[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 26, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43168-43169]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-20402]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION


 Notice of Centennial Challenges

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
    Notice: (09-075).

ACTION: Notice of Centennial Challenges: 2009 Regolith Excavation 
Challenge.

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SUMMARY: This notice is issued in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 2459f-1(d). 
The 2009 Regolith Excavation Challenge is now scheduled and teams that 
wish to compete may now register. The NASA Centennial Challenges is a 
program of prize contests to stimulate innovation and competition in 
technologies of interest and value to NASA and the nation. The Regolith 
Excavation Challenge promotes the development of new methods and 
technologies to excavate lunar regolith (lunar dirt). Excavation is a 
necessary step towards lunar resource utilization. The unique physical 
properties of lunar regolith make excavation an extremely difficult 
technical challenge. To qualify to win a prize, teams competing in the 
2009 Regolith Excavation Challenge must build tele-robotic and/or 
autonomously operating systems that will excavate simulated lunar 
regolith and deliver it to a collector.

[[Page 43169]]

    The 2009 Regolith Excavation Challenge is being administered by the 
California Space Education & Workforce Institute (CSEWI) for NASA. The 
$750,000USD prize purse is funded by NASA. This event will be conducted 
in a format which brings all competitors to a single location for a 
``head to head'' competition.

DATES: The 2009 Regolith Excavation Challenge is scheduled for October 
17-18, 2009.
    Location: The 2009 Regolith Excavation Challenge will be held at 
the NASA Research Park in Moffett Field, California. For more 
information, see: http://researchpark.arc.nasa.gov.

FURTHER INFORMATION: To register for and get additional information 
regarding the 2009 Regolith Excavation Challenge including Rules, Team 
Agreement, eligibility, and prize criteria, visit the Web site: http://regolith.csewi.org or contact Mr. Error! Reference source not found. at 
CSEWI, 3201 Airpark Drive Suite 204, Santa Maria, CA 93455. Phone: 805-
349-2633 or e-mail: [email protected].
    If you have questions or comments regarding the NASA Centennial 
Challenges Program visit the Web site: http://www.ipp.nasa.gov/cc or 
contact Mr. Andrew Petro, Innovative Partnerships Program Office, NASA 
Headquarters, 300 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20546-0001. E-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 2009 Regolith Excavation Challenge total 
purse of $750,000 will go to the winning teams excavating the most 
regolith, in excess of 150 kilograms, within a 30-minute duration. The 
First, Second and Third prizes are $500,000, $150,000 and $100,000, 
respectively.
    In case of individuals, prizes can only be awarded to US Citizens 
or permanent residents. In the case of corporations or other entities, 
prizes can only be awarded to those that are incorporated in and 
maintain a primary place of business in the United States.

    Dated: August 18, 2009.
Douglas A. Comstock,
Director, Innovative Partnerships Program Office.
[FR Doc. E9-20402 Filed 8-25-09; 8:45 am]
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