Wow, I can't believe I opened this thread back in 2011.
I'm surprised Astro has the funds to afford a ula rocket, but maybe it's ridesharing in some way.
Regardless, SpX has lost a potentially high visibility customer, since this is also their Lunar Xprize mission (though..., maybe not, since Google nor the Xprize got any mention in the PR...huh?)
Doesn't the 2019 launch date put it beyond eligibility for the Google Lunar X Prize?
That could be why it's not mentioned.
We could do some simple scaling estimates to generate a mass for a lander capable of carrying 35 kg to the lunar surface and compare that to the TLI capability of, say, and Atlas 5 401, and see if it's a candidate for a ride share.
The statement about launching during the July window when Apollo 11 flew suggests a dedicated launch.
GWH: On what basis to you make your definitive statement?
Wow, I can't believe I opened this thread back in 2011. I'm surprised Astro has the funds to afford a ula rocket, but maybe it's ridesharing in some way. Regardless, SpX has lost a potentially high visibility customer, since this is also their Lunar Xprize mission (though..., maybe not, since Google nor the Xprize got any mention in the PR...huh?)
Astrobotic dropped out of the competition last year, the deadline for having a launch contract was the end of 2016.
SpaceIL still is technically in the competition with a contract with SpaceX, but their launch is not until 2018 now, and the prize deadline is end of this year, so they are effectively out of the running as well.
With Chris's permission, an update on this mission. Its now launching on ULA (I assume Atlas) ...
Okay, they said they 'selected a launcher' before, without any actual launch booking. Is this now a signed deal or is it just more of a 'selecting a launcher' ?
"(though..., maybe not, since Google nor the Xprize got any mention in the PR...huh?)"
Astrobotic officially withdrew from the Lunar X Prize competition when it became impossible for them to launch by the deadline.
http://www.spacenewsmag.com/commentary/graduating-from-the-google-lunar-x-prize/They are flying independently and no longer connected to GLXP. Nor to SpaceX, making this thread inappropriate for further updates on Astrobotic's mission.