The International Space School Educational Trust (ISSET) has worked with Odyssey Moon and partners in Yorkshire, England to challenge students in high schools, colleges and universities to be involved in a Moon mission that's part of the $30million Google Lunar X Prize competition.
The brief in the Google Lunar X Prize (GLXP) is to land a robotic spacecraft on the surface of the Moon and send a series of videos and images back to Earth. The first privately funded team to complete the prize requirements by the end of 2012 is to receive $20 million. The first prize purse then reduces to $15million until 2014.
GLXP entrant, Odyssey Moon Limited, a British company with partner companies in the USA and Canada, is working with the International Space School Education Trust (ISSET) and Yorkshire partners to enable a Yorkshire experiment to be flown as part of their mission to the Moon.
Students in Yorkshire high schools, colleges and universities are challenged to design an experiment that will be taken to the surface of the Moon. Members of the general public across Yorkshire are also being given the opportunity to come on board under the strapline “Finding Britain’s Lost Genius.”
Chris Barber, director of ISSET, said:
"A rocket will be going to the Moon from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in 2012, and will contain a number of small experiments. The winning entry from Yorkshire will definitely be on board.
“This year is the 40th anniversary of the first manned Moon landing and the milestone can act as a springboard to inspire a new generation in Yorkshire to enter this unique county-wide competition. When the Moon landing takes place in 2012 the world’s attention will be on Yorkshire and the achievements of its young people.
“It is a world-class opportunity to discover the unfound genius of Yorkshire. Also, importantly, the building of a lunar experiment in Yorkshire will increase jobs, together with research and development capabilities in the region.”
Odyssey Moon CEO, Dr. Robert Richards said:
“Who knows what the future holds for students at all levels in Yorkshire. This is a fantastic opportunity for all of us. Seeing a programme like this makes me wish I was back at school as a student again."
The programme also includes budgeting for $1m to build the design. The work is to be carried out in Yorkshire to increase employment, technological capabilities and research and development in the region.
The “Lunar Inspiration” programme is being coordinated in Yorkshire by Moonlink Yorkshire Ltd, a private/public sector community interest company partnership.
Gary Fawcett, chief executive of Moonlink Yorkshire said:
“The project will put Yorkshire at the forefront of technological discovery in the UK and help increase both the prestige and confidence of the region.
“It will provide spin-off technologies and business opportunities, raise the county’s technological and innovative profile, boost the self-esteem of the region and help create new employment opportunities."
Left: Dr. Ramin Khadem, Chairman of Odyssey Moon. Former Inmarsat Chief Financial Officer and executive Board member. Involved from its founding in 1979 through its successful privatization and subsequent sale to private equity buyers with a multi billion dollar valuation and an outstanding record of profitability. Middle: Chris Barber, Director of ISSET. Chris has developed ISSET as his passion, reaching hundreds of thousands of school children across the UK and inspiring them to learn more about science through the exciting medium of spaceflight.Right: Dr. Robert (Bob) Richards, Founder and CEO of Odyssey Moon. A Founder of the International Space University with over 20 years of commercial space experience, presiding over multiple spaceflight programs from conception to launch as director of Optech Space Technology.
Programme Objectives
The “Lunar Inspiration” programme has several clear objectives for the Region:
- Increase student and young people interest in mathematics, science, engineering and technology
- Let young people, especially those from deprived backgrounds, know that there are really exciting opportunities for them
- Increase the number of young people entering higher education to study mathematics, science, engineering or technology
- Inculcate in young people the ‘you can do it’ spirit that is integral to space exploration
- Increase Yorkshire universities research capabilities.
- Raise the technological and innovative profile of Yorkshire.
- Give spin off technologies and business opportunities
- Always associate Yorkshire as the place in the UK that first ‘successfully’ sent something to an extra-terrestrial body.
- Increase employment in Yorkshire
- Raise the self esteem and pride of the Region
Odyssey Moon Project Presentation
Watch The Presentation
Press Release
Read the Project Press Release
The Yorkshire Lunar Project
High-flying students from universities, colleges and secondary schools across Yorkshire are to be challenged to launch a mission to the Moon
The county-wide initiative - ‘mission control’ is in Bradford - is being headed up by newly formed Moonlink Yorkshire Ltd, a private/public sector community interest company partnership.
Members of the general public across Yorkshire are also being given the opportunity to come on board under the strapline “Finding Britain’s Lost Genius.”
Gary Fawcett, chief executive of Link Telecom, one of the UK’s leading private sector sponsors of education-related initiatives, has been appointed MD of Moonlink Yorkshire.
Moonlink Yorkshire Ltd is a private/public sector community interest company partnership. While co-ordination of the project is Bradford based, it involves local industries and public sector partners from across Yorkshire, among them Saltaire-based independent communications group Link Telecom, Bradford Council and Yorkshire Forward.
