UPDATE ON THE GOOGLE LUNAR XPRIZE

摘要

The Google Lunar XPRIZE, the largest international incentive based prize in history, is a US$30 Million prize purse to incentivize space entrepreneurs to create a new era of affordable access to the Moon and beyond and inspire the next generation of space explorer to take up careers in science, engineering and related fields. Created in 2007, the Google Lunar XPRIZE has reinvigorated the public's interest in the Moon by highlighting the endeavors and technical achievements of the competition's global teams. In order to 6win the US$20 Million Grand Prize a privately funded team must land on the Moon, move 500 meters and send back video and imagery datasets, referred to as Mooncasts. Additional money is available for completing further technical advances on the lunar surface such as traveling 5km or finding evidence of water. The competition deadline is December 31, 2017, but teams must verify a launch contract with XPRIZE prior to December 31, 2016 to remain eligible. To date three teams have provided verified launch contract, SpacelL from Israel has a verified launch contract on a SpaceX Falcon 9 procured via Spaceflight Inc., Moon Express from the United States has a verified launch contract with Rocket labs on an electron rocket and Synergy Moon, an international team, has verified launch arrangements with their competition partner Interorbital Systems. This paper and accompanying presentation will give an overview of the competition and highlight the achievements of teams over the past year.