Lunarez

the metaverse space agency

Carnegie Mellon University is pursuing the Google Lunar X Prize

Carnegie Mellon University is pursuing the $20 million Google Lunar X Prize for landing the first independent off-planet exploration machine on the moon. The prize is offered by the X Prize Foundation with funding from Google. The team is seeking experienced allies in launching, landing and the full range of engineering challenges posed by lunar exploration. Red Whittaker is leading the team. From the CMU Moon Prize website:

The formative consortium will exploit RI’s deep experience fielding complete systems and building and field-testing prototype exploration robots. Other key parts of the team will be:

Launch Vehicle provider – the largest single cost is the booster that sends the Moon rover on its four-day journey. The team seeks a launch provider able to work in the spirit of the Google Lunar X Prize competition: quickly and at low cost.
Landing System provider – the project requires the development of a new landing system that works perfectly on its first and only chance to land safely on the Moon.
Communications system – the rover will need to phone home, using either communications satellites in lunar orbit or a direct beam back to receiving stations on Earth.
Imaging and computing systems – the Moon’s high radiation levels can destroy components in camera sensors, giving images a speckled appearance. The radiation can also cause computer glitches.

Posted by G.P. on 12/26/07
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