Category Archives: Google Lunar XPRIZE

Friday / 4 April 2014

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GLXP Endeavors To Reach Moon
To Be Televised

GLXP Apr 2014

2015 GLXP Miniseries / Live Broadcast From Moon, ‘Apollo Moment’ For The Next Generation To Be Documented, Aired By Science & Discovery Channels; Chairman Of XPRIZE Foundation Peter Diamandis (TL) Enthusiastic About Penn State Lunar Lion Potential Due To University / Community Support, Reminds All GLXP Teams That The Future Is At Stake; Moon Express Co-Founder Naveen Jain Speaks On Plans To Harvest Moon Resources To Benefit Earth, CEO Bob Richards Featured At ‘Found In Space’ Autodesk Design Night In San Francisco

Image Credit: GLXP, NASA, B. Chen

Tuesday / 1 April 2014

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Astrobotic Technology Inc Successfully Tests Autolanding System

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GLXP Team Tests New Landing Sensor At Mojave Air & Space Port In CA; Astrobotic Autolanding System (AAS) Utilizes 2 Cameras, Scanning Laser, Inertial Measurement Unit; Low-Power Lightweight System Relies On Hi-Res LRO Lunar Surface Imagery, Makes Decisions Without Human Input; Flawless Flight Test Utilized Masten Aerospace Xombie Rocket, Descended From 250m, Used AAS To Detect Hazards & Select Landing Site; Pictured Astrobotic CEO John Thornton

Image Credit: Astrobotic Technology Inc

Friday / 28 March 2014

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18 GLXP Teams Working Toward
2015 Moon Missions

GLXP Teams Mar 2014

Weekly GLXP Teams Virtual Hangouts To Occur Every Tuesday; Astrobotic Announces Other Teams Will Join Its Mission Soon; 5 Competing For US$6M Terrestrial Prizes: Team Indus, Hakuto, Part-Time Scientists, Astrobotic, Moon Express (Latter 2 Are Only Teams To Advance To Accomplishment Round In All 3 Categories – Landing, Mobility, Imaging); Synergy Moon Building NEPTUNE L-1000 Launch Vehicle With Partner Company Interorbital Systems; SpaceIL Raises $21M, SpaceMETA $10M

Image Credit: GLXP, ME, Indus, Hakuto, PT Scientists, Astrobotic, IOS, Synergy Moon

Friday / 14 March 2014

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Lunar CATALYST Proposals Due On Monday

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Monday 17 March Is Deadline To Submit Business Plans For NASA Lunar CATALYST Program; Resulting Unfunded 3-Year NASA Space Act Agreements Will Provide Free Technical Expertise, Equipment & Facilities For Lunar Lander Development; Major Aerospace Firms Such As Boeing & Alliant Techsystems Have Indicated Interest; GLXP Teams Like Moon Express (ME) May Benefit From Program, ME Has Been Paying For Use Of Mighty Eagle Lander (L) & Has Paid ~US$550,000 To Study / Adapt NASA Common Spacecraft Bus At Ames

Image Credit: NASA, Moon Express

Friday / 7 March 2014

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Japan Diverse Interests In Moon Missions

Japan Moon

Japan Scientists Preparing For 2nd SELenological and ENgineering Explorer (SELENE-2) Moon Mission Consisting Of Orbiter, Lander, Rover To Launch NET 2018; SELENE-3 Sample Return To Follow, Eventually Human Moon Missions & Outpost; Japan Team Hakuto Strong Contender For GLXP / Selected To Compete For Terrestrial Milestone Prizes; Commercial Interest & Advertising From Moon Highlighted By Japan Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Planning To Send ‘Pocari Sweat’ Sports Drink To Moon Surface On Astrobotic Lunar Lander

Image Credit: JAXA, GLXP, Hakuto

Thursday / 27 February 2014

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GLXP Teams Seek To Overcome Fundraising Challenge

LionPushUps

Penn State Lunar Lion Team Completes First Of A Series Of ‘Crowdfunding Waves’ After Raising US$133,768 (33% Of Stated Goal); Team Secured Over 800 Donations, Offering Gifts Such As Engraved Messages On Lander; Team Intends To Step Up Efforts To “Get The Word Out” With Fundraising Events Across USA; Israel Team SpaceIL Reports US$21M Of $36M Goal Already Raised Through Donations From Corporations, Universities, Philanthropists In Israel & USA; Business Development Manager Daniel Saat Says Team Is Among Top 3 Contenders

Image Credit: Penn State Lunar Lion, SpaceIL

Thursday / 20 February 2014

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GLXP Milestone Prize Contenders Announced

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9-Member Independent Judging Panel Selects Teams To Compete For 3 Terrestrial Milestone Prizes: US$1M Landing System Prize – Astrobotic (AT), Moon Express (ME), Team Indus; $500K Mobility Subsystem Prize – AT, ME, Hakuto, Part-Time-Scientists (PTS); $250K Imaging Subsystem Prize – AT, ME, PTS, Team Indus; Teams Have Until Sep 2014 To Complete Prize Requirements; Many Experts Believe GLXP Unattainable By 2015 Time Limit, Though Teams Remain Confident

Image Credit: GLXP, Moon Express

Tuesday / 18 February 2014

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GLXP: True Contenders Emerging

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Moon Express & Other GLXP Favorites Await Announcement Of Terrestrial Milestone Prizes Finalists, Expected Later This Week, Should Help Reveal Real Contenders; Contest Now Down To 18 Teams From Original Field Of 30; Astrobotic Receives Contract To Deliver ASTROSCALE Lunar Dream Time Capsule To Moon Surface On Its Oct 2015 Mission; 1 Week Left For Lunar Lion Crowdfunding Campaign

Image Credit: Astrobotic Technology, Moon Express

Tuesday / 11 February 2014

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4th International Workshop On Lunar Science Applications In Florida This April

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8-11 April Event In Cocoa Beach, FL, USA Will Provide Overview Of Current Lunar Mission Data, Planned USA, Russia, GLXP Missions & Opportunities They May Provide For Secondary Payloads To Lunar Surface / Cislunar Space; LSA 4 Designed To Foster Collaboration Among Scientists, Engineers & Entrepreneurs To Solve Challenges Involved With Going To Moon & Beyond; Abstracts Due 28 Feb

Image Credit: lunarinitiatives.com, NASA, Moon Express

Thursday / 6 February 2014

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Lunar CATALYST Program Inspiring GLXP, Property Rights Debates

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Moon Express & Other USA-Based GLXP Teams Enthusiastic About NASA Lunar CATALYST Program While Barcelona Moon & International Teams Concerned It Unbalances The Competition; Mike Gold (TR) Of Bigelow Aerospace Applauds NASA Initiative, Yet Warns That Private Moon Mission Investment Not Likely Until Rights To Extracted Minerals Clearly Defined; Bigelow Awaiting FAA Response To Recent Moon Mission Licensing Request

Image Credit: Barcelona Moon Team, Moon Express, NASA, Bigelow Aerospace