“For the time being, NASA only has the authority to put up fairly modest purses of $250,000 or less, according to Sponberg. “Starting next year, we hope to have legislative authority to award purses above this level,” Sponberg said.

NASA is asking Congress for $20 million for the program for 2005 — and the legal authority to grant much bigger cash prizes.

One key U.S. senator already has endorsed the program and said he will work to get NASA authority similar to that which DARPA already has to make prizes.

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), chairman of the Senate Commerce science, technology and space subcommittee, said in a Feb. 25 interview that he will seek to include such a provision in the NASA authorization bill being written this year.”

NASA’s Centennial Challenges Program To Offer Cash Prizes
Space News
http://www.space.com/spacenews/businessmonday_040308.html