Space prize confidential

Posted on: May. 15th, 2006 || Source: thespacereview.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

Earlier this month NASA announced its first multimillion-dollar prize competition, the Lunar Lander Analog Challenge, in cooperation with the X Prize Foundation. Robin Snelson goes beyond the highlights of the announcement to see which companies plan to compete and the issues they have already encountered.

NASA unveiled its biggest and best space prize ever ten days ago, at the National Space Society’s biggest citizen space event ever, ISDC 2006 in Los Angeles. NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale announced the space agency’s contribution of $2 million in prize money to the Lunar Lander Analog Challenge. The competition will be managed by the X Prize Foundation and first staged at X Prize Cup 2006 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The X Prize press release handed out after the announcement spoke of a richer pot: “X Prize Foundation and NASA offer $2.5 million Lunar Lander Challenge.”

Read the full article

• Boeing, US Navy Offer Super Hornet for Denmark Fighter Competition
• Boeing Awarded US Army Contract for 191 CH-47F Chinook Helicopters
• The Netherlands shows interest in Gripen
• 4th F-35 Lightning II Rolls Out As Production Line Fills Up At Lockheed
• Lockheed Martin C-5m Super Galaxy Completes Flight Test
• Air Guard Predator pilots increase combat air patrols
• Predator passes 400,000 hours
• Future Predator/Reaper Formal Training Unit announced
• Saab/Gripen team completes Hungarian offset contract
• South African Gripen deliveries on track
• Boeing Delivers Super Hornet Proposal to Brazil For F-X2 Competition
• Northrop to Support NASA's Global Hawk Earth Science Research Aircraft
• NATO forces a step closer to attaining C-17s
• Northrop, Rockwell Collins Prove Concept for New B-2 Cockpit Display
• Navy's BAMS UAS Program Begins After GAO Ruling