spacetoday.net: Lunar Lander Challenge prizes go unclaimed

Posted: Sat, Oct 21, 2006, 9:19 PM ET (0119 GMT)

Armadillo Aerospace's Pixel vehicle in LL Challenge (J. Foust)

The only team approved to compete in NASA's Lunar Lander Challenge prize competition failed to win any of the $2 million in prize money when their vehicle failed in several attempts to claim part of the purse. The inaugural competition, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, took place at the X Prize Cup in Las Cruces, New Mexico on Friday and Saturday. Although four teams had signed up to participate, only one, Armadillo Aerospace, completed their vehicle and won FAA approval to fly it at the event. Armadillo's first flight attempt for the less-difficult "Level 1" part of the competition on Friday failed when a hard landing on the first leg of the flight damaged some wires. The team repaired the vehicle, nicknamed Pixel, overnight, and flew it again Saturday morning, only to have it land only partially on a hard concrete pad and tip over. The vehicle wasn't damaged and Armadillo flew it again Saturday afternoon, successfully completing the first leg of the flight. However, on the return leg the vehicle tilted on liftoff, triggering an automatic shutdown that caused the vehicle to crash seconds later. The Level 1 version of the competition, part of NASA's Centennial Challenges program, requires vehicles to fly to an altitude of 50 meters, translate 100 meters to another pad and land, remaining in the air for at least 90 seconds, and then make an identical return trip. The unclaimed prize money will be held over for next year's competition.