Armadillo Aerospace, under John Carmack, was expected by most people, including Carmack, to win the Lunar Challenge competition-- and prize money-- at the X=Prize Cup in New Mexico this past weekend. Well, the prize money is still available for next year.
Carmack and Armadillo were so confident because they had successfully completed the requirements of the Level 1 Challenge several times in practice. Unfortunately, hitting in spring training doesn't mean a player can hit in the World Series. With the pressure of competition, with NASA watching, with 5,000 spectators at the event, Armadillo tried four times-- twice Saturday and twice Sunday-- to fly two simulated kunar launches and landings back to back using the same vehicle. One attempt fell just short of success, but ultinately, all four attempts failed.
One reason for the failures seems to have been dirt and dust clogging the rocket's igniter. That is ironic. One of the major challenges of settling the Moon will involve finding a way to keep our equpmint, and ourselves, free of lunar dust.
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