Article out today that Google is offering a prize of $20 million to the first privately funded team that can land a rover on the moon, have it travel on the surface for 500 meters or more, send back data, photos and video, and do it all by December 31, 2012. Another requirement involves as little government involvement as possible.
I find this an excellent way to engage a new generation of space explorers that will open up new ideas and methods for looking beyond Earth. My 5 year old comes up with some pretty interesting concepts … now just need some capital to test them.
