Bound for the moon. (cover story)

SPACE vehicles; SPACE vehicle design & construction; LUNAR surface vehicles; WHITTAKER, Red; ASTROBOTIC (Company); JAIN, Naveen; MOON Express Inc.; UNITED States. National Aeronautics & Space Administration; CONTESTS

The article reports on the rise in privately funded space research inspired by policy changes at the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Particular focus is given to the Google Lunar C PRIZE contest that offers 20 million dollars to the first group to successfully land a robotic rover on the surface of the moon. Several teams in the competition are described, including the Red Rover space craft developed by robotics expert William Red Whittaker and his Astrobotic team, billionaire Naveen Jain's Moon Express, and entrepreneur Michael Joyce's Next Giant Leap. INSET: IN BRIEF.