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Contract signed for first attempt at Google Lunar XPrize. (AUDI at the helm)

CAPSLOCKSTUCK

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A German team hoping to win Google's $30m Lunar X-prize contents by sending a rover to examine the Apollo moon rover left on the moon's surface has signed a contract to launch its project.




Karsen Becker, the team's rover driver, told New Scientist.

'This is scientifically a very interesting site for us.'

The PT Scientists projects hopes to launch two rovers by late 2017.

They will send live HD pictures to Earth as they travel to within 200 meters (656 feet) of the Apollo rover, left on the lunar surface in 1972, and inspect it remotely.

It is believed the launch will take place on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, although project officials said this had yet to be confirmed.

Berlin-based PT Scientists said that it signed a contract with Spaceflight Industrie, a broker, for the launch of its lander as a secondary payload on a vehicle yet to be identified.


Participants in the contents face a Dec. 31 deadline to submit launch contracts to the X Prize Foundation and have them validate the contracts in order to continue in the competition.

So far, on three teams have done this: Moon Express, SpaceIL and Synergy Moon.

The initial mission, which could win the $20 million first prize in the Google Lunar X Prize, involves landing their Autonomous Landing and Navigation Module (ALINA) lander 2 to 3 miles from the touch down site of Apollo 17 in the Taurus-Littrow valley in 1972.

The lander will then deploy two rovers that will travel towards the site, to within 200 meters (656 feet) of the Apollo rover and inspect it remotely.

However, in accordance with NASA preservation guidelines, the PT Scientists' vehicles cannot land any closer than 1.24 miles (2 km) away, and it cannot get any closer than 200 meters from the Apollo site.

It is hoped the probes will able to scan the Apollo vehicle and assess its condition, including any possible damage caused by intense radiation, extreme temperatures, and micro-meteorites.






German automaker Audi has also become a major sponsor for PT Scientists, providing support for the development of the team's rover, now known as the Audi Lunar Quattro rover.
https://www.audi.co.uk/audi-innovation/audi-moon-landing-project.html


AUDI'S MOON ROVER SPECIFICATIONS
The rover is powered by an adjustable solar panel that captures sunlight and directs it to a lithium-ion battery.

It feeds four electric wheel hub motors.

The theoretical maximum speed is 2.2mph (3.6 km/h).




The rover (pictured) is powered by an adjustable solar panel that captures sunlight and directs it to a lithium-ion battery. It feeds four electric wheel hub motors. A head at the front of the vehicle carries two stereoscopic cameras as well as a scientific camera that examines materials.

It carries two stereoscopic cameras at the front and a scientific camera to study the surface.

Overall it has a total weight of 77lbs (35kg) and is built from high-strength aluminium, with other parts made from magnesium.




 
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