3D Rocket Engine Contest

DIY Rockets has just released contest to design a 3D printable rocket engine.  There does not seem to be much guidance as far as what fuels and oxydizers to use.  But the goal is to make launch of nanosat payloads (10kg) into Low Earth Orbit.  In the future, printing these components in situ on an alien planet would prove useful.  No more, "uh-oh, rocket is broken, can't get back."  Well, not that simple, but it is interesting as 3D printing changes the manufacturability issues of complex shapes.  That frees up design possibilities which would have been throw out in the past for being economically infeasible to produce.

Martian Land Grab?

There has been lots of news lately on plans for manned mission to Mars. Dennis Tito announced recently a plan for a Mars flyby mission commencing in 2018. 

Mars One, announced colonial plans for Mars.  Meanwhile, Elon Musk of Paypal fame wants to get a colony on Mars of roughly 80,000 people. 

Speculating a little bit, are we on the cusp of a land grab race in Space and on Mars in particular? 

Well, they can have Mars, I for one plan on owning the skies of Venus.  I kid..well, sort of, :)