A picture of the artifacts at this archeological site could win you up to $25 million! Everybody knows where it is, and you might have even waxed poetic about it, but it will take more than a step to get there. Where is it and what artifacts need to be photographed?

zbeckabee

Here's one contender: The Google Lunar X PRIZE, sometimes referred to as simply Moon 2.0, is a space competition organized by the X PRIZE Foundation, and sponsored by Google. It was announced at the Wired Nextfest on 13 September 2007. The challenge calls for teams to compete in successfully launching, landing, and operating a rover on the lunar surface. The prize awards US$20 million to the first team to land a rover on the moon that successfully roves more than 500 meters and transmits back high definition images and video. There is a $5 million second prize, as well as $5 million in potential bonus prizes for extra features such as roving long distances (greater than 5,000 meters), capturing images of man made objects on the moon, detecting ice on one of the Moon's craters, or surviving a lunar night. The X Prize offers the first prize until December 31, 2012, thereafter it offers $15 million until December 31, 2014. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/13/technology/13cnd-xprize.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Lunar_X_Prize Sep 07 08, 2:31 PM

edmund80

Absolutely right, zb ! The moon is indeed where you need to go if you want the $ 25 million offered by Google. It would need more than a giant leap, let alone a step to get there. The Apollo 11 Tranquility Base was designated an archeological site in 2006, through the efforts of folks from New Mexico State University. The artifacts that need to be photographed would be any of the detritus left behind by the astronauts and remnants of the lander that they used. The purpose of the competition, called X Prize, is to renew interest in moon exploration. As a designated archeological site, they ask that only photographs be taken and that artifacts not be touched. For instance, the historic footprint by Armstrong is one they particularly want to avoid treading over. Great job everyone ! http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/digs-spacerace.html Sep 07 08, 7:14 PM