Team Armadillo Succeeds in Mock Moon Landing Challenge

[mickw]

A commercial vehicle successfully completed a mock lunar landing Saturday, qualifying its team to win a $1 million prize offered for NASA's Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge.

The rocket-powered craft, built by Armadillo Aerospace, ascended 50 meters (164 feet) into the air, flew over to land on a simulated rocky lunar surface 50 meters (164 feet) away, and then rose and flew back to land where it started. The flight included a requirement of at least 180 seconds of flying time.

More:   http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/090913-lunar-lander-challenge.html