Public challenges as a possible component of Career Mode

Since there already are challenges being posted on the site, why not have them be part of the Career Mode? Have periodic (ex. monthly, quarterly) public challenges with the winner posted on a leaderboard shown on this site and/or on the main screen of the game, and winners can win in-game currency/tech points for their space program.

In the real world, space programs constantly are competing for launch contracts and this forces them to innovate to try to stay ahead of the competition. In the game, we could compete against each other (for those that want to participate in public stuff) for big contracts, we could even bid amounts for these contracts as we see fit (however if your contract bid is less than the cost of your rocket or creation, that is if you lose money on the contract, then you automatically lose the challenge). The winner then is rewarded with additional funding for their space program if you meet the goals of the contract by or before the time period given.

Challenges could consist of:
-constructing a rocket capable sending a heavy payload (ex. com satellite) to low orbit of a minimum specified altitude or more challenging polar orbit
-Stock SSTOs capable of flying heavy payloads then returning to droo
-Rockets/spacecraft with reusability for repeatable missions
-sending rovers to other planets
-Gathering data with probes, rovers
-Technology demonstrations of complex builds that serve a specific purpose
-bringing samples back to Droo
-Successfully completing a "manned" mission
-constructing deep-space craft
-(Quarterly challenges): collaborations between 2 or more space programs to build space stations, moon bases, other complex things

Rules for challenges:
-All creations MUST be fully stock (no tinker panel, no XML editing) or automatic disqualification
-Collaborations between space programs MUST be equally participated in and all work must be evenly divided to keep things fair
-Challenges could have cost limits, for ex. a rocket cannot exceed a certain amount of money
-Losing money on a contract (spending more money than the contract awards) means disqualification
-weight and part number limits can also be part of certain challenges
-For added challenge, profit floors can be set (that is you must make a set amount of money, not only break even)
-extra points for aesthetics/realism
-Good sportsmanship/good conduct on forums/discord between space programs

Public challenges and a public leaderboard might be a good compromise between a single-player Space Program and multiplayer. Although I would agree with many of you that MP is not something that could be easily implemented (or even necessary) public challenges could be a way to "quench the thirst" for friendly competition between players.