Got an Idea For NASA?

[Tuckerfan]

Well, they’d like to hear it.

NIAC seeks proposals for revolutionary aeronautics and space concepts that could dramatically impact how NASA develops and conducts its missions. It provides a highly visible, recognizable, and high-level entry point for outside thinkers and researchers. NIAC encourages proposers to think decades into the future in pursuit of concepts that will “leapfrog” the evolution of current aerospace systems. While NIAC seeks advance concept proposals that stretch the imagination, these concepts should be based on sound scientific principles and attainable within a 10 to 40-year time frame.

If you’re a college student, and they use your idea, they’ll pay you $9K (that’ll buy a lot a beer!) for it.

NIAC seeks to identify creative and innovative students who possess an extraordinary potential for developing advanced concepts in the fields of aeronautics, space and the sciences. Each Student Fellow will receive a total of $9,000 for the Academic year 2005-2006. NIAC intends for these awards to benefit talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their academic pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction. We seek exceptional creativity, and the promise for important future advances based on a track record of significant accomplishment, and potential for the fellowship to facilitate subsequent creative work.

[Mangetout]

I wonder if this means we really will see them blow up the moon at last.

[RandomLetters]

Ah, I have an idea for NASA - 1920’s style “Death Rays” mounted on satellites to blow up asteroids.

Or here is another one - it is obvious that chemical reactions simply don’t provide enough energy to lift large payloads into orbit cost effectively.

Therefore, I purpose that NASA construct a craft that uses nuclear reactions to launch spacecraft. And you don’t need a fancy engine either - just dropping a series of nuclear bombs out the back, behind a large steel plate, will give enough energy launch spacecraft the size of battleships into orbit. Just make sure to have extra heavy duty shock absorbers inbetween the steel plate and the crew compartment. And the spacecraft could be built out of steel, instead of fancy exotic materials, in normal shipyards, reducing the cost even more.

With this sort of craft, it would only take a couple months to send a crew of dozens or more, anywhere in the solar system. Think of the scientific knowledge it could bring.

[buttonjockey308]

Yeah, you could send the steel ships out there, but I wouldn’t wanna ride one BACK…

[Grey]

@RandomLetters

Therefore, I purpose that NASA construct a craft that uses nuclear reactions to launch spacecraft. And you don’t need a fancy engine either - just dropping a series of nuclear bombs out the back, behind a large steel plate, will give enough energy launch spacecraft the size of battleships into orbit. Just make sure to have extra heavy duty shock absorbers inbetween the steel plate and the crew compartment. And the spacecraft could be built out of steel, instead of fancy exotic materials, in normal shipyards, reducing the cost even more.

With this sort of craft, it would only take a couple months to send a crew of dozens or more, anywhere in the solar system. Think of the scientific knowledge it could bring.

Damn! We should give this design a name, something strong but classical to signify how revolutionary this idea is…

[Mangetout]

@Grey

Damn! We should give this design a name, something strong but classical to signify how revolutionary this idea is…

What about the name of a mythical mighty hunter?
I’ve got it!
Nimrod!

[An_Arky]

I’m not a college student, but I’ve done a bit of contract work for NASA. Here’s my suggestion:

Get rid of Boeing, they’re robbing you blind.

[Grey]

Elmer then?

[Nahk_Ila_Dihahs]

I think space technology and space research should be put to use to eradicate hunger and bring peace to earth.

I hereby propose that NASA establish a colony on the moon, along with a mining facility for extraction and purification of all the green cheese that is found there.