2004 cellphones offer it for a fraction of the cost. Why no Mars prizes yet? – Space/Science – HabitableZone

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Space/Science » in reply to MSL pix: And video!

2004 cellphones offer it for a fraction of the cost. Why no Mars prizes yet?

~tax leech — 12/22/2004 12:43:38 AM (archived)

2004 cellphones offer video transmission for a tiny fraction of the cost and I'm not convinced that this analogy of NASA waste doesn't fit at least somewhat. Regardless, why are there no Mars prizes yet? Prizes attract 40 times the amount of the prize in terms of private sector investment pursuing the prize. That's potentially multiples more job opportunities for engineers and scientists directly involved with the project.

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The whole thread (41 posts)

Some interesting Rover pics (embedded in post) - LJ - 12/20/2004 5:08:44 PM
- Would color photos really have been that much more resource-consuming? - ~tax leech - 12/20/2004 11:40:52 PM
  - here's one from last week - pwokenyaw - 12/21/2004 12:46:48 AM
    - Thanks. I wonder why NASA doesn't transmit more though. - ~tax leech - 12/21/2004 1:07:22 AM
      - re: Thanks. I wonder why NASA doesn't transmit more though. - Doug Ellison - 12/21/2004 8:34:34 AM
        
        Once MRO is in place, data tranmission from Mars should be greatly increased. (n/t) - Lee - 12/22/2004 8:47:58 AM
        
        Pathfinder cost many times LESS & used much older technology. - ~tax leech - 12/21/2004 5:42:18 PM
        
        re: Pathfinder cost many times LESS & used much older technology. - Doug Ellison - 12/21/2004 9:12:07 PM
        
        How do you know MER's not greatly over-priced? Why not offer Mars prizes to establish better comparisons? - ~tax leech - 12/22/2004 1:02:39 AM
        
        re: How do you know MER's not greatly over-priced? Why not offer Mars prizes to establish better comparisons? - Doug Ellison - 12/22/2004 10:55:28 AM
        
        Earn money off of NASA contracts, do ya? - ~tax leech - 12/22/2004 4:19:56 PM
        
        re: Earn money off of NASA contracts, do ya? - Doug Ellison - 12/22/2004 5:45:56 PM
        
        re: Earn money off of NASA contracts, do ya? - ~tax leech - 12/22/2004 5:52:39 PM
        
        Now what's wrong with Shaun of the Dead? - alcaray - 12/23/2004 12:08:06 AM
        
        re:stupidest conspiracy theory ever - Dave - 12/21/2004 6:00:06 PM
        
        You don't think LockMart and JPL fear competitive prizes' implications? - ~tax leech - 12/21/2004 6:08:26 PM
        
        re: You don't think LockMart and JPL fear competitive prizes' implications - Dave - 12/21/2004 6:32:40 PM
        
        MSL pix: And video! (n/t) - alcaray - 12/21/2004 7:14:17 PM
        
        2004 cellphones offer it for a fraction of the cost. Why no Mars prizes yet? - ~tax leech - 12/22/2004 12:43:38 AM
        
        When we have buried mars in telecom sats and microwave towers and copper and silicon cables... - alcaray - 12/22/2004 4:25:26 PM
        
        It was an analogy, not an objection. Much remains to be invented BY COMPETITIVE PRIZE CONTESTANTS. - ~tax leech - 12/22/2004 4:29:37 PM
        
        re: It was an analogy, not an objection. Much remains to be invented BY COMPETITIVE PRIZE CONTESTANTS. - Doug Ellison - 12/22/2004 5:57:34 PM
        
        Learn to read and others' postings won't be so offensive. - ~tax leech - 12/22/2004 6:14:24 PM
        
        re: Learn to read and others' postings won't be so offensive. - Doug Ellison - 12/22/2004 6:49:50 PM
        
        Last time I tried, my cell phone didn't work on mars - Dave - 12/22/2004 2:16:39 AM
        
        Won't the 2009 mission already have its relaying network intact? - ~tax leech - 12/22/2004 4:19:37 AM
        
        re: Won't the 2009 mission already have its relaying network intact? - Dave - 12/22/2004 11:05:07 AM
        
        Prizes permit economies of scale; and litigation-aversive R&D isn't needed (unlike w/ cars) - ~tax leech - 12/22/2004 4:24:32 PM
        
        re: Won't the 2009 mission already have its relaying network intact? - Doug Ellison - 12/22/2004 11:13:44 AM
        
        Such arrogance was profitable, before competitive prizes appeared at NASA. - ~tax leech - 12/22/2004 4:27:55 PM
        
        You twit! That space pen nonsense is well known to be an urban legend - R.L. - 12/23/2004 6:23:31 AM
        
        re: Such arrogance was profitable, before competitive prizes appeared at NASA. - Doug Ellison - 12/22/2004 5:52:22 PM
        
        Learn to READ, Shaun of the Dead fan - ~tax leech - 12/22/2004 5:56:05 PM
        
        re: Learn to READ, Shaun of the Dead fan - Doug Ellison - 12/22/2004 6:00:33 PM
        
        Then stop calling others trolls just because they don't agree with your statist views. (n/t) - ~tax leech - 12/22/2004 6:08:24 PM
        
        I know what you mean - Daniel - 12/21/2004 12:03:05 PM
        
        re: I know what you mean - Doug Ellsion - 12/21/2004 1:03:02 PM
        
        re: I know what you mean - Dave - 12/21/2004 5:14:56 PM
        
        They were so well designed, what if they don't die, but instead limp along. - Scott Evil - 12/23/2004 3:08:31 PM
        
        re: I know what you mean - Raoul - 12/21/2004 3:22:48 PM
        
        Yep, an uphill battle .. - Daniel - 12/21/2004 2:27:21 PM

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