Title: Warning: This question is likely so stupid that I'm going to wish I had posted it anonymously to avoid ridicule, but what the hell :)<p>I find the subject of space exploration and colonization fascinating, but the incredible costs for access to space seem to be a nearly-insurmountable obstacle to true progress in these areas.  I've recently become interested in the Google Lunar X Prize and started looking at the teams who are competing.  While these teams are probably going to accomplish some amazing things, I suspect they're going to do it on the back of tens of millions in funding...is that truly the only way?<p>I guess my question is something like this: is there any <i>theoretical</i> way to win something like the Lunar X Prize for $1 million?  $100k?  $10k?<p>Here are some ridiculous thoughts that I've had:<p>1. Using high-altitude balloons to cut down on launch costs.<p>2. Going small.  Very small.  Like a pound or two for the rover.  Maybe smaller.<p>3. Getting the cost low enough that you can launch multiple missions, knowing that most will fail.<p>4. Travel to the moon over a period of months...would this reduce launch difficulty?<p>I'm sure I'm probably missing the scale of the problem here, and perhaps the simple laws of physics dictate that there's no cheap solution that we know of yet.  Or is there?
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