Jerry Pournelle has been a huge advocate of X-prizes for advancing technology. These were very valuable at the dawn of the aviation era, and races like the Schn

Jerry Pournelle has been a huge advocate of X-prizes for advancing technology. These were very valuable at the dawn of the aviation era, and races like the Schneider cup helped push boundaries. The cost is zero if the company/organization fails to reach the defined threshold. Too bad so much govt. spending is associated with buying votes instead of advancing technology.