Google backs private Moon landing

Search giant Google is offering a $30m prize pot to private firms that land a robot rover on the Moon.

The competition to send a robot craft to the Moon is being run with the X-Prize Foundation.

To claim the cash, any craft reaching the lunar surface must perform a series of tasks such as shoot video and roam for specific distances.

Firms interested in trying for the prize have until the end of 2012 to mount their Moonshot.

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Excellent! A nice follow-on to the X-Prize.

Will be fun to watch how this goes.

Bart.

That "prize" would hardly pay for the fuel.

Like giving a €1 prize for running 100 marathons.

Peter.

That "prize" would hardly pay for the fuel.

Like giving a €1 prize for running 100 marathons.

Peter.

Do you think the likes of Richard Branson needs the prize-money? Or is such a measly sum what put you off entering?

I would have loved to see you do it Peter. In fact, I'd insist on helping you and make it a manned visit to the moon. I'd have to call you Major Tom though. God forbid there was an accident and you couldn't come back...

Dave

That "prize" would hardly pay for the fuel.

Like giving a €1 prize for running 100 marathons.

Peter.

30 million. That's not exactly small change is it! It's three times more than the X-Prize and that was enough to get people going.

Some day I'm going to see you say something positive about anything and I'm gonna fall off my chair.

Bart.

dmcdona wrote:
Do you think the likes of Richard Branson needs the prize-money? Or is such a measly sum what put you off entering?

I would have loved to see you do it Peter. In fact, I'd insist on helping you and make it a manned visit to the moon. I'd have to call you Major Tom though. God forbid there was an accident and you couldn't come back...

Dave

:lol: :lol: :lol: