If you’re not up to date with space exploration, Internet giant Google is organizing a contest which aims to send new probes to the Moon after 40 years since mankind stepped onto its surface for the first time. The company also released a short documentary to spread the word in a neat way.
The new space race is called Google Lunar XPrize and it envisions eighteen private teams from around the world who are vying to be the first to land a spacecraft on the moon as well as to do some aerial surveillance from 500 meters above the natural satellite’s surface and send everything back to Earth.
And since this is a competition (one that looks fiercer than in the Cold War), the grand prize is set at $20 million. Five of the teams that registered important hardware or software achievements have already been given a total of $5.25 million as part of some “milestone awards”.
The mini documentary is narrated by film and television star Tim Allen and it takes viewers through the entire history of lunar exploration using excellent 3D imagery, graphics and animations. The clip also shows how the Moon’s resources could aid us in future development.
So, go grab some popcorn and find a comfortable position because the following 24 minutes should keep you planted in front of the screen. I’m just wondering if the flag and the lunar rover are still around there.
On another side of the story, is it just me or Google should get into the movie industry more seriously? This documentary is almost as good as those on Discovery Channel or National Geographic.
Google News