very cool

Stuff like this is really neat to read about and see what happens.

i don't care if they make the moon
one big placard for addidias.

lets get out there for god's sake.
we're almost 40 years overdue.

there's been a mere pittance allocated for space exploration, w/the neanthethal mentality of ;

'as long as there is one starving planet, or other affliction we ought not to to be involved in space travel'.

enough!

poppycock!

get the ball rolling.

sorry for typo, (not planet, but 'person')

i don't care if they make the moon
one big placard for addidias.

lets get out there for god's sake.
we're almost 40 years overdue.

there's been a mere pittance allocated for space exploration, w/the
neanderthal mentality of ;

'as long as there is one starving person, or other affliction we
ought not to to be involved in space travel'.

enough!

poppycock!

get the ball rolling.

I feel it is quite pathetic that Mr. Rainey feels the need to use this article as an opportunity to trash our nation's leaders and the sport of yachting. Why not stick to the subject at hand; that being the marvel of scientific competition?? As for Google, one can hardly consider them noble for offering such a prize, they can certainly afford it. The noble ones in this case are the competitors.
THUMBS DOWN MIKE!!

go for it and do this we should run our goverment like a bussness or the resstion will go on for ever
go to the moon it's great for google to do this i'm all for it i'll bet you can get a grant for this stuff

duffer

How bright does Michael Rainey believe he is?

I've been saying that the moon was going to be powered by google! Wtf?! I even photoshopped a picture of the moon with a logo on it "Powered by google"...I am psychic........

I heard when the Astronauts were there last time they were told not to come back, by the Aliens they found there, mining minerals on the moon. Hey, I beleive it. But then I beleive in Bigfoot and the Lock Nut Monster also. Really!I love all that UFO stuff!

twocoast - you're absolutely on target. Rainey really devalues what would otherwise be a fascinating story about rich guys funding a race to the moon with his snide political aside. It seems incompetent simpletons are everywhere these days.

Most people do not realize that most of the money spent on space travel goes to employing hundreds of thousands of people nationwide. I think Google should be commended for opening new doors for our college students, and getting the youth of America engaged in thought and action again. We have been idle for too long now.
Full steam ahead.

Dan

robots can be invented from bringing food sweeping the floors and many other things, but never can be invented to reach the moon, sorry but who ever wants to take pictures of the moon has to do right here from planet earth, never has anyone reached the moon as of yet ,and never will, the moon is to hot on one side and to cold on the other, 34 millions dollars where wasted that time on something no one ,no one will or ever can ashieve, do we have that much money in surplus to waste more millions ? that is needed right here on this planet, guaranteed, no one , no one will ever get close to the moon , the will be incinerated in seconds, even less then seconds. its a dead planet , with more heat then molten lava,, that is still burning on the moon, reason , the sun is burning the moon continiously on one side, and so cold on the other that anything coming close , being incinerated from the cold,,

There are easier ways to make 30 million dollars..

Very very interesting but i wish someone would spend 30 million on the first team that could clean up our environment, lower the crime rate percentage and get kids into schools instead.

Exactly how will this little experiment be monitored?How, when and where will we learn of those who decide to undertake the challenge? What corporations are willing to sponsor ($) the necessary rocket science, materials and research? If this is to be accomplished by some private individual or group, would not government get involved.
This would on the face of it seem nothing more than another marketing ploy by Google...Wonder whY?

Memo [translated]:
To: Commander, Alpha Centauri System
From: Lt. for Sol System Observation

Sir:-

Re: "Sol", at 3.5 Light years, 3rd planet, "earth"

Sir, you will recall earlier reports that this planet's technology had enabled brief inhabited expeditions to their sole satellite, but that this ceased some time ago. Since then, the natives have exhibited satisfaction with mere, if extended, low-altitude (even near-permanent) orbits of their own planet, both inhabited and machine-only, instead.

My sociology sub-officer reports that although their inhabitants have often spoken about returning to inhabited exporation beyond that low "earth" orbit, there is evidence that they have done so only minimally. A few machine probes (approx 1 per 5 of their sol-years) have gone beyond this limit.

Further, Sir, my sociology Lt. reports that the inhabitants are motivated by a currency called "money". More money is termed profit. In the interests of the public good, profit is not an objective of the inhabitants' government.

However, notably, and the reason for this report, my sociology sub-officer reports that their organization called "google" is now offering "money" to return to their sole satellite. My assessment is that since this is not a government organization, and since the motivation otherwise is money, this "google" has every prospect of accelerating their explorations. BTW:- Sir, your hyper-fast communication probe placed in their orbit has proved invaluable in this regard, delivering this information before the 3.5 years that would otherwise have been needed for gathering this intelligence.

This radical innovation at our neighbour is noteworthy, drawn to your attention, may be evidence that the probability that Sol system's intellect may be advancing at a rapid rate, and that their prospect for meaningful extra-system exploration is greater than for other similar systems (e.g., other metallurgic civilizations in beta-centauri, alpha-orion, etc, using the sol-oriented nomenclature).

Signed: Lt. SSO

I remember the excitement and feelings of pride and accomplishment Americans had about the first lunar landing. Perhaps we can recapture that enthusiasm and spirit of unity once again in spite of all the nihilist naysayers.

Hey TonyFrost,
Nice Job! Always a great idea to get the message across with a little humor!
Way to go!