The space settlement prize

The other way the U.S. could provide such a "Space Settlement Prize" is through establishing a system of recognized property rights in space, such as that proposed by the Space Settlement Initiative. That way would be less conventional but would have the advantage of not requiring any appropriation of government money.

If the private sector could be provided a powerful incentive to finance and build a regular space transportation system and permanent lunar base, concerns about a long-range space program overly burdening the taxpayer would evaporate. Corporations like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and others already have the technical capability. All they’ve needed is a sufficient profit motivation.

+ Read Article (The Space Review)