Yesterday, October 7, 2009, the
X-Prize Foundation announced that
Masten Space Systems completed the first stage toward winning the
Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge. Masten’s vehicle, Xombie, successfully completed two vertical take-offs and landings, at 93 and 91 seconds, respectively. But with other challengers such as BonNova nipping at Masten’s heels, the race for the US$2 million purse is far from over.