Partner Support: Google Lunar X PRIZE

SpaceWorks Commercial is assisting Astrobotic Technology, Inc., one of the leading contenders for the Google Lunar X PRIZE, to analyze and determine the commercial potential of future robotic missions to the moon.

The Google Lunar X PRIZE calls for privately-funded teams to compete in successfully launching, landing, and traveling across the surface of the moon. The X PRIZE Foundation will award US$20 million to the first team to land a robot on the moon that successfully travels more than 500 meters and transmits back high definition images and video. There is a US$5 million second prize, as well as US$5 million in potential bonus prizes. For more information about the Google Lunar X PRIZE, please visit www.googlelunarxprize.org.

SpaceWorks Commercial, having a history of examining new economic endeavors such as suborbital/orbital space tourism, lunar propellant production, and commercial transportation services to the International Space Station (ISS), is applying its expertise to look at the revenue potential of robotic lunar missions. SpaceWorks Commercial is assisting the Astrobotic team in overall business and economic planning. The firm is examining the first mission to win the Google Lunar X PRIZE and the business case for follow-on commercial services to the lunar surface.

For more information please see the press release from 20 July 2009.