Lunar X-Prize
After four years, 29 teams from around the world have been officially enrolled in the final roster for the Google Lunar X-Prize. The competition requires a private team to send a robot to the moon, travel 500 meters and transmit video, images and data back to the Earth. Success earns not only bragging rights but also a $30 million pot. It is anticipated that a winner will be declared by 2015. According to the Manager of Google Space Initiatives, "from the Wright brothers' first flight to the Lewis and Clark expedition, the most successful and revolutionary discoveries often come from small, entrepreneurial teams." The X-Prize foundation has been responsible for several contests including the first private space flight by Scaled Composites for SpaceShipOne.