Google Wants to Map the Moon
Google has teamed up with X Prize Foundation, a Santa Monica nonprofit prize institute and together have offered an ultimate challenge and payout of $30 million to any privately held company that can land a vehicle on the moon and stream back one gigabyte of data (images and video) to Earth! If the challenge does prove successful, it would make history as being the first time a non-government agency launched a lunar vessel out in to space.
The rules 
of the contest state – “This lunar space vehicle must trek 1,312 feet on the surface of the moon and transport images and real time video back to Earth. The images and video should include panoramic views and portraits of its self.”
Google will pay out $20 million to anyone who can successfully complete this incredible mission challenge by the end of 2012. If there is no one successful by that date, the prize money drops to $15 million until the end of 2014 when the contest will end.
There will also be $5 million awarded to the second place team or individual and $5 million will be given as a bonus to any team that goes above and beyond the minimum contest requirements, for a grand total of $30 million in contest cash prize money.
This will be a very interesting contest or story to follow – Will there be any privately held company or an individual that is up to the challenge?
Source: moneycnn.com
Comments
114 Responses to “Google Wants to Map the Moon”
Leave a Reply
About
I Do Follow
Subscribe
Latest Comments
- best ptc sites Says:
Disqus comments can be good . and also like FB connect and other option because every thing has... - Alveera Says:
.your post are interesting and informative , Keep sharing similar posts in future as well. It’s really... - Mike Elman Says:
Wow, every once in a while the advances in our technology blow my mind. Re-writeable ROM. Did you... - Country Vacations Says:
A video card, video adapter, graphics-accelerator card, display adapter or graphics card is... - sarah Says:
it is not so easy as Google will pay out $20 million to anyone who can successfully complete this... - used tires Says:
Ryder would be great to see you back to blogging, I think alot of us would love it 
Till then,...
- best ptc sites Says:
I wonder if any American companies will take a shot at this. Seems like there are a lot of “national security risks” posed by having privatized space programs in the US. I would assume it would have to be a conjoined effort with NASA if it were to launch from inside the US.
Anyways, Google Labs has already compiled a Google maps version for the Moon (http://www.google.com/moon/)
and Mars (http://www.google.com/mars/) – I am sure they are looking to improve on the data.
Reply
nadine anddanes reply on March 11th, 2009 6:30 pm:
sounds like something Richard Branson would do for kicks. I hope he does.
Reply
I am sure the event would be heavily monitored by a few big time agencies. If it does develop and happen?
Those are some great pictures on those links you gave, of past moon missions. Some nice close up shots on the surface of the moon.. Thanks for your comment! It made my day.
Reply
$20 million or even $25 million is nowhere near enough to fund a mission to the moon though. The party concerned would need to find some other commercial reason to send robotic spacecraft to the moon and I can’t think of any obvious ones. The commercial value of spacecraft capable of reaching orbit is obvious, the commercial value of building one that will make it to the moon lies where?
Reply
Running Log reply on February 6th, 2009 4:45 pm:
I agree the prize money is so low that you’re not even going to make back the money you spent on getting something to the moon and back. You would think Google could give more than $20 million – that’s not that much money.
Reply
found your site on del.icio.us today and really liked it.. i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later ..
Reply
I think google will be journey all around the world
Reply
memperbesar alat vital reply on November 15th, 2009 8:34 pm:
I think google is very interesting about adventure to outspace. And they have budget and i think have capabilities in that sectors. Go Google.
Alat
Reply
I read similar article also named Wants to Map the Moon | Far Out, and it was completely different. Personally, I agree with you more, because this article makes a little bit more sense for me
Reply
Google was very innovative and creative. Maybe, One day Google want map the sun.
Reply
One more time Google is a genious… Everybody could walk on the moon virtually, maybe soon
Reply
Google can do anything they put their minds to.
http://www.bucketbeats.com
Reply
That would be really cool to be able to see the moon as if it where a google earth type program
Reply
wow
just google who can do that
Reply
Its great to get a sponsor like google. Cheers
Reply
Started building my own space rocket after reading this. Going to win the 30 million
Reply
Yeah, good luck on trying to get there without the government protruding. I hope this really happens, it would be so cool.
Reply
I predict google, not the federal goverment will be the first ones to land on the mars/moon. Private enterprise ftw is all I can say.
Reply
I bet that in the next decade or two there will be a google solar system with maps of all the rocky planets and some of their moons.
Reply
Mars is next to be mapped. It is amazing to see their endeavor. They are making their presence in
every field.
Reply
Mapping the moon? A very innovative idea, would surely like to have a look on that map if ever get an opportunity.
Reply
WOW, awesome venture, surely should be interesting if someone manages to pull it off. Another brilliant idea by google.
Reply
wow man, big business always start with some craze
Reply
As usual another totally awesome job that google has started, would surely like to look at the map once it done. Good work guys.
Reply
Now we have Google Earth, Google Moon…and what about Google Mars, Google Venus, Google Jupiter??
It think it´s comming soon!!
Reply
Why cant i see the mirror that was left on the moon on the map of the moon?from reading other answers on the subject of moon landings (conspericy or not) it has been stated a mirror was left on the surface of the moon. why can i not see this mirror in any of the maps of the moon.
Reply
Ryder reply on February 18th, 2009 10:01 pm:
Hey that’s a good question!
Maybe the mirror got covered over by moon dust or moon ash?
Reply
I found Google earth a great help and the latest Google latitude also a great help, but wonder if mapping moon is a good idea, it will be of any use or wastage of time.
Reply
If I am not mistaken…. If I remember correctly, they already have some form of the moon already available for you to search and investigate. But the funny thing is, if you zoom in all the way, Google shows you “cheese”, I am not sure if its still available or not, but I remember a fried of mine sent that to me.
Reply
I am not sure if $20 million would be enough for this project, some big agencies may try but they should contact NASA
Reply
cue directory reply on March 11th, 2009 8:26 am:
But NASA would need more then twice of the amount
Reply
Google…. First the world… And then… THE MOON!
Reply
It´s a huge project. But I believe it´ll work.
Congrat´s for the post.
I´ve already bookmarked and subscribed the feeds.
Thanks.
Reply
WOW, awesome venture, surely should be interesting if someone manages to pull it off. Another brilliant idea by Big G(Google).
Reply
@ Frank One more time Google is genious… Everybody could walk on the moon virtually, maybe soon. I think we be controlled by Google’s innovations in years to come.
Reply
Good article indeed. If they manage to do it im sure it will be helpful for a lot of investigations which are going on at the moment.. Its gonna cost a lot of money so it better be succeed otherwise it would be a huge wastage of money
Reply
I located your blog on google and really appreciate your posts. I have added you to my Google News Reader. I really look forward to reading more posts from you.
Reply
Google has money on anything these days it seems. Wanna map the base of the ocean? What for? I don’t know but it might be cool! Sure why not, here’s 100 million dollars. Oh and you also want to make a map of a moon? Sure why not, take another 100 million!
I have no idea how google makes money off all those riddiculous projects.
Reply
I do not know, right now it seems unrealistic for me to make google maps on moon
Reply
This sounds awesome! have you heard of any companies that are taking up this challenge? I’ll have to go poke around and try to find out more info.
Reply
Amazing!..It is a good move for google specially Google will pay out $20 million to anyone who can successfully complete this incredible mission challenge by the end of 2012.
Reply
nice info, imm writing some reviews of adobe air applications, you can see at adobe air applications
Reply
Ideas ad dreams will eventually turn into realities. I can see google gooooogling into the unchartered frontiers.
Reply
I thought a trip to the moon could cost 5x that of the prize fund?
Surely it wouldn’t be a very wise business decision, spending 100million in order to win 20million.
Having said that, I have already began building my rocket made out of Lego.
Reply
Google guys are awesome, I think they will come up with google moon at the end.
Matt
Reply
Google can do anything that they want.
I am waiting for the sun map
Reply
Google is best search engine in the world and the moon
Reply
Wow Google is really striving to get ahead of the competition and strut its stuff in every way possible! That is really cool. I wonder how many people will go for the challenge. It will be interesting to see by 2012 and hopefully we don’t have to wait till 2014.
-Randy
Reply
Cool – you bet it is, I am thinking a tricked out SUV Limousine, perhaps a Hummer – rugged enough, right to go on up there, work its majic and ping us back — Google, you are omnipotently brilliant.
Reply
thanks alott Cool – you bet it is, I am thinking a tricked out SUV Limousine
Reply
It sounds quite interesting to me. My guess is that someone may use not for investment money
Reply
Wow this sounds like a cool thing that Google is doing. does anyone know if they have tried to send something up to the moon yet or are they all still on the ground. Does anyone know who is in the contest and if so can you send me a link to there web site i would like to see what they are doing as far as the vehicle and rock that would send it up?
Reply
Waw! Really Incredible goal this is! our target should be always high. Google proved it. Google Rocks..
Reply
nothing is impossible in this era …. and quite possible for Google. Hope to see another tool GoogleMoon soon.
Reply
Google WILL map the moon. Google will release Google Wave soon. Google will sell you a t-shirt. Google is your friend. Google helps old ladies cross the street. Google is for the people. Google tastes great when sprinkled on chocolate ice cream.
Reply
Its great opportunities for people who loves accepting hardest challenges in Life. I am waiting for new tool Google Moon
…..
Reply
Google will release Google Wave soon. Google will sell you a t-shirt. Google is your friend. Google helps old ladies cross the street.
Reply
There has to be a digital telescope hooked up some where that can do some of this? Parts won’t be visible but, and maybe some help needed with multiple locations around the globe and then some editing magic in the end.
Reply
Though its a pretty old news.., Come on Google!
That’s wonderful as well as risky! Google Moon maps will be made available soon.. i have the hope!
Reply
Amazing!..It is a good move for google specially Google will pay out $20 million to anyone who can successfully complete this incredible mission challenge by the end of 2012.
Reply
I think that google one day will map all the galaxy
, sometimes I feel that google is my friend 
Reply
plyometric exercises reply on February 26th, 2010 2:11 am:
Great stuff mate, i agree.
I think we should all jump for joy now.
The best part is that nobody will care.
Reply
Google is not the bad guy! Google is a good friend to us all! Google actually helps old ladies cross the street.
Reply
That is another Google’s great step. I heard about it while ago. Just curious to know who was the winner? Surely, a company … IF not wrong!
Reply
I don’t think it’s such a bad idea. NASA spends a lot of money on space exploration so why not Google? They have the money.
Reply
Yeah..Great…GoogleMoon after the success of GoogleEarth. I want to take this $20 million from Google:).
Reply
I don’t see the reason that google needs to map the moon, that money could be used for much better reasons.
Reply
Disappointed that this still hasn’t been done yet.
At the poster above: the point is that Google ‘can’ do it. Did humans ‘need’ to visit the moon? No, we did it because we could, it was a challenge…and to beat the rest of the world to it
Reply
Indeed! As usual another totally awesome job that google has started, would surely like to look at the map once it done. Good work guys.
Cheers..
Reply
Google is the largest search engine of the world and having a lots of masterminds. They can do anything.
Thanks
Reply
At the poster above: the point is that Google ‘can’ do it. Did humans ‘need’ to visit the moon? No, we did it because we could, it was a challenge…and to beat the rest of the world to it
Reply
When man first stepped on moon it was remarked as a small step for man and a giant leap for mankind. Now it’s the another achievement of google.
Reply
Google has done it again..with inovation motivation…I am sure their is a few people that tap into your Post Ryder..that are very creative…space vehicle on the moon by 2014..Great
challenge..great post Ryder…Good Luck..
Reply
Once a again Google Proved himself as a best one to do something creative. At first Google proved himself as the largest search engine of the world and having a lots of masterminds. Now again they doing something new.
Reply
That would be a cool idea. A lot of people would enjoy watching a map of the moon but it will cost a lot for google.
Reply
I am sure it is not too far away. How varied do you think the landscape will be though? Google will probably be the first to have people visiting it too.
Reply
wow google can do anything it wants and it would probably can map the moon.. google has the amount of incomes to do it.. its the giant of the Internet bussiness. so this doesn’t really surprised me..
Reply
Just concerned by landing a vehicle to moon, you do need sufficient funds so will Google cover expenses as well and this would be the net prize money on table for designing a car which would land on moon and take images? I am sure NASA would have more than 1 gb of images of moon
hehe 
Regards
Sam Dodd
Reply
I would love to see the map of the Moon when google will accomplish its goal. This is gonna be awesome. Google maps is interesting software – Google Moon maps is going to be more than just unusual.
Reply
About that tricked out limousine. I know our limos are in Los Angeles, but I bet we could put one together that is good enough for Google – they’d just have to come from Seattle to LA limos to get their stock!
Reply
WOW, awesome venture, surely should be interesting if someone manages to pull it off. Another brilliant idea by google.
Reply
The question is, what is the point of this competition? The X prize took place a few years ago, and we still don’t see any private space tourist companies in business.
Reply
Google name who do any thing.all the product and services of google is nice. i always use the services like google maps.
Reply
I believe that this work is too large … Google map of the moon I think it would be something very strange
Reply
Wow!!!! This is pretty cool!!!
Definitely fascinating!!!
Actually you can see now the Moon in Google Earth.
Reply
Google is an internet based business. Why does it want to be involved with the moon stuff? What’s next? Google space flights based on bids?
Reply
It has been a remarkable achievement that the Google have introduce the moon map to explore.The Google map has also introduce the Mars map too to have the ingredient in their Google map application.
Reply
Thank you for the post. But all we know that google is the best search engine. and we have no doubt about it.
Reply
wow! amazing! this is something that i have to see! imagine, google moon map! hmm… i wonder if it can be done.
Reply
hmmm… pretty interesting and adventurous.. i will be waiting for the results.. but have to wait till 2012..it’s pretty looooonnngggggg time…
Reply
interesting blog.. but it’s something very true that most of us know that google is the best search engine…
Reply
well, google even more. I think it will take many years to be able to realize all that
Reply
Google is taking over everything. They will have complete knowledge of everything soon. Books, domains, trends, the earth, the moon, the sky… wonder where this will end.
Reply
Why cant i see the mirror that was left on the moon on the map of the moon?from reading other answers on the subject of moon landings (conspericy or not) it has been stated a mirror was left on the surface of the moon. why can i not see this mirror in any of the maps of the moon.
Reply
This is great step towards mapping the moon by a private held company. In present decade Google Inc is the most successful organization on the earth.
In the search engine world its data base is very very big just like data giant.
If this mission is accomplished successfully then travel to moon could be feasible.
Reply
Interesting news. Google always does something innovative. I would simply say, that they grow everyday.
Reply
Maybe mapping to Venus and jupiter on the future
They will have complete knowledge of everything soon.
Reply
Mars is next to be mapped. It is amazing to see their endeavor. They are making their presence in
every field.
Reply
Google is the master of innovation.. Since I was a child, I love watching the glow of the moon. That silvery white ball of rock.. It’s just amazes me. And now, Google gave us this Google Moon. Isn’t it wonderful?
Reply
These lacoste online shoes add a little height and will improve their status and self-confidence,in general,the growth of social gatherings lacoste sale.With high heels,these women become an attractive center.Nowadays Lacoste Shoes For Men want to buy shoes that look sexy and add value to their look.The vast collection of shoes available in the market has also changed to the thought process of women and they opt for sexy and trendy lacoste swerve shoes.
Reply
google can reach the moon easily .. google reach more than 500 million person every day ……….
Reply
Its great opportunities for people who loves accepting hardest challenges in Life. I am waiting for new tool Google Moon
Reply
Frank One more time Google is genious… Everybody could walk on the moon virtually, maybe soon. I think we be controlled by Google’s innovations in years to come.
Reply
wow such a hard challenge google give.
but nothing impossible if we want.
can’t wait to see who is gonna be the winner
Reply
ya ofcourse google is the great search engine of the world so google will reach to the moon.Google can do everything which they want.
Reply
there is nobody who can do that, just crazy things that are created outside human logic …
if anyone can do it it was incredible, and he will become the first person in the world who can do it ……..
and will be remembered throughout the centuries …
Reply
really very good news…google is a great search engine.google can reach the moon easily..
thanks for this information
Reply
Mapping the moon is just the first stage, followed by a Google moon base. Otherwise, sounds like a waste of resources.
Reply
I hope one day Google can map just more than the moon, that would be a huge day for Manking I think at least.
Till then,
Jean
Reply
Wow, Google has done it again, thinking way beyond. Good start and good luck, waiting for the end result though. Thanks for the article.
Reply
This idea is awesome. I think wandering around the moon virtually will be fun. But the prize money is not that much huh =)
Reply
I have been looking for a descent house somewhere near the mountains I have checked Utah Homes out. Well now I will probably look for houses in the moon sooner =)
Reply
Well, google with its crazy thinking is going to land us somewhere beyond our imaginations. Eager to see the outcome and bit more of this.
Thanks for sharing
Reply
it is not so easy as Google will pay out $20 million to anyone who can successfully complete this incredible mission challenge by the end of 2012,but everything is possible well lets see who will take this project…:)
Reply