Google XPrize Reality Show Makes A Race For The Moon

Let the search for Alice Kramden begin! I think I just dated myself a little there but you know who I mean.  Most of the participants in Google's new reality show probable won’t though.  You see, the moon is getting its own reality TV show - with the culmination being a live broadcast from the lunar surface and many competing are college students.

Science Channel and Discovery Channel recently announced that they will be hosting the Google Lunar XPRIZE, a $30 million competition for privately-funded teams to land an unmanned craft on the moon by December 31, 2015.

A lunar landing has not been attempted successfully since 1973 and the Google Lunar XPRIZE . In addition to the prestige the Lunar XPRIZE boasts a massive monetary incentive of 40 million dollars.

Viewers will be able to watch as earth bound teams will try to create a lunar module that can fly to the moon and then transmit video images back to earth.

The rules to win:

• A private company must land safely on the surface of the Moon
• Travel 500 meters above, below, or on the Lunar surface
• Send back two 'Mooncasts' to Earth

The Science Channel and Discovery Channel will follow the entire process including testing, lift-off, and live coverage of the winning lunar landing, which is estimated to take place in 2015.

TV firms hope the show will reignite interest in space.