http://www.news.com/Google+offers+30+million+to+land+on+the+moon/2100-11397_3-6207800.html?tag=nefd.lede
Google is launching a contest invited to all private teams around the world to build a robotic rover to be able to bring back images of the moon back onto earth. Called the Lunar X project, it is said to be offering the largest ever, with a total of 30 million in prizes and bonuses.
The whole purpose of this project is to try to reduce the cost of space exploration done by shuttle. To win the 20 million, the private teams must be able to land on the moon by the end of 2012. And if there are no teams successful, the prize will drop to 15 million until 2014 when the contest ends. Teams can earn bonus money by traveling more than the 500 meters on the moon that is required.
I think this is a great oppurtunity for any aspiring visionaries and probably can change how space technology is for good. If this project is successful, space traveling will be less expensive.
Boarding Flight 777 to Moon!
ReplyDeleteThat will be the day. I hope that space travel is economically available before I take my final nap. I read several days ago and I became excited. This is how most industries start. There has to be a solid foundation for multiple companies to enter, creating competition for market share thus producing affordable rates for more customers. Eventually space technology will be available to companies and they will be able to offer commercial flights.
If airplane food tastes horrible now, I can’t imagine it getting better on a blast to the moon. Also you couldn’t call it the mile high club anymore. It’d have to be the 238857 (distance from earth’s surface to the moon) mile high club.
I wouldn’t mine pioneering this club. :)