Armadillo Aerospace qualified to win $1,000,000 from NASA Centennial Challenges today as a part of the Lunar Lander Challenge after being adjudged to have achieved all the contest requirements. Contestants have until October 31st to do better.
The Launch Pad blog reports "Armadillo Aerospace successfully completed the requirements for Level Two of the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge today. Braving rain delays, igniter problems, software re-compiles, and muddy roads, they put together two successful 180-second flights within the required 135 minute time period."
Here are the pictures, thanks to Will Pomerantz and more video from Jeff Foust along with his report on Personal Spaceflight. Alan Boyle filed a report on the success on the MSNBC Comsic Log. Peter Diamandis described the day in this pre-flight YouTube video.
John Carmack's Armadillo Aerospace won $350,000 Prize for winning Level 1 of the 2008 Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge held last October in New Mexico.
Up next is Masten Space Systems with the XA-0.1B-750 VTVL rocket vehicle. Masten will attempt to claim purses in both levels from Mojave, CA, on September 15-16, 2009 (Level One), October 7-8 (Level Two), and October 28-29, 2009 (Level Two). It will be followed by Unreasonable Rocket [vid of test] from Cantil, CA, on Oct 30-31, 2009.
The Space Diving Sport will not be far behind now! Armadillo has given the idea some obvious thought.
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