A Good Start
This seems like a good start:
NASA is drawing up plans for six new Centennial Challenges as part of the agency's series of contests that offers cash prizes for technological achievements.
The space agency is seeking comments from potential competitors and partners on draft rules for each of the proposed new Centennial Challenges. The contests range from the development of affordable spacesuits to launching fuel pods into orbit or flying a controllable vehicle driven by a solar sail.
But as positive as that may sound, there are those who would argue that the real path forward would be to shut NASA down altogether and put the money currently used to fund the agency to work on some truly ambitious objectives. We might have a few suggestions along those lines ourselves.
UPDATE FROM STEPHEN: The first Centennial Challenge was all about the Space Elevator.