NASA confirms cancellation of Nanosat Launcher Challenge
November 27 2012 09:56:25 PM |
by Clark Lindsey, Managing Editor
As hinted earlier, NASA has pulled the rug out from under Space Florida and the teams that had put a lot of work into preparing to compete in the Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge:
* Twitter / wikkit (Ben Brockert):
Just got confirmation from Percy Luney of Space Florida that Nasa is ending the Nanosat Launch Challenge.
* NASA Cancels Nanosat Launch Challenge - FLORIDA SPACErePORT: November 27, 2012
Update: Ben forwarded to me a statement from Percy Luney at Space Florida:
We are very sorry to announce that Space Florida has received the
official notification that NASA is exercising its right to terminate
our Space Act Agreement implementing the NanoSat Launch Challenge. The existence of the SWORDS and ALASA projects may have contributed to
this NASA decision to end the Challenge. Our Space Act Agreement with
NASA gives NASA the right to terminate the Challenge at any time.
Space Florida is extremely disappointed at NASA’s decision and has
made a significant investment of staff and resources in implementing this Challenge. Without the prize funds provided by NASA, Space Florida is unable go forward with the NanoSat Launch Challenge at this time. We are considering other options.
I guess $2M is too much for crowd-sourcing but might be worth a shot.
Update 2: More about the cancellation:
Harry Tallhat27th November 2012 4:29pm Dark Blue Nine27th November 2012 4:46pm Clark S. Lindsey27th November 2012 8:26pm
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I hope they have a really good reason!