Lunar Lander Challenge at the XP Cup Spaceflight Exposition
October 21-22, 2006
(Large graphic.)

The NASA Centennial Challenges Program and the X PRIZE Foundation are sponsoring the $2M million Lunar Lander Challenge (LLC). The first competition will be held at the XP Cup in Las Cruces, New Mexico during October 21-22, 2006.

"The LLC will require a rocket capable of vertical takeoff and vertical landing to fly from one pad to another and back. The LLC is broken into two difficulty levels to maximize the interest from potential competitors while still resulting in the development of vehicles that are of value to NASA."

Space Elevator Challenge

The NASA Centennial Challenges Program and the SpaceWard Foundation are sponsoring competitons to develop two technologies that will be essential for space elevators: high strength fibers for the elevator cables and climbers that can travel up and down the cables. The first event occurred in the second competition will take place in July-August, 2006, in a Mountain View, CA.

America's Space Prize

Bigelow Aerospace is sponsoring this $50 million dollar competition for the first company to launch a privately developed space transport vehicle to orbit. The vehicle must be capable of carrying at least 5 people and must beat the deadline of January 10, 2010.