The LRR as a race is not a completely new idea. There has been a proposed number of similar commercially oriented rover missions over the years. To mention one, the EuroMoon 2000 was a lunar initiative by ESA to mark the progression of Europe's space activities into the New Millennium. The mission included the lander placing three or four participants in a 'Millennium Challenge' at the Aitken Basin's rim, and racing them to the Moon's South Pole, which lies 3000 m deep and in permanent darkness within the confines of the crater. The winner would then have been entitled to 'name' the as yet unexplored and unnamed lunar South Pole and the future human outpost. However, EuroMoon 2000 ran into major problems due to a lack of confidence with the companies, and was cancelled.

Currently the idea of manned or robotic rovers as a method of exploring the Moon, Mars, etc. and even using them as a method for mining has been thoroughly researched by space agencies, universities and space-related companies. LunarCorps for example intend to send two rovers to the surface of the moon. The goal of the mission is to break the mold of space exploration by obtaining the vast majority of the funding through the private sector, and to give the general public a chance to directly participate in the exploration. Mission control will be located at a public pavilion. Visitors to the pavilion can walk up to the lunar driver's license kiosk and have the chance to drive simulators and terrestrial versions of the rovers. Those scoring high enough will have the opportunity to actually drive the rover for a short time in front of a theater of visitors.

However, LunarCorps has taken a major assumption with its strategy: they have assumed that the public has great interest and enthusiasm in outer space. This assumption will not be taken in this precursor mission. Gaining the attention, involvement and awareness of the general public is the primary goal of this mission. In our current society we have famine, disease, wars, etc. People are more interested in solving these problems on Earth. Somehow, public interest must be gained. Creating a space mission around this goal has never been done before and is a completely new way of thinking. Closest to this concept was the race to get the first man on the moon; but this mission did not allow the public to get involved. They were only told what was happening. This policy was due to the fact that the initiative was due to a cold war race rather than a peaceful one and public interest quickly declined after Apollo 11.

NEXT >