Google Lunar X Prize

[jneeskans]

Is anyone in SEDS thinking about participating in the Google Lunar X Prize (http://www.googlelunarxprize.org/). Also, if not, are you trying for anything that can work in combination with the Prize (like art competitions, essays etc)?

The X Prize blogs had earlier invited people doing these events to write into them so that they can popularize the same on their blogs or website. If any of you in SEDS are doing it, you are welcome to share the same here!

Read this post that explains the nitty-gritties: http://www.xprize.org/blogs/wpomerantz/google-lunar-x-prize

Pradeep

[jneeskans]

There's now an overview and resources page for X Prize Cup - if you're interested: http://www.hobbyspace.com/AAdmin/archive/SpecialTopics/Events/2007/XPrizeCup-2007.html

Hope that helps a few of you!!

[gaetanomarano]

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about the """Google""" Lunar X Prize... just read this article:

http://www.ghostnasa.com/posts/008moonprize.html

while, here you can find WHO and WHY will WIN the prize:

http://www.ghostnasa.com/posts/009prizewinner.html

the article includes a small animation of the winner's rover

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[JediJosh]

This article completly ignores the fact that the $10 million dollar Ansari X PRIZE came no where near covering the cost of winning the prize.

The prize isnt supposed to completly cover the cost of landing a rover on the moon. Merely provide and incentive.

Given the massive number of teams that have already registered...

[gaetanomarano]

This article completly ignores the fact that the $10 million dollar Ansari X PRIZE came no where near covering the cost of winning the prize.
The prize isnt supposed to completly cover the cost of landing a rover on the moon. Merely provide and incentive.
Given the massive number of teams that have already registered...

you're right, but, while the suborbital technology can be used for tourists flights and give huge profits, the extra-money (over $30M) spent for the """Google""" prize will be 100% LOST since the lunar rover technology could have a minimal return of the investments and LATER (after 2020 when the new moon missions will start)

about the registered teams... they could be thousands, but have no money... :)

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[Brockert]

I'm on a team that is working on the Google Lunar X Prize. We currently have around $3 million in sponsorships lined up.

This competition is actually simpler, from a rocketry perspective, than the Ansari X Prize. For this we only have to put a few pounds on the moon once, compared to putting three times a human mass plus infrastructure to 100km and back, twice.

The rover is relatively simple as well. A number of groups have been working on rover concepts, for lunar use or otherwise, and it can almost be bought off the shelf.

The Google Lunar X Prize will be won well before 2012.

P.S. THAT site is NIGH on UNREADABLE

[JediJosh]

Aye. And given that most of the teams I've seen so far are large consortia, where each member already has one of the crucial components fully developed for some other application (one company bringing the delivery system, one bringing the rover, etc...) the development costs will be minimal relative to designing from scratch.

And I'm not sure why you're seeing this as lost investment or money. With the whole return to the moon initiative, there is a large developing market for lunar access systems.

Not to mention the one undeniable fact of Lunar and Martian exploration: the only way to establish a permanent base on the Moon or Mars is to make it a one way trip.

One way delivery systems like the Google Lunar X Prize is stimulating will have a plethora of uses including: Crew delivery, Cargo (and foodstuffs) delivery, simple mission delivery, etc..

Especially with Private Aerospace beginning to take an interest in the Moon, and the possibility of lunar real estate ownership by private entities, there would be a large demand for lunar 'prospectors' or 'surveyors'.