Google Lunar X-Prize

jowey · 02-22-2008, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Google Lunar X-Prize Scientific American

The race to be the first to land a robot probe on the moon—and collect the $20 million grand prize attached to that feat—has tightened significantly as 10 teams announced they will contend for the Google Lunar X PRIZE. Entrants include Astrobotic Technology, Inc. (made up of engineers from the University of Arizona, Carnegie Mellon University and Raytheon Missile Systems Co.), Quantum3 Ventures (a private Washington, D.C., enterprise formed last month), LunaTrex (a consortium of aerospace companies, along with the University of Dayton in Ohio) and FREDNET (a multinational team of systems, software and hardware developers whose approach includes the use of open-source software and the Internet).

The winner will be the first team to successfully land a privately funded spacecraft on the moon, rove on the lunar surface for a minimum of 1,640 feet (500 meters), and transmit video, images and data back to Earth. The grand prize will drop to $15 million if no one successfully completes the mission by the end of 2012, and the competition will be terminated if the teams come up empty by the end of 2014. The moon's rising, but the clock's ticking.

This looks like an interesting competition.....

The_Heretic · 02-22-2008, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jowey

This looks like an interesting competition.....

<<<Octavian Salamanco of Heretical News Network. I don't feel right about Raytheon Missile Systems Co. being involved. Plus, I don't think it should count if the private company is a weapons contractor. I'm also dispondant that Scaled Composites hasn't offered to take a crack at this.>>>

jowey · 02-24-2008, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Heretic

<<<Octavian Salamanco of Heretical News Network. I don't feel right about Raytheon Missile Systems Co. being involved. Plus, I don't think it should count if the private company is a weapons contractor. I'm also dispondant that Scaled Composites hasn't offered to take a crack at this.>>>

Good point about Raytheon, who gets government money being allowed to participate in this competition.

I wonder why Scaled Composites did not sign up ? They might be focusing assets on commercial ventures....

The_Heretic · 02-24-2008, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jowey

Good point about Raytheon, who gets government money being allowed to participate in this competition.

I wonder why Scaled Composites did not sign up ? They might be focusing assets on commercial ventures....

Burt Ruta's original focus was always in light bodied aircraft, that and his many pther projects might be keeping him tied up. However, he's definitely gotten his meal ticket with the Virgin Galactic contract under Richard Branson.

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