This is the project in question, picture from google imageshttp://themoonhouse.com/enEdit: Added link
As part of this revised timeline, at least one team must provide documentation of a scheduled launch by December 31, 2015 for all teams to move forward in the competition.
Big update, the GLXP competition has been extended through to the end of 2016: http://lunar.xprize.org/press-release/deadline-30-million-google-lunar-xprize-extended-end-of-2016For me the big news is that QuoteAs part of this revised timeline, at least one team must provide documentation of a scheduled launch by December 31, 2015 for all teams to move forward in the competition.In other words, no one has a launch yet. Barcelona Moon Team booked on a Long March for June this year? Hasn't happened. Astrobotic on a Falcon 9, I guess it wasn't booked, or they wouldn't have said this. I wish the teams would just be honest with us about what they're doing and what's booked and what isn't. It makes this kind of thing really hard to follow if we can't trust any team updates.
Maybe it would be better for Google to just pull the plug. Honestly, if teams haven't been able to raise the cash for launches yet, is another year really going to matter?If nobody ends up winning the prize, dragging it out year after year has several negative effects. It makes people sour on the idea of prizes for spaceflight. It makes them sour on the idea of progress for spaceflight in general. It makes them sour on the idea of commercial spaceflight. It wastes the efforts of many volunteers and some paid employees working on these projects who could be contributing to something that could actually succeed, whether in spaceflight or something else.I think prizes are a good idea, but the prize amount was too small for the requirements of this competition. Its failure will make future space prizes less likely to happen.
I think prizes are a good idea, but the prize amount was too small for the requirements of this competition. Its failure will make future space prizes less likely to happen.
I'd be happy to answer any questions I can about Carnegie Mellon University's rover Andy.Vimeo page with additional videosWe're partnered with Astrobotic, who are developing the Griffin Lander, which will carry our rover to Lacus Mortis.This isn't anything official, I'm just a NSF member who is very excited about all of these missions, and happy to be involved with this one.(I know those links aren't 'meaty' with the kind of detailed information we like here, but it is a quick introduction. Much is still up in the air, of course...)
At least one team must provide XPRIZE and Google with notification of a launch contract by December 31, 2015 for the competition to be extended until December 31, 2017.
From the conditions for extending the deadline:QuoteAt least one team must provide XPRIZE and Google with notification of a launch contract by December 31, 2015 for the competition to be extended until December 31, 2017.So they are forcing the teams to book a launch.
If no team has provided XPRIZE and Google with notification of launch contract by December 31, 2015, the competition will conclude.
IMO the only way one of the GLXP competitors can book a launch contract by the end of 2015 is if someone donate a launcher. :(Of course there is the freebie ride on the FH Demo flight next year. SX need a guinea pig customer. ;D
That confirms that no team yet has a firm launch contract, in spite of some teams implying in the past that they did. And I think it also shows that Google thinks it is uncertain whether any teams will actually be able to come up with funding for the deposits on launch contracts by the end of this year.On the positive side, I don't think they would have bothered with the conditional extension if they didn't think there was some hope some team would be able to come up with a launch deposit.
Quote from: ChrisWilson68 on 05/25/2015 10:21 pmThat confirms that no team yet has a firm launch contract, in spite of some teams implying in the past that they did. And I think it also shows that Google thinks it is uncertain whether any teams will actually be able to come up with funding for the deposits on launch contracts by the end of this year.On the positive side, I don't think they would have bothered with the conditional extension if they didn't think there was some hope some team would be able to come up with a launch deposit. FWIW, Interorbital's web site still claims they are the launch provider for GLXP Team SYNERGY MOON and "is also under contract to launch test payloads on its N5 or N7 orbital rocket for several other GLXP teams.."..but presumably lack of forward progress speaks louder than a web site entry. http://www.interorbital.com/interorbital_05022015_013.htm