NASA/JPL/Northwestern University
The organizers behind a 10-year mission to launch a robotic space exploration said Tuesday that the Google-sponsored “moonshot” has ended because the five finalists are unable to meet the March 31 deadline due to shortage of funds, technical and regulatory challenges.
What’s next: The heads of the XPRIZE Foundation, which oversees the contest, said the organization is considering other options, including a new title sponsor to provide a grand prize or continuing the mission as a non-cash competition.