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Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Masten Space Systems in Lunar Lander Competition

A Mojave space company is one of three teams vying for the $1.65 million in prize money in the Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge. Masten Space Systems will have until the end of October to make a rocket fly from a launching pad to a separate landing site; and to land a rocket on a simulated lunar surface with craters and boulders. The lunar lander challenge is being managed by the X Prize Foundation for NASA to create a commercial rocket capable of vertical take-offs and landings. In 2008, the foundation awarded $350,000 to Armadillo Aerospace, based in Texas, for completing the first level of the competition. Armadillo has also applied to take part in the second level. Masten Space Systems was founded by Dave Masten to develop vertical take-off rockets to take payloads into space. Mark R. Madler

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