The on/off switch for the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge is now in the “on” position.

It now will be held at the Las Cruces International Airport in New Mexico, with hardware to fly on October 24-25. A few weeks ago, the word was that a conflict at neighboring Holloman Air Force Base caused the cancellation of the Challenge. Inside word was that a classified program was to be evaluated at Holloman and the Challenge was asked to depart the scene.

But things are now back on track - a two-level, two million dollar competition requiring a team’s vehicle to simulate hops between the Moon’s surface and lunar orbit.

The State of New Mexico is the event sponsor, with the Challenge hosted by the X Prize Foundation, with additional financial support coming from Northrop Grumman.

The Centennial Challenge Prize of two million dollars is being provided by NASA.

For updates on this event and other space activities in New Mexico - specifically, the International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight, go to:

http://spacegrant.nmsu.edu/ispcs/

So…the countdown is back on. Rockets away!