[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 224 (Thursday, November 19, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73810-73811]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-25513]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[20-096]


Notice of Centennial Challenges Break the Ice Lunar Challenge 
Phase 1

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

SUMMARY: The Break the Ice Lunar Challenge is open and teams that wish 
to compete may now register. Centennial Challenges is a program of 
prize competitions to stimulate innovation in technologies of interest 
and value to NASA and the nation. The Break the Ice Lunar Challenge is 
a prize competition with up to a $5,000,000 USD total prize purse to 
incentivize innovative approaches for excavating icy regolith and 
optimize logistics to transport acquired resources, primarily water, in 
extreme lunar environments. At this time, NASA is opening Phase 1 of 
the competition, which has a $500,000 USD prize purse. In this phase of 
competition, teams will design a system architecture to excavate icy 
regolith and deliver water on the lunar surface in a hypothetical 
mission scenario based on anticipated mission operations and 
environmental features of human and robotic exploration of the lunar 
surface. NASA is funding the prize purse and administration of the 
challenge competition.

DATES: Phase 1 registration opens November 18, 2020, and will remain 
open until June 18, 2021. No further requests for registration will be 
accepted after this date.
    Other important dates:

November 18, 2020
     Phase 1 registration opens
June 18, 2021
     Deadline for registration
August 13, 2021
     Phase 1 winners announced

ADDRESSES: The Break the Ice Lunar Challenge Phase 1 will be conducted 
virtually. The Challenge competitors will develop and submit system 
architecture, excavation plan and other submission elements from their 
own location.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To register for or get additional 
information regarding the Break the Ice Lunar Challenge, please visit: 
www.nasa.gov/breaktheice. For general information on the NASA 
Centennial Challenges Program please visit: http://www.nasa.gov/challenges. General questions and comments regarding the program should 
be addressed to Monsi Roman, Centennial Challenges Program, NASA 
Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL 35812. Email address: [email protected]. Phone: 256-544-4071.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Summary

    Phase 1 of the Break the Ice Lunar Challenge is focused on 
incentivizing new ideas and approaches to a system architecture for 
excavation and movement of icy regolith and water on the lunar surface. 
The Challenge describes a hypothetical Mission Scenario and asks Teams 
to design a system architecture addressing

[[Page 73811]]

necessary hardware, concept of operations, lunar environmental 
conditions, and specific performance analyses, as well as supporting 
materials that address credibility and feasibility of the system 
architecture. In Phase 1, Teams will have approximately seven (7) 
months to register and submit a system architecture. Phase 1 will last 
a total of nine (9) months, including approximately two (2) months of 
judging.

I. Prize Amounts

    The Break the Ice Lunar Challenge total prize purse is up to 
$5,000,000 USD (five million dollars) to be awarded across two (2) 
phases of competition.
    Prize purse for Phase 1 will total up to $500,000, with the 
following prize distribution: 1st place $125,000, 2nd place $75,000, 
3rd place $50,000, and up to ten (10) runners-up teams will receive up 
to $25,000 each as determined by the judging panel.
    The Prize Purse for Phase 2, should there be promising submissions 
in Phase 1 that demonstrate a viable approach, will be worth up to 
$4,500,000.

II. Eligibility

Eligibility To Participate and Win Prize Money

    To be eligible to win a prize:
     Individuals must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents 
of the United States and be 18 years of age or older.
     Organizations must be an entity incorporated in and 
maintaining a primary place of business in the United States.
     Teams must be comprised of otherwise eligible individuals 
or organizations and led by an otherwise eligible individual or 
organization.
     Team leader must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
    The eligibility requirements can be found on the official challenge 
site: www.nasa.gov/breaktheice.

III. Rules

    The complete rules for the Break the Ice Lunar Challenge, can be 
found at: https://breaktheicechallenge.com.

Cheryl Parker,
NASA Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-25513 Filed 11-18-20; 8:45 am]
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