X PRIZE Foundation
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Google Lunar X PRIZE Q & A

1. When and why was the X PRIZE Foundation formed?
  The X PRIZE Foundation was founded in 1995 by Dr. Peter Diamandis after reading The Spirit of St. Louis by Charles Lindbergh. Dr. Diamandis realized that his lifelong dream of traveling into space could be made a reality through the creation of a prize similar to the one Lindbergh was awarded for crossing the Atlantic by aircraft. Thus, the X PRIZE Foundation was born as a nonprofit prize organization that conceives, develops, launches and manages large incentive prizes for the benefit of humanity.

2. What are the goals of the X PRIZE Foundation?
  The goal of the X PRIZE Foundation is to bring about radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. We do this through the creation of large ($10 million or more) incentive prize competitions that have clear, objective goals. The X PRIZE Foundation fosters innovative, high-profile competitions that motivate individuals, companies and organizations around the world to solve the grand challenges that are currently restricting humanity’s progress.
3. How does the Foundation decide what challenges deserve an X PRIZE?
  The X PRIZE Board of Trustees, Vision Circle members (major donors) and management team are engaged in an ongoing dynamic process of exploring and evaluating the grand challenges facing humanity. The X PRIZE Foundation focuses on areas that are “stuck” due to bureaucracy, misperception, or lack of attention. These underdeveloped areas are overdue for a radical breakthrough. Together with international experts in the field, the Foundation generates specific prize concepts and competition guidelines.
4. How do you feel the success of the Ansari X PRIZE has changed commercial space travel, and has it met or exceeded the Foundation’s goals?
  Prior to the Ansari X PRIZE, “everyone knew” that only governments could participate in human spaceflight. That changed dramatically when the Ansari X PRIZE was won. Now, entrepreneurial companies headed by innovators like Burt Rutan, Jeff Bezos, Sir Richard Branson, John Carmack, Elon Musk and Eric Anderson are creating a personal spaceflight revolution akin to the personal computer revolution, dramatically lowering the price and risk of space travel while increasing performance and capability.

5. Why is the next X PRIZE focused on going to the Moon?
  Earth’s offshore island, the Moon, provides a natural storehouse of resources that we can use to enhance life on Earth and explore our universe. By using energy and material resources from outside the Earth’s biosphere and gravity “well,” we can take positive steps towards solving seemingly intractable problems on Earth.
Using the abundant resources of the Moon we can:
• Transmit clean and carbon-free energy to the surface of the Earth around the clock using solar power collectors made from lunar material.
• Obtain propellants and other supplies for human and robotic missions throughout the solar system and beyond.
• Gain a deeper understanding of our solar system, galaxy and universe.
• Create new technologies for use on the Moon that provide practical benefits here on Earth.
6. What should kids know about the importance of going back to the Moon?
  Kids in the 1960’s could tell you the reason for the Apollo program in four short words: “to beat the Russians.” Kids of the 21st century should know that the four-word purpose of going to the Moon is “to save the Earth.” The orb they see each night in the sky is being explored for their benefit. When they grow up, they will have new opportunities to travel to the Moon and beyond; opportunities that are currently unavailable. The private, competing teams are opening up new industries for them to explore the Moon, and the universe beyond.

7. Why isn’t the next X PRIZE about solving the problems here on Earth?
  It is. We believe it is our duty to use the resources of space to help our fellow passengers on spaceship Earth. The motivation of the original X PRIZE was to open space for the development of humanity, and to lower the price of space travel to set the stage for further exploration—much like the mission of the Google Lunar X PRIZE.

The Google Lunar X PRIZE is just one of many new prizes being developed by the X PRIZE Foundation. Each benefits humanity in a radical new way—some by addressing problems plaguing us now, and others by helping push forward the course of human progress.

8. There are inherent dangers working with technologies that are involved in this competition. Are you worried that accidents or mishaps will set back this kind of innovation?
  We believe that the benefits to humanity far outweigh the individual risks that dedicated pioneers are willing to take to open space for all.
9. How does this new generation get involved in the Google Lunar X PRIZE and utilize the knowledge for their future here on Earth (and beyond)?
  The whole purpose of the Google Lunar X PRIZE is to allow people to be directly and personally involved in the exploration of the Earth-Moon system. Google Lunar X PRIZE teams will utilize the internet and modern communication technologies to allow people to participate in the adventure. All teams will be required to share what they learn.

Additionally, there will be many ways for the public to engage and interact with the competition on the Google Lunar X PRIZE website at www.googlelunarxprize.org.

The Ansari X PRIZE was supported by a group of 100 individuals who each contributed $25,000. This group was called the New Spirit of St. Louis and their names are memorialized on the wall of the St. Louis Science Center.

For major benefactors of the Google Lunar X PRIZE, a plaque holding their names will be carried to the Moon by the winning team where it will stand for all time as a legacy to those benefactors. Those individuals, foundations or corporations contributing $25,000 or more will have their name placed on this plaque, and will receive a personal framed facsimile for display.

10. Is NASA upset or concerned about this competition trying to beat their publicly stated deadline of going back to the Moon by 2020?
  NASA is very supportive of prizes and wishes the X PRIZE Foundation and potential teams well as we pursue the Google Lunar X PRIZE. In addition, the X PRIZE Foundation has worked very closely with NASA to support the design and implementation of NASA’s Centennial Challenges incentive prize program.
11. Will there be any involvement from NASA in this prize?
  The rules of the Google Lunar X PRIZE require that all teams be at least 90% privately funded, which will prevent NASA from directly entering into the competition. As such, NASA’s main role in the Google Lunar X PRIZE will be as a direct beneficiary. It is expected that the advancements made by the teams pursing the Google Lunar X PRIZE will allow NASA to save money and expand the capabilities of its future robotic and human missions to the Moon.
12. How does the FAA fit into a competition like this?
  The Google Lunar X PRIZE rules require teams to abide by the relevant regulations of their country and other national and international laws. Any teams that launch their Google Lunar X PRIZE entry from the United States will be required to get a launch license from the FAA.
13. Can other governments around the world compete for this X PRIZE?
  Governments are not allowed to compete for the Google Lunar X PRIZE. However, we encourage privately funded teams from any country to enter and compete.
14. What is your goal for the number of teams to sign up? Do you have any thoughts about what kinds of teams will compete?
  Incentive prizes generate broad, international interest, especially from groups and individuals not previously thought of as traditional players in that sector of industry. The Ansari X PRIZE was one such example: we were pleasantly surprised by the number and diversity of teams that participated in the original Ansari X PRIZE. Twenty-six teams from seven nations competed (Argentina, Canada, Israel, Romania, Russian, United Kingdom and the United States). In the case of the Orteig Prize for non-stop trans-Atlantic travel, Charles Lindbergh headed one of nine teams, which collectively spent more than 16 times the value of the purse in pursuing that prize.

We hope the Google Lunar X PRIZE will attract over a dozen teams from numerous countries around the world.

Additionally, we expect that the Google Lunar X PRIZE will encourage new groups to start thinking about space travel and exploration missions. New teams will form from small industries, universities, and companies outside of the aerospace sector, bringing fresh ideas and innovation to bear on the challenges associated with the prize. Individuals and teams can compete by registering at www.googlelunarxprize.org.

15. How much do you think it will cost for a rover to get to the Moon and sustain itself throughout the competition?
  Traditionally, prizes have encouraged people to invest a wide range of resources. Lindbergh was one of few to spend less than the prize amount during the Orteig prize—others, like Admiral Byrd, spent nearly $100,000, or four times the $25,000 prize value. It has been reported that Mojave Aerospace Ventures spent significantly more than the $10 million purse to win the Ansari X PRIZE. Teams are willing to spend more than the prize value, as they get to keep their intellectual property and capitalize on it. In the case of the Google Lunar X PRIZE, we expect some teams to be willing to spend more than the value of the prize. Other teams may be able to complete the mission at or below the value of the Grand Prize purse.
16. Why is Google a sponsor of this prize?
  Google has been a longtime supporter of the X PRIZE Foundation because of its innovative approach to working with private industry to search for solutions to the many issues facing humanity. Partnering with Google not only allows us to launch this prize today, but it allows us to bring this important competition into the homes, offices and classrooms of the world through the global Google technology and community.

17. How will teams get their spacecraft to the Moon?
  The journey from the Earth to the Moon can take up to three stages: launch from the surface of the Earth to Earth Orbit, transfer from an Earth Orbit to a Lunar Orbit; and descent from a Lunar Orbit to the surface of the Moon.

Reaching low Earth orbit requires a velocity of 5 miles per second (7.8 km/s). To escape the Earth’s deep gravity well requires a velocity of 7 miles per second (10.92 km/s). Because the Moon has no atmosphere, rocket engines will likely be required to soft-land the spacecraft on the surface of the Moon.

18. How long do you expect it will take before a team makes an attempt at a launch?
  We anticipate that the first launch will be attempted within three to four years.
19. Will people be able to connect to the rovers through their computers to see what the cameras see?
  Yes. Through our unique partnership with Google, the whole planet can track the progress and movements of the rovers as they attempt to launch, land and rove. More information is available at www.googlelunarxprize.org.

20. How can my classroom be involved in this X PRIZE?
  Classrooms can adopt teams, track their progress on special team websites and communicate directly with team members. Students will be able to follow and communicate with teams around the globe.. Please see the education section of the Google Lunar X PRIZE website.
21. What do you think the next X PRIZE will be?
  The X PRIZE Foundation is a catalyst for breakthroughs in many other sectors including health, energy/environment, education and international development through entrepreneurship. We will be announcing our next X PRIZE in the near future.
22. Are there any other X PRIZEs currently out there?
  In 2006, the X PRIZE Foundation launched the Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, a $10 million competition in which the winning team will demonstrate the ability to sequence 100 human genomes in 10 days. This will reduce the cost of genome sequencing and herald a new era of personalized medicine.

The Foundation is also gearing up to launch a multi-million-dollar Automotive X PRIZE, which will be awarded to the teams that win a stage race for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 miles per gallon-equivalent fuel economy.

23. How does the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge relate to the Google Lunar X PRIZE?
  The Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge (NGLLC) is a $2 million dollar prize program the X PRIZE Foundation runs for NASA’s Centennial Challenges program. The Challenge rewards innovative private teams for building and flying vehicles that simulate the journey from lunar orbit to the surface of the Moon and vice versa. As such, the vehicles and technologies developed for the NGLLC (and the teams that are pursuing that prize) may play a significant role in the Google Lunar X PRIZE; helping to carry vehicles on the final steps of their journey from the Earth to the Moon.