Right now, twenty-six groups of scientists, engineers and students from around the world are competing to be the first non-government team to get a rover on the moon by 2015. In this month's issue of Scientific American, Michael Belfiore explores what the Google Lunar X PRIZE competition means for the future of private spaceflight and tells the story of one of the most impressive teams - team Astrobotic. In this Web Exclusive, take a behind-the-scenes look at Astrobotic's preparations for a trip to the moon.

» View the X-Prize Slide Show

6 Comments

1. 1. lamorpa 08:54 AM 4/3/12

   What is that? A next generation Dalek?

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2. 2. Sinibaldi 11:10 AM 4/3/12

   The first singing.
   
   Somewhere
   the soft wind
   becomes an
   experience
   that calls
   the desire of
   an inner
   intention.
   
   Francesco Sinibaldi

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3. 3. Grumpyoleman 10:46 AM 4/6/12

   Who's paying for this?

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4. 4. florencek 12:12 PM 4/7/12

   What will keep your solar panels free of moon dust?
   Your vehicle will kick up dust as soon as it moves.
   It should have fenders.
   Check the Apollo landers.

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5. 5. Ed Greding 12:49 AM 4/8/12

   Once near the moon, how would this rover go about landing?
   Would it send back pictures or other information (temperature, soil composition etc.)?

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6. 6. yankee57 11:11 AM 4/9/12

   Well, for $30 Million Dollars, it's probably gonna use a " Golden Parachute " !

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