Wed, Aug 18, 2010
Consortium Will Participate In The Innovative Lunar
Demonstrations Data (ILDD) Program
A consortium of industry and academia which came together with
a goal of winning the Google Lunar X PRIZE is offering lunar
mission data to NASA from its planned lunar robotic lander mission
via the recently announced NASA Innovative Lunar Demonstrations
Data (ILDD) program. The consortium, Next Giant Leap (NGL), is
planning a lunar mission it says will demonstrate new landing and
mobility technologies developed by their team partners. The ILDD
program challenges industry to demonstrate Earth-to-lunar surface
flight system capabilities and test technologies including
information related to landing using a human mission profile,
including identification of hazards during landing, precision
landing, imagery, and long-duration surface operations.
NASA issued the ILDD Broad Agency Announcement on August 6th
which will result in multiple small firm-fixed price
indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts with a total
value up to $30.1 million through 2012. “This NASA
announcement will allow for public private partnerships that will
maximize the results we’ll see from this new era of lunar
exploration.” said William Pomerantz, Senior Director for
Space Prizes at the X PRIZE Foundation. “From the start,
we’ve worked with NASA to ensure that the technologies and
systems that emerge from the Google Lunar X PRIZE will be
complementary to NASA’s own efforts, rather than competing
with them.”
During the mission, NGL plans to have its spacecraft send back
HD video and other data needed to complete the requirements for
capturing the Google Lunar X PRIZE. If it becomes the first
commercial mission to land on the Moon, NGL says it hopes will
engage the public in an unprecedented way and is offering unique
corporate branding opportunities for their mission sponsors.
More News
"Fly-by-wire flight, coupled with additional capability that are being integrated into ALFA, provide a great foundation for Bell to expand on its autonomous capabilities. This airc>[...]
Hold Procedure A predetermined maneuver which keeps aircraft within a specified airspace while awaiting further clearance from air traffic control. Also used during ground operatio>[...]
Aero Linx: B-21 Raider The B-21 Raider will be a dual-capable penetrating strike stealth bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. The B-21 will form th>[...]
Also: Virgin Galactic, B-29 Doc to Allentown, Erickson Fire-Fighters Bought, FAA Reauthorization After dealing with a big letdown after the unexpected decision by Skyreach to disco>[...]
Also: Skydio Chief, Uncle Sam Sues, Dash 7 magniX, OR UAS Accelerator US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall was given a turn around the patch in the 'X-62A Variable In-flight>[...]