Reasons for the Restriction to american firms

I suspect that ITAR has alot to do with the decision, as rocketry is a restricted technology when it comes to ITAR, gaining the appropriate approvals for exporting any technology.

It also removes any coordination issues with other countries.

Ron

What the heck is going on with America's Space Prize, anyway?

Reports from last summer (Jeff Foust in The Space Review) said that the prize was more or less on hold due to a lack of qualified competitors.

So... if a qualified competitor should arise ... is Bigelow Aerospace still offering the prize? Or have they put that money into the Space Hotel-building budget??

If I remember correctly, Bigelow never really intended the prize to be won, just to encourage competition. Of course, the fact that the requirements essentially make it unwinnable doesn't do much for that whole encouraging competition thing. But whatever.

Unwinnable?


Sez who?

Bigalow still has the advert' for the ASP on their website and the close date for winning is listed as January 10th 2010. Nothing about withdrawing or altering the prize or any of its conditions. And I haven't seen anyone say it's unwinnable, just very difficult. The XPrize didn't fully fund Rutan's effort so why should Bigalow fully fund the ASP.

Hello, beancounter,

in principle that's my look at it too.

The major problem is funding - like Bigelow himself said. The date will not be that roblem - when t/Space still were competing to be selected as the developer of the CEV they assured that they could have it ready by 2008 NASA planned to conduct the fly-off in before Griffin became the director. Then they even should be able to get a CXV ready until 2010 with two years more time available.

...



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)

Hang on a minute. Cererean Astro has to be based in the US when we're doing the crewed prize missions, but not while we're doing normal business and testing?

It would be hard to prove your company has been redomiciled into the United States if your history says otherwise.

I believe this prize is now going to end before any attempt could be made. What's the end date Jan 2010 thats too bad.

Monroe