It’s been six months since TeamIndus, the only Indian team to represent the nation in the worldwide Google Lunar XPRIZE competition that is taking place in the US. Bengaluru-based space technology startup, Team Indus-Axiom Research Lab Pvt. Ltd. has finally placed itself in top 5 competitors where they compete to create a unique project that would eventually help in discovering Moon and other planetary disciplinaries from another way around.
As we earlier reported that the competition began on 28th June 2016 where young space enthusiasts aged between 14 to 25 years can participate in it but only after submitting the details of their project henceforth trying best to convince the team, as for why they are worthy enough to reach in global competition. Creating a drone or rover at a minimal cost which is almost 200 crores INR, help it land and travel at least 500 metres of outer space and Moon landscape subsequently transmitting back high definition images and videos from the Space, at the very same time.
TeamIndus standing firm in the finale in Google Lunar XPRIZE is in itself a great achievement as it looks forward to competing with SpaceIL from Israel, Moon Express from the USA, Synergy Moon from International as well as HAKUTO from Japan. In fact, two teams, India and Japan have signed a commercial which features a robotic rover carrying out missions.
As per the rules and norms of the competition, all the teams had to work under a deadline until December 31, 2016, so as to have a verified launch contract in hands. But before one perceives anything, TeamIndus had already signed a contract on last December with Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Followed by a spectacular win and placing in top 5, Bengaluru-based startup’s main aim will be to win Google Lunar XPRIZE at any cost.
Head of Marketing and Outreach, TeamIndus, Ms Sheelika Ravishankar stated that TeamIndus was extremely happy to make the nation proud and signing a commercial agreement with Japan’s HAKUTO will help in the project of making rover thus making it more interesting than ever. Also, it’s the time when the entire world will witness an innovation where not only access to space will be changed but a complete travelling experience may turn heads forever.
