference.

While I'm posting about the Transforming Space conference, I'll note that there are some space prizes and awards featured there:

The conference holds the 2007 California Space Authority SpotBeam Awards Dinner. The link takes you to the diverse set of awards, which includes winners from across the space industry, with an emphasis on California.

One of the speakers at the conference is Congressman Ken Calvert. The link I gave is to his "Space Issues" page. Not every Congressperson has a "Space" section in their "Issues" page. Here's an excerpt from that page dealing with space prizes:

I also believe in the entrepreneurial spirit of America. The recent efforts surrounding the awarding of the Ansari X Prize to the American team led by Burt Rutan of California indicates a strong drive among private citizens to reach into space. I will support incentives to stimulate creativity and new initiatives in the space industry. Clearly, it is no longer impossible to imagine a time when some of us will have the opportunity to travel into space as tourists. NASA’s early pioneers have laid the foundation for the future of space travel for all.

Check the "Ads for Centennial Challenges" tag below to see some discussions on Calvert's somewhat controversial (at least in the discussions) proposal for NASA ads to help fund the NASA Centennial Challenges program.

Dr. Peter Diamandis, founder of the X PRIZE Foundation, is also on the speaker list.

Finally, Ken Davidian will represent the NASA Centennial Challenges during a keynote address.

More on NASA Advertising Platforms for Centennial Challenges

Space Politics has an update on the proposal to supplement NASA Centennial Challenges funding with revenue that NASA would earn with advertising.

Here you can get to my earlier posts on this controversy.

NASA Discussion on Space Ads

In recent posts (and here) I've discussed a Congressional proposal to use ads on NASA missions to fund, or supplement funding for, NASA Centennial Challenges. I think this discussion provided by NASA Watch gives some insight into NASA Administrator Griffin's thoughts on this kind of approach.

more on NASA Ads for Centennial Challenges

The Wall Street Journal Online has a short article on Representative Ken Calvert's proposal to have NASA fund the Centennial Challenge prizes with advertising revenue. This article was mentioned in the Space Frontier Foundation's April NewSpace News compilation. RLV News reports that JP Aerospace doesn't like the idea of having to compete with NASA for advertising business. In the Space Politics comments from a few weeks ago (linked by the RLV News post) I was concerned that companies like JP Aerospace would lose business if NASA went with this plan as is. I'm not sure how one might adjust the advertising plan in such a way as to address this concern and still bring in the money for Centennial Challenges. Anonymous on the Space Politics comments suggested that Congress should just fund the tiny Centennial Challenges program adequately the normal way.

Space Advertising for Centennial Challenges

Leonard David has an article on a talk at the 23rd National Space Symposium by Representative Ken Calvert. This talk proposes new space advertising by NASA to fund Centennial Challenges. If funded this year at the Administration's proposed level, Centennial Challenges would have gotten $4 million in the last 3 years, which is a tiny percentage of NASA's tiny portion of the Federal budget, a fact that many space interest organizations are disappointed about since many of them feel that Centennial Challenges are one of, if not the, most productive use of their tax dollars. Here is the full text of Representative Calvert's talk. The prize-related proposal is on pages 2 and 3. Space Politics also has an ongoing discussion about the proposal. Jim Muncy has added some thoughtful comments to the discussion. The original full text of the talk is 8 pages long. Here is an excerpt concerning the proposal:

"... Advertising in space could be one way in which NASA elevates its current visibility among typical Americans. The government could make space assets available for commercial advertising and marketing opportunities. Currently commercial launch vehicles have several logos that represent customers, satellite and launch manufacturers, which is a good first step.

Perhaps the next step is the creation of an advertising system similar to those used by the PGA, National Public Radio or the Smithsonian Institute - all of which have long-term, dedicated and tasteful sponsorships. Of course, I understand this is an area that draws concern about safety and public image issues. By no means do I envision bumper stickers on the Mars Rover or a blinking neon sign on the International Space Station.

When I return to Congress after the recess, I will introduce legislation to authorize space advertising for NASA with the goal to bring in extra funding for the Agency’s prize authority under the current Centennial Challenges program and to raise awareness among private entrepreneurs about the business opportunities in space. The legislation will also create a commission to recommend criteria appropriate for space advertising.

Currently the Centennial Challenges program conducts prize competitions for revolutionary, break-through accomplishments that advance the Vision for Space Exploration and other NASA priorities. The Centennial Challenges program authorized by Congress and implemented by NASA to engage private enterprise is, as are all Agency programs, subject to the congressional appropriations process. However, my proposal would create a trust fund – the Innovation Fund - for the receipts of space advertising revenue which would allow the prize authority to increase without the dependence on annual appropriations. The result would be a self-sustaining prize authority program funded well above the current request of $20 million for the next five years.

Sponsorships through space advertising could take many forms – for example, a company could sponsor a Space Cam on the International Space Station that could be accessed by classrooms around the world for educational purposes. Universities who study atmospheric changes could partner with private enterprise to sponsor a multi-spectral camera for observation. As a former business man, I could easily see how this fund could generate $100 million after it’s up and running. I envision that most advertisements could be virtual thus not adding weight to launches or mass to vehicles. In fact, the very first challenge could be to design the program itself or to have one of our space entrepreneurs deliver a camera to the International Space Station."