[In Depth] XPrize finalists mull payloads to the moon
Thursday, December 29, 2016 - 16:21
in Mathematics & Economics
The Google Lunar XPrize challenges privately funded teams to be the first to land on the moon, travel 500 meters, and send back pictures, for a $20 million jackpot. Although science was never the primary driver for the prize, the organizers encourage it through a number of bonus prizes. But some of the teams in contention are planning to do some science on their own initiative—or by carrying a paid-for payload. As the prize reaches a major milestone this month—narrowing down from 16 contenders to the handful that have booked a launch before the end of 2017—Science talks to those likely finalists about their plans to study the lunar surface, and things left behind there. Author: Daniel Clery