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Space Race!  
Commission by yoshicat
 
Development of space technologies is always centred around competition, theres no getting around it. The words change but the motions stay the same. But good things do come out of space races and otherwise, like having to do as much as you can with only what you got, now that sparks creativity!
 
Hopefully these ships are recognizable. They were chosen to represent three different types of engines. Bottom left a nuclear-reactor powered steam-ish engine (from the imagination of Gundam Seed). The middle, plasma engines with magnetic nozzles (VASIMR being the closest relative). And the most bizarre at the top right (fittingly pinkies ship) the Cannae drive, the engine without propellent sort of.
 
So the idea of racing individual ships differs a bit from countries racing to the moon, or trying to put the most missions around another planet or outside the solar system. But the benefit is two-fold. First, equipment has to be swapped out in order to be kept up to date so development doesnt stagnate. Second, our brains dont like to work in straight lines. Once you hit a point of stamina the lights want to dim upstairs, but if you dont want to see the other guys smirk (or you want to beat him badly) suddenly its all cylinders go & look out!
 
If ever there was a sport that mattered, it would be this one. Our ability to reach stars beyond our own requires the study and resources put into NASCAR and Formula 1, the ingenuity of regatta ship builders, and above all the passionate imagination that comes from play.
 
Worst case scenario-fireworks, best case-great working ships and the thrill of the unknown. Cheers!