The 2006 Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge Judging Staff Photo Credit: Christopher L. Nelson Included people, from left to right: Christopher Nelson (Volunteer), Bill Gaubatz (Chief Judge), Ed Bock (Judge), S. Pete Worden (Judge), Nick Skytland (Volunteer), William Pomerantz (Judging Coordinator), Jeff Zweber (Judge), Dick Dunne (Judge), John Herrington (Judge)

Congratulations to the Teams taking part in NG-LCC! You are taking part in the World’s greatest contest: the race to open space for business and pleasure, as well as to sustain a long term science and exploration thrust that will expand the universe in which we live, work, and play.  The results of your dedicated efforts will go far beyond establishing and proving new concepts for supporting NASA’s lunar exploration.  You are a part of the worldwide band of entrepreneurs and innovators that are validating the efficacy of the new private space sector to design, build, and operate safe, reliable, and cost effective systems that can open and sustain space based commerce.  Commercial space operations that one day soon NASA can turn-to for carrying-out the operations for its space science and exploration programs.

Performance – Safety – Cost Effectiveness
The NG-LCC is more than a performance driven race: it also is a challenge to make great advances in flight safety and operational cost effectiveness.  The performance guidelines are only the minimum requirements to be able to compete in the challenge;  Operational safety and cost effectiveness are the criteria for meeting the challenge and the basis for judges to determine the winners.

• Safety as measured by intact return of vehicles from their flights and landings (even emergency) and the ability of the vehicles to fly again.
• Cost effectiveness as measured by rapid turn-around between flights and continued operability of the vehicles and support systems.

As in the past with the great “air-races” of the early 20th century, the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge, like other events at the X PRIZE CUP, will not only stimulate and incentivize technological advances; they will also inspire and engage the public with the adventure and excitement of human spaceflight and exploration – to get people active in space as well as interested in space. Your participation in the NG-LLC is an historical event in the opening of a new era in space.  The judges look forward to the opportunity of working with you in making this and future races a safe and memorable event for all.

The NG-LLC is the first of the races planned for the X PRIZE CUP.  In development are the rules for sub-orbital races including fastest time to sub-orbital space and return; highest sub-orbital altitude attained; most passengers carried to sub-orbital altitude and return in a single flight; most passengers carried to sub-orbital flight and return during a fixed time period; fastest turn-around times between sub-orbital flights; and other sub-orbital challenges and design awards.  Sub-orbital races will be extended to point-to-point races, eventually between spaceports around the country.  As the personal spaceflight industry advances enable, races to and from space will evolve.  Your participation and accomplishments will lead to the development of an enormous public space travel market providing a large, sustainable business base for the Personal Spaceflight Industry

William A. Gaubatz Ph.D.
Chief Judge
X PRIZE CUP
X PRIZE Foundation