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Added on the 09/05/2019 08:15:39 - Copyright : Wochit
This four-wheeled robot rover is undergoing its final trials on Japan's Tottori Sand Dunes before it will be flown into space and out to its final test - a 1,640 foot ride on the surface of the moon. Called the Moonraker, the rover was built by Team Hakuto of Japan to compete with 15 other teams from all over the world for the $20 million dollar grand prize in the Google Lunar XPrize competition. Google's Lunar XPrize competition calls for participating teams to create a rover, launch it into space, land it on the moon, have it travel at least 1,640 feet, and then send images of its travels back to the earth. The first team to successfully complete the challenge will take home the grand prize. Team Hakuto, which means 'white rabbit' in Japanese, is well on its way to securing the prize money - their Moonraker rover is scheduled to be launched from Earth by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket soon. The purpose is to create a cheap machine to help humans easily explore the moon, and maybe even prepare it for colonization. The Hakuto team hope that the Moonraker will be able to explore holes on the moon's surface and perhaps discover cave systems. The future looks interesting indeed.
The United States government has granted a Mountain View, California-based company permission to launch a mission to the moon, the first time the government has allowed a company to conduct a commercial space mission beyond Earth’s orbit.
Blue Origin, a startup space company owned by Amazon.com chief Jeff Bezos, launches an experimental suborbital spaceship. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).
Final preparations are underway for the launch of the first American spacecraft to attempt a lunar landing in more than 50 years, under a new partnership between NASA and private industry. United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket was rolling out to the launchpad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, preparing for its maiden flight set to blast off on Monday at 2:18 am local time (7:18 GMT). IMAGES
Inspired by Team Car No. 2, the most famous, valuable and iconic Bentley in the world, the Bentley Blower Jnr is a collaboration between The Little Car Company and Bentley’s Heritage Collection. Crafted by hand to exceptional quality standards and adorned with beautiful details, all inspired by the original Blower. To gain confidence in both the engineering and design of Bentley Blower Jnr, The Little Car Company will undertake a durability programme exceeding 5,000 miles across three different continents. The mission started with a seasonal twist – the collection of a Christmas tree from the snowscape of Switzerland, for the joint Christmas party.The durability programme will include real world driving and usage at different proving grounds before the start of production in 2024. The 85 percent scale recreation of 1929 4½-litre Supercharged Bentley will be put through extensive testing, including seatbelts ensuring road legality for the EU L7e Type Approval. The Bentley Blower Jnr is built around a 48V electric powertrain with a 15 kW (20 bhp) motor, meaning a top speed of 45 mph / 72 km/h in the UK and EU (25 mph / 40 km/h in the USA due to legislation) and an expected range of around 65 miles, with tandem seating for two adults.Crafted entirely by hand, from authentic materials to match the original, the Bentley Blower Jnr consists of over 700 parts. The bodywork is constructed in two sections, and while the rear body structure is created in carbon fibre rather than being an ash frame, it’s covered in impregnated fabric, just as the original. The bonnet, with its multiple cooling louvres, is hand-crafted in aluminium using traditional techniques and fastened with beautiful leather buckled bonnet straps.
SpaceX's 'Starship' rocket, the largest ever built, takes off from the space company's Texas launch site. CEO Elon Musk hopes the ship will one day colonize Mars and NASA is awaiting a modified version to land humans on the Moon. The first test in April ended in a spectacular explosion over the Gulf of Mexico. IMAGES
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