Colo. School of Mines Picks Finalists in Space 2.0 Contest

• By Paul McCloskey
• 04/30/07

The Center for Space Resources at the Colorado School of Mines picked 10 student teams as finalists in a competition to choose the best business plans involving the use of outer-space-based materials and resources.

The teams comprise 47 students from CSM, the University of Colorado, Georgia Tech, MIT and San Diego State University.
The teams submitted plans including ideas for navigation systems, robotic devices, wireless energy generation, space craft refueling, and mining and drilling tech.

Sponsors of the competition, called Lunar Ventures, say the projects represent the transition of space from the era of pure exploration and rocket ships to a new era--dubbed Space 2.0--of commercial development.

Lunar Ventures director Gary Cadenhead said the competition will help discover sources for the next global entrepreneurial boom. "With renewable energy, natural resources and aerospace driving the next economic boom, this competition helps show the way to the integration of space into the global economy," he said.

The judges picked 10 finalist teams to compete for $25,000 to help launch their ventures, including an opportunity for a $100,000 investment. The final round of Lunar Ventures Competition will be held May 19 through 21 in Golden at the Colorado School of Mines.

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