Google Lunar X Prize to back moon space mission

Sep 14: From its bag of surprises the Internet search giant has offered $30 million prize to companies to land a robot camera on moon, which can sent back high resolution photo and data back on earth.

Google launched Google moon jointly with X-Prize foundation which promotes technological innovation.

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Google offered $20 million to the team for successfully landing a robotic vehicle on the moon and be able to rove for 500 meters. It must transmit high resolution video and data back to earth; second prize of $5 million for the team who will be able to land a vehicle on the moon, rove and transmit data back to earth.

A bonus prize of $5 million to the team to rove larger distant, discover lunar water, ice or capture images of space vehicles abandoned there from old mission.

The X Prize Foundation saw the new contest as one of "the grand challenges of our time that we can use to move people forward," said Peter Diamandis, foundation chairman and chief executive.

“It has been many decades since we explored the moon from the lunar surface, and it could be another six to eight years before any government returns” the foundation said in a statement.

"We hope to usher in an era of commercial exploration and development, in which small companies, groups of individuals and universities can build, launch and explore the moon and beyond."

The foundation describes this opportunity as “a global private race to the moon."

"The Google Lunar X Prize calls on entrepreneurs, engineers and visionaries from around the world to return us to the lunar surface return us and explore this environment for the benefit of all humanity," said Peter Diamandis, chairman and CEO of the X Prize Foundation.  “Having Google fund the purse and title the competition punctuates our desire for breakthrough approaches and global participation,” he added.



GoogleLunarXprize.org is the official website for Google Moon.

It allow other sponsor to join the foundation, and this contest will last till Dec 31 2014, after which prize decreases to $ 15 million if the prize is not won by December 31, 2012.

Space X will provide Falcon launches at 10% saving from the list, the SETI Institute and Universal Space Networks will provide communication support to the competitor.

With a hope that if one mission fails many will succeed, this contest is launched to make space exploration cost effective with private entrepreneurs participating in this.

After launching Google Earth Sky, Google Moon will begin a race to reach first on the moon.