MONEY MOTIVE.

The article discusses the efforts of the U.S. National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) in establishing a incentive program designed to encourage aspects of space exploration other than suborbital flights. The Centennial Challenges Program plans to give a cash award in 2005 to the winners of two challenges. The first challenge involves making a lightweight material suitable for ropelike tethers. The other awards a method for transmitting power without using wires. NASA plans to add challenges involving developers of explorer robots, lunar vehicles and other technologies for 2006.