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![Lunar Lander Challenge]()
The official patch of the Northrop Grumann Lunar Lander Challenge.![Masten Space Systems]()
Doug Masten fixes up his team's rocket Xoie with duct tape at dawn. The rocket went on to complete phase two of the Challenge successfully, landing on a simulated lunar train.![Masten Space Systems]()
Masten Space System's Xoie craft rests on the launch pad after the first flight. The relatively young start-up Masten is based in Mojave, California.![Masten Space Systems]()
The Masten Space team celebrates its success. The team's rocket Xoie successfully completed Level 2 of the Challenge on the 30th, qualifying for the million dollar prize.![Unreasonable Rocket]()
A father-son team, both named Paul Breed, is responsible for Unreasonable Rocket -- two vehicles based on the same technology. On Sunday, the Blue Ball craft became the third vehicle to pass Level 1 of the challenge.![Unreasonable Rocket]()
A father-son team, both named Paul Breed, is responsible for Unreasonable Rocket -- two vehicles based on the same technology. The slightly larger Silver Ball stands ready for its attempt at Level 2 of the competition.![Unreasonable Rocket]()
A father-son team, both named Paul Breed, is responsible for Unreasonable Rocket -- two vehicles based on the same technology. Sadly, Paul Breed Sr. declared the slightly larger Silver Ball "dead," after a leg punctured the rocket's tank later in the day.![Armadillo Aerospace]()
Armadillo Aerospace was founded by video game pioneer John Carmack. The company's Scorpius Super Mod rocket successfully completed Level 2 of the challenge on September 2nd, but wasn't involved in the weekend's activity.![Armadillo Aerospace]()
Armadillo Aerospace was founded by video game pioneer John Carmack. The company's Scorpius Super Mod rocket successfully completed Level 2 of the challenge on September 2nd, but wasn't involved in the weekend's activity. Here a close up of the rocket exhaust.![Armadillo Aerospace]()
Armadillo Aerospace's Super Mod rocket in an earlier iteration, with green composite gas tanks.![Armadillo Aerospace]()
Lunar Lander Challenge: Meet the Competition
Three remaining teams compete in the 2009 Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge. The teams are large and small, both billion-dollar companies and backyard rocketeers hoping to make a name for themselves. Here, a closer look at the rockets from Armadillo, Masten, and Unreasonable Rocket.
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- Lunar Lander Challenge: Meet the Competition
