Google Moon

In cooperation with the X-Prize Foundation, Google is offering a $30 million prize to the first private firm to soft land a functioning robotic rover on the surface of the moon. The goal of the contest is to stimulate research into low-cost robotic space exploration. The rover must be able to travel certain distances and take photos and video in order to qualify. A $5 million bonus will be offered for additional tasks accomplished by the rover, such as photographing Apollo artifacts, analyzing ice, or uncovering a giant black monolith. Read the BBC's report here.