The University of Glasgow is offering its expertise in a major competition to land a robot on the moon.

The Lunar X Prize, launched by Google, challenges teams from all over the world to land a robot on the surface of the moon, travel 500 metres over the lunar surface and send images and data back to the Earth. Google are offering $30 million in prize money.

With an international reputation for space technology expertise, the University of Glasgow is well placed to participate in the competition and welcomes approaches from other teams who wish to collaborate.

Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Frank Coton, said: “Participation in the Lunar X prize competition is an exciting prospect for us. We already have a comprehensive capability in space technologies, including a group working with the European Space Agency on the design of major space missions. In fact, we have recently brought this expertise together with our world-leading strengths in nanotechnology and electronic design to support a ground-breaking project that could lead to a whole new generation of miniaturised space vehicles and satellites. By combining these capabilities with our core expertise across engineering and the sciences, the University of Glasgow is well placed to be a major player in any X Prize team and would welcome the opportunity to get involved."

The first 10 teams were announced last week and participants have until 2012 to complete the mission.

Teams wishing to collaborate with University of Glasgow experts should contact Dr Gianmarco Radice at G.Radice@aero.gla.ac.uk

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Notes to editors

For more information please contact Kate Richardson in the University of Glasgow Media Relations Office on 0141 330 3683 or email K.Richardson@admin.gla.ac.uk

First published: 3 March 2008