X-Prize Lunar Lander Cup

Next weekend at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, the 2007 competition for the Northrup Grumman X-Prize Lunar Lander Cup will be held. The competition is also associated with NASA, which is providing the $2 million award to the first team to meet the criteria of the contest.

Eight teams-- including one from Laramie and Chugwater, Wyoming-- are entered in the contest. The basic idea is to build a vehicle that can fly a simulated mission from the surface of the Moon to lunar orbit and back to a safe landing-- and fly that mission during the competition. Hovering in the air for two minutes will substitute for lifting off the lunar surface and descending back to it. The mission will have to be successfully flown twice during the competition, by the same vehicle, to claim the award.

By backing this and similar competitions, NASA is trying to encourage development of a private space industry. Specifically in this case, the goal is to develop a private capability to transport humans and cargo between the lunar surface and lunar orbit. There'll be no need for such a capability for a while, of course, but that's a good thing. The competition is being held again this year because no team accomplished the feat lasr year.