NASA SOLVE: Do we have any closet scientists in the audience?

NASA recently announced the development of a website which posts competitions for the general public regarding its current and upcoming projects. The competitions offer opportunities for citizens to be involved in. 

The site can be found at www.nasa.gov/solve.

On the NASA Solve site, readers will find information on its newest challenge to the public, its Mars Balance Mass Challenge.

According to a press release from NASA, “The Mars Balance Mass Challenge seeks design ideas for small science and technology payloads that could potentially provide dual purpose as ejectable balance masses on spacecraft entering the Martian atmosphere.

“The payloads will serve two roles: Perform scientific or technology functions that help us learn more about the Red Planet, and provide the necessary weight to balance planetary landers.

“Submissions are due by Nov. 21. A winner will be announced in mid-January 2015 and receive an award of $20,000,” it stated.

Sound like something one of you wants to tackle?

While the Mars Balance Mass Challenge is the most recent posted on the site, there are several ongoing challenges there announced since Aug. 31.

Just for fun, the site has a page of the “History of Challenges,” which lists scientific challenges posed to the public from as early as 1714.

For instance, did any of our readers know that in 1910, a “Hearst Prize” of $50,000 was offered to whoever could “fly across the United States in under 30 days.”

The prize was never claimed. We wonder if it’s still on the table.

While the NASA Source site is new, the act of NASA seeking public ideas to solve problems is not.

Some of those “success stories” are told on the NASA Solve site, if you interested in seeing solutions other citizens have developed.