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X PRIZE Foundation and NASA Award $2 Million in Prizes to Masten Space Systems and Armadillo Aerospace

Michael Timmons — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:55:56 -0800

WASHINGTON D.C. – Nov. 5, 2009 – Today, the X PRIZE Foundation along with NASA hosted an awards ceremony to culminate the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander X PRIZE Challenge (NGLLXPC). Masten Space Systems, led by David Masten, was awarded the top $1 million prize, while Armadillo Aerospace, led by id Software founder John Carmack took home the second place prize of $500,000. The NGLLXPC was a partnership with NASA funding the $2 million in prize money as part of their Centennial Challenges program while the X PRIZE Foundation managed the competition which began in 2006. The $2 million prize purse is the largest incentivized prize awarded by the X PRIZE Foundation since the 2004 Ansari X PRIZE competition. The award ceremony took place in Washington D.C. at the Rayburn House Office Building.

“You get what you incentivize,” said Robert K. Weiss, President of the X PRIZE Foundation. “The teams spent the equivalent of $20 million in pursuit of $2 million in prize money. That kind of leverage is a powerful component of this type of competition.”

On Oct. 30 the Masten team successfully completed the requirements for the Level 2 portion of the NGLLXPC, edging out the Armadillo Aerospace team who also completed the criterion for Level 2 on Sept. 12. Masten Space Systems launched their ‘Xoie’ vehicle and achieved an average landing accuracy of 19 cm to beat Armadillo Aerospace’s previous accuracy mark of 87 cm.

“We founded the company in 2004, so Masten Space Systems existed before the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander X PRIZE Challenge. Therefore we were already building our vehicles,” said David Masten, CEO of Masten Space Systems. “The lunar lander challenge incentivized our team along with the marketplace, which has allowed us to move faster. Ultimately the prize has made it easier for us to find investors and customers. Because of the X PRIZE competition we are now able to move forward in our industry and go higher than ever before.”

The competition required the rocket to simulate a full lunar lander mission. The flight profile had to closely simulate the task of descending from lunar orbit to the lunar surface, refueling and returning to lunar orbit. To match the performance of such a mission here on Earth, the vehicle flew along a prescribed mission profile designed to show both control and power, ascending to a height of 50 meters, translating horizontally to a landing pad 50 meters away, landing safely on a rocky lunar-replica surface after at least 180 seconds of flight time. The flight profile was then flown again, with the rocket demonstrating repeatability by returning to the original launch site.

The NGLLXPC was comprised of two levels; each level included both first and second place prizes. The $350,000 first-place prize for Level 1 went to Armadillo Aerospace at last year's competition. Masten Space Systems will also take home the second-place prize of $150,000 in the Level 1 portion of the challenge.

The ultimate goal of the NGLLXPC is to inspire entrepreneurs who can enable a new era of commercial exploration. These milestone events within the privately funded space sector continue to demonstrate the value of prizes and how they stimulate innovation. The successful flights from all of the private space companies continue to underscore the report to President Obama by the Augustine Commission, which called for increased commercial sector participation both in orbital operations and NASA’s efforts to reach the Moon by 2020. Now, more than ever, the time is right for private industry to supply NASA with hardware and services to enable suborbital, orbital, and lunar exploration.

The NGLLXPC was operated by the X PRIZE Foundation at no cost to NASA. This was made possible by the generous support of Northrop Grumman Corporation, which builders of the original Apollo Lunar Modules used to safely carry crew down to the lunar surface in the 1960s and 1970s. Northrop Grumman supported the competition throughout the four years in which it was offered.

X PRIZE Foundation and NASA Cap Amazing Lunar Lander Competition and Award $2 Million in Prizes

Michael Timmons — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:35:41 -0800

PLAYA VISTA, CA – Nov. 02, 2009 – The race for the $2 million Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander X PRIZE Challenge (NGLLXPC) incentivized prize purse, funded by NASA and presented by the X PRIZE Foundation,has come to an exciting finish. Masten Space Systems, led by David Masten, will be awarded the top $1 million prize on Nov. 5 in Washington D.C. at the Rayburn House Office Building. This is the largest incentivized prize awarded by the X PRIZE Foundation since the 2004 Ansari X PRIZE competition.

The NGLLXPC rocket race literally came down to the wire. Masten Space Systems, along with other competing teams descended upon the Mojave Desert last week in a head-to-head showdown. The Masten team set out to chase down Armadillo Aerospace for the Level 2, first-place prize of $1 million. On Oct. 30, in their final attempt, Masten Space Systems successfully launched their ‘Xoie’ vehicle and achieved an average landing accuracy of 19 cm to beat Armadillo Aerospace’s previous accuracy mark of 87 cm. According to competition officials the Masten team achieved accurate landings and won the first-place prize for Level 2 of the NGLLXPC. Armadillo Aerospace, led by id Software founder John Carmack will take home the second place prize of $500,000.

“We are all very excited to have David Masten and John Carmack take the top prizes in the 2009 Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander X PRIZE Challenge. It is an honor to award these teams $2 million in prize money,” said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, chairman and CEO of the X PRIZE Foundation. “This space race was exciting to watch and experience, as these dedicated teams raced to advance space technology. It is clear that the emerging space industry will continue to benefit from the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander X PRIZE Challenge.”

The criterion for the Level 2 NGLLXPC requires the rocket to simulate a full lunar lander mission. The flight profile must closely simulate the task of descending from lunar orbit to the lunar surface, refueling and returning to lunar orbit. To match the performance of such a mission here on Earth, the vehicle must fly along a proscribed mission profiled designed to show both control and power, ascending to a height of 50 meters, translating horizontally to a landing pad 50 meters away, landing safely on a rocky lunar-replica surface after at least 180 seconds of flight time. The flight profile must be repeated, with the rocket demonstrating repeat-use capability by returning to the original launch site.

Since the NGLLXPC competition launched in 2006, one dozen teams have worked to design rockets capable of being used as part of Moon 2.0, a new era of international and sustainable lunar exploration that draws on both government and private involvement. These rocket designs have already found additional missions, with competing teams already carrying out important development work for NASA, the US Department of Defense, and a variety of private and academic customers. Throughout the competition NASA put up $2 million in prize money as part of their Centennial Challenges program. The NGLLXPC was comprised of two levels; each level included both first and second place prizes. The $350,000 first-place prize for Level 1 went to Armadillo Aerospace at last year's competition. Masten Space Systems will take home the second-place prize of $150,000 in the Level 1 portion of the challenge.

The NGLLXPC was operated by the X PRIZE Foundation at no cost to NASA. This was made possible by the generous support of Northrop Grumman Corporation, which built the original Apollo Lunar Modules used to safely carry crew down to the lunar surface in the 1960s and 1970s. Northrop Grumman supported the competition throughout the four years in which it was offered.

For more information about X PRIZE Foundation, please visit www.xprize.org.

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Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE to Receive up to $5.5 Million in Funding from U.S. Department of Energy

Michael Timmons — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:31:29 -0800

PLAYA VISTA, Calif., Nov. 2 -- The X PRIZE Foundation, a world leader in conducting incentivized competitions to stimulate innovation, today announced it will receive up to $5.5 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

With this latest award, the DOE joins the X PRIZE Foundation and competition Title Sponsor Progressive Insurance in a unique public-private partnership to spur the development of super fuel efficient and clean vehicles. The DOE funding will provide for technical expertise that ensures each vehicle design is reviewed correctly and consistently. Funding will also support expanded outreach and education efforts that will focus on promoting public awareness of the science and engineering behind energy efficient vehicle designs. It also supports President Obama's Strategy for American Innovation, which calls on federal agencies to increase their use of prizes as a tool for promoting technological advances.

"Our clean energy future depends on our ability to design and commercialize new highly-efficient vehicles that are cost-effective for consumers and use significantly less energy," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. "This funding will support cutting-edge, American innovation that can help us fundamentally transform personal transportation and address the global climate crisis."

The DOE supported the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE from the outset with a $3.5 million award to fund a two-year national education program that engages students and the public in learning about advanced vehicle technologies, energy efficiency, climate change, alternative fuels and the science, technology, engineering and math behind efficient vehicle development.

"The U.S. Department of Energy has a rich history of research and development in energy efficiency and vehicle technologies, and a commitment to educating consumers and the public," noted Peter Diamandis, chairman and CEO of the X PRIZE Foundation. "Their strong and continued commitment to the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE will give us the ability to reach audiences across consumer and government sectors, and drive change in the future of the auto industry."

News of the award comes as the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE conducts its technical team summit in Las Vegas as part of the annual SEMA show. A press briefing is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3 at 1:20pm PT, in SEMA's Making Green Cool Zone, located in the upper South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Multiple Qualified Teams will be showing their vehicles at the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE booth throughout the show.

Specific tasks included within this DOE award include:

Vehicle Telemetry Procurement, Installation and Integration: Vehicle telemetry and data acquisition hardware is essential to the technical execution of the competition. This award will specifically assist in procuring, installing, and integrating telemetry equipment into Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE competition vehicles and establish a data transmission network to enable real-time data telemetry, which will provide an interactive online experience that allows internet users to follow the competition vehicles as they perform in real-time during the competition series.
Pre-Competition Series Safety and Technical Assistance: The award will also provide qualified vehicles with an array of expert consulting, vehicle safety inspections, and fuel economy and emissions vehicle testing appropriate to their design and level of development. Vehicle design consulting will be provided to select teams by personnel with expertise specific and relevant to their design and will include review and discussion of vehicle limitations and deficiencies as well as prospective corrective actions.
Design and Implement Technical Competition Components: The DOE will provide support for additional technical staff to design, implement, and manage the competition events. Seven members of the technical team, each experienced automotive experts, were announced recently. Details are available at http://tinyurl.com/progressiveautoxprizetechteam.

The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE is aligned with the mission of the DOE's Vehicle Technologies Program, which regularly works with academia, the private sector, and non-profit organizations, such as X PRIZE, as part of the Department's work to develop vehicle technologies and alternative fuels that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lessen our dependence on foreign oil, and help the U.S. transportation industry remain competitive in the years ahead.

ABOUT THE PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE AUTOMOTIVE X PRIZE

The goal of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE is to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles that offer more consumer choices. Ten million dollars in prizes will be awarded to the teams that win a stage competition for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 Miles per gallon or energy equivalent (MPGe). The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE will place a major focus on efficiency, safety, affordability, and the environment. It is about developing real, production-capable cars that consumers will want to buy, not science projects or concept cars. This progress is needed because today's oil consumption is unsustainable and because automotive emissions significantly contribute to global warming and climate change. For more information about the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, please visit www.progressiveautoxprize.org or email progressiveautopress@xprize.org.

ABOUT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Working with a wide array of state, community, industry, and university partners, the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) invests in a diverse portfolio of energy technologies. Energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy will mean a stronger economy, a cleaner environment, and greater energy independence for America. For more information about the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy please contact the EERE Information Center at 1-877-EERE-INF (1-877-337-3463) or on the web at www.eere.energy.gov

ABOUT THE X PRIZE FOUNDATION

The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. In 2004, the Foundation captured world headlines when Burt Rutan, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world's first private vehicle to space to win the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE. The Foundation has since launched the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE, and the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Foundation is creating and conducting competitions in four prize groups: Exploration (Space and Oceans), Life Sciences, Energy & Environment, and Education & Global Development. The Foundation is widely recognized as the leader in fostering innovation through competition. For more information, please visit www.xprize.org.

Contact: Carrie Fox 202.255.9214

X PRIZE Foundation Announces 2nd X PRIZE Lab at the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington

Mark Krynsky — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:14:42 -0700

The leading prize institute extends to the Pacific Northwest in a partnership with the nationally ranked, top tier graduate school of public policy and management

PLAYA VISTA, CA (October 27, 2009) – The X PRIZE Foundation, an educational non-profit that designs and administers competitions with prizes of $10 million or more, has announced a partnership with The Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington to launch the X PRIZE Lab@UW, an educational initiative designed to engage leading students to help recognize areas that are ripe for breakthrough innovation. The collaboration is the 2nd installment of the X PRIZE Lab, with the flagship program housed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This is also the first time the X PRIZE Foundation has collaborated with a graduate school of public policy and management. According to U.S. News & World Report, the Evans School is ranked 12th among American schools of public affairs, fifth in nonprofit management and policy, and fourth in environmental policy and management.

Expected to launch in January 2010, the quarter-long courses will enable graduate students to research the X PRIZE innovation and philanthropy model and produce ideas and criteria for new X PRIZES. Each course will focus on a single topic from one of the four areas that the X PRIZE Foundation recognizes as some of the world’s biggest challenges – Exploration (Space and Ocean); Life Sciences; Energy & Environment; and Education & Global Development. Additional laboratory work could also address water resource management. At the end of each course, students will present their ideas to senior X PRIZE Foundation leaders and members of its Board of Trustees.

“We want to create innovative ways for students to approach problems and the Evans School is the perfect place to do it,” said Francis Beland, Vice President of Prize Development, X PRIZE Foundation. “We believe that in the X PRIZE laboratory, UW students will extend the idea of incentivized problem solving.”

“The X PRIZE laboratory here at the UW will tap into Evans School strengths in interdisciplinary public policy as well as regional strengths in science, technology and public management,” said Sandra O. Archibald, dean of the Evans School.
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“The UW is a leading public research university, so work with the X PRIZE is appropriate,” said Ann Bostrom, a professor and associate dean for research at the Evans School. “The UW is strong in science and technology and has an internationally recognized policy program. Work with the X PRIZE Foundation also fits very well with the Evans School’s interest in philanthropy; the school operates the Nancy Bell Evans Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy.”

UW graduate, Nelson Del Rio, was instrumental in the development of the partnership between the X PRIZE Foundation and the Evans School. Additionally, The Del Rio Family Foundation has donated funds to the Evans School in order to facilitate development of the X PRIZE LAB@UW.

“The Evans School is a national leader in policy issues,” Del Rio said. “I believe it is the ideal home for the X PRIZE laboratory because of leadership, faculty, and students who understand the importance of incentives in solving complicated problems in interdisciplinary ways.”

Since its inception in 2007, the X PRIZE Laboratory program has been successful in creating viable prizes that address current grand challenges. The X PRIZE Lab@MIT, has produced groundbreaking work in the areas of global health and bionics. In spring 2008, students focused on developing prizes related to Global Health for the Developing World. One of the teams designed an X PRIZE for Rapid TB Detection. This work was put into full development by the X PRIZE Foundation with a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

ABOUT THE X PRIZE FOUNDATION
The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. In 2004, the Foundation captured world headlines when Burt Rutan, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world’s first private vehicle to space to win the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE. The Foundation has since launched the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE, and the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Foundation is creating and conducting competitions in four prize groups: Exploration (Space and Oceans), Life Sciences, Energy & Environment, and Education & Global Development. The Foundation is widely recognized as the leader in fostering innovation through competition. For more information, please visit www.xprize.org.

ABOUT THE EVANS SCHOOL
The Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington is the pre-eminent graduate school of public policy and management in the Northwest, and ranks nationally in the top tier of graduate schools in its field. For more information, please visit www.evans.washington.edu.

Additional contact: Ann Bostrom, 206-685-8198/ abostrom@uw.edu.

Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize Announces Teams Qualified to Compete for $10 Million/Launches National Student Contest

Michael Timmons — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:36:37 -0700

43 teams have been judged qualified to advance in the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, a competition to create viable and super fuel-efficient vehicles. Registration also opens for a national student contest to reinvent the automotive dashboard, sponsored by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

NEW YORK - The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, a multimillion dollar competition to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles, today announced the 43 teams— representing 18 states, 10 countries and 6 fuel types, that have passed the competition’s Design Judging phase and will move into the most exciting phase of the competition – performance and safety testing – putting them one step closer to their share of the $10 million prize purse.

The announcement was made at Manhattan’s Classic Car Club, and featured Dr. Peter Diamandis, X PRIZE CEO and Chairman; Glenn Renwick, President and CEO of Progressive Insurance; Connie Bezanson, Lead Engineer, Program Planning, U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Vehicle Technologies; and Dale Fulton, Senior Vice President for Curriculum Development at Discovery Education; along with a number of the qualified teams and their vehicles and the first high school teams to register for the complementary student contest.

Teams that have passed this most recent phase of judging have proven to the competition’s automotive and technical experts that their vehicles will be available in time for formal vehicle challenges next spring, will be production capable, and can plausibly meet or exceed the competition requirements. There are a total of 53 vehicles moving forward in the competition with 28 represented in the Mainstream Class and 25 represented in the Alternative Class.

“The teams and vehicles represented in this group are the most viable in our competition and we believe that together they are positioned to make a huge impact on the automotive marketplace,” noted Dr. Diamandis.

"The work that these teams have done is really amazing—congratulations to them all on getting this far," said Progressive’s CEO Glenn Renwick. "Over the next year, we'll see significant advancement of these designs, taking us even closer toward the ultimate goal of making super fuel efficient vehicles a viable choice for consumers."

The competition features teams from around the world that can design, build and bring to market 100 MPG or energy equivalent (MPGe) vehicles that people want to buy and that meet market needs for price, size, capability, safety and performance. Performance testing will begin in spring 2010 and winners will be announced in September 2010. Exact dates and locations will be announced shortly.

A complete list of qualified teams, along with fuel types, photos of their vehicles and team information is now available at www.progressiveautoxprize.org.

Also at the event today, the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE formally opened registration for a national high school contest, funded by a U.S. Department of Energy grant. The contest, called DASH+, challenges students to work together using creativity, design, and math and science skills to develop new gauges, instruments and interfaces to create the “Dashboard of the Future” which will support behavior change to help drivers maximize fuel efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Each team will experience a unique, hands-on opportunity as they design their dashboard which will be accompanied by a written technical plan and a design video pitch to convince both auto manufacturers and the general public to adopt and embrace their new concepts, experiences and tools to better understand energy use in vehicles.

DASH+ teams must include two to five U.S. students enrolled in 9th through 12th grade, aged 14 or older, in fall 2009 and have an adult mentor. Registration is now available online at www.FuelOurFutureNow.com/contest.

www.FuelOurFutureNow.com is a dynamic, online destination advancing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education goals created by the U.S. Department of Energy, the X PRIZE Foundation, and Discovery Education. Featuring empowering resources that engage students in the science of alternative fuels and energy-efficient engineering, www.FuelOurFutureNow.com features targeted curriculum and lesson plans for all grade levels, as well as high-quality video, dynamic interactives, and additional resources teachers can use to achieve their STEM objectives.

ABOUT THE PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE AUTOMOTIVE X PRIZE

The goal of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE is to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles that offer more consumer choices. Ten million dollars in prizes will be awarded to the teams that win a stage competition for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 miles per gallon or energy equivalent (MPGe). The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE will place a major focus on efficiency, safety, affordability, and the environment. It is about developing real, production-capable cars that consumers will want to buy, not science projects or concept cars. This progress is needed because today's oil consumption is unsustainable and because automotive emissions significantly contribute to global warming and climate change. For more information about the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, please visit www.progressiveautoxprize.org or email progressiveautopress@xprize.org. For related educational resources, please visit www.FuelOurFutureNow.com.

ABOUT PROGRESSIVE:

Progressive, founded in 1937, is one of the country’s largest auto insurance groups and a leading insurer of motorcycles, recreation vehicles, boats, and commercial vehicles. The Company offers competitive rates and innovative products and services that meet drivers’ needs throughout their lifetimes as well as 24/7 online and in-person customer and claims service. One of Progressive’s Core Values is Excellence. To the Company’s nearly 25,000 people, it simply means seeking constant improvement. Over time, this has meant introducing revolutionary ideas that make car insurance easier to shop for, buy and use. It’s this same innovative spirit that’s behind the Company’s sponsorship of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE will inspire innovation that will produce more fuel efficient vehicle choices, helping to make a difference in people’s lives. Progressive’s products and services are available locally through more than 30,000 independent insurance agencies in the U.S., online at http://www.progressive.com, and by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE (1-800-776-4737).

ABOUT THE X PRIZE FOUNDATION

The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. In 2004, the Foundation captured world headlines when Burt Rutan, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world’s first private vehicle to space to win the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE. The Foundation has since launched the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE, and the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Foundation is creating and conducting competitions in four prize groups: Exploration (Space and Oceans), Life Sciences, Energy & Environment, and Education & Global Development. The Foundation is widely recognized as the leader in fostering innovation through competition. For more information, please visit www.xprize.org.

ABOUT THE PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE AUTOMOTIVE X PRIZE EDUCATION PROGRAM:

Through a $3.5 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE has developed a national education program to engage students and the public in learning about advanced vehicle technologies, energy efficiency, climate change, alternative fuels and the science, technology, engineering, and math behind efficient vehicle development. A key component of the education program is www.FuelOurFutureNow.com, an online knowledge center developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and Discovery Education, offering stimulating science, technology, engineering and math lessons and resources for students, teachers, and families as the unique and engaging Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE competition unfolds.

Masten Space Systems Successfully Launches Rocket to Qualify for Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge

Michael Timmons — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:07:46 -0700

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Masten Space Systems Successfully Launches Rocket to Qualify for Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge Presented by X PRIZE Foundation

BAKERSFIELD, CA – Oct. 08, 2009 – Masten Space Systems, led by David Masten, successfully flew its lunar lander rocket vehicle, XA-0.1B, also called “Xombie” twice in two hours. Masten is the second of four teams attempting to win a portion of a $2 million incentive prize purse as part of the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge (NGLLC), funded by NASA, and created and presented by the X PRIZE Foundation.

David Masten, President and CEO, Masten Space Systems stated, “We're thrilled to have successfully completed Level 1 of the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge. We're very happy with the performance of the vehicle and with the landing accuracy score we achieved. Now, we can focus entirely on our upcoming Level 2 attempt. We're really looking forward to showing off Xoie in the next three weeks.”

These successful flights continue to underscore the report to President Obama by the Augustine Commission, which called for increased commercial sector participation both in orbital operations and NASA’s efforts to reach the Moon by 2020.

The Masten team was successful in completing the requirements of Level 1 of the NGLLC. The team has qualified for the second-place prize of $150,000 (first place went to Armadillo Aerospace at last year’s competition). The rocket launch was their second attempt at a Level 1 challenge as the team made an effort on Sept. 16. Yesterday, the Xombie vehicle simulated a lunar analog mission, and the team completed two successful flights, with the rocket rising to 50 meters, translating over to a second landing pad, and remaining in the air for 91 seconds and 93 seconds respectively. The two flights of Xombie, which weighs about 710 pounds when fully loaded with its isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and liquid oxygen propellant, took at the Mojave Air & Space Port in California, where the Masten team is based.

"Congratulations to Dave Masten and his team on successfully completing Level 1 of the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge,” said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Chairman and CEO, X PRIZE Foundation. "What they accomplished with six people is outstanding. These young entrepreneurial companies are the future Apple and Dells of the space industry, building the propulsion that will launch the public into space. They are also the industry cluster that will give NASA robust future suppliers and capability."

On Oct. 28 and 29, Masten will attempt to complete the requirements for the Level 2 mission, which would put them in the running for a $1 million prize purse. Once again they will launch their rocket from the Mojave Air & Space Port. For Level 2 the Masten team will attempt to complete the requirements with its rocket XA0.1E, also called "Xoie."

The Level 2 mission of the challenge will require the team to launch its spacecraft 164 feet in the air for 180 seconds before landing precisely on a simulated lunar surface with craters and boulders. The minimum flight times are calculated so that the Level 2 mission simulates trips between the Moon's surface and lunar orbit. The prize requirements were designed so that the Level 2 mission closely mimics the requirements and the difficulty of a real lunar lander mission.

Other entrants in the competition will have the opportunity over the next month to attempt to win a portion of the prize purse. On Sept. 12, Armadillo Aerospace, led by id Software founder John Carmack, successfully completed the requirements for the Level 2 NGLLC prize purse. Armadillo’s flights mean it is certain NASA’s Centennial Challenges Program and the X PRIZE Foundation will be giving away at least $1 million before year’s end. Masten and the other teams have until Oct. 31 to match or exceed Armadillo's accomplishment.

Two additional competitors for the prize, Unreasonable Rocket and BonNovA are scheduled to make Lunar Lander Challenge attempts before the closing of this year’s competition window on Oct. 31. These teams are scheduled to compete for both the Level 1 and Level 2 phases of the competition. Each level includes both first and second place prizes, with the second place prize for Level 1 worth $150,000, and the two prizes for Level 2 worth $1 million and $500,000.

For more information about X PRIZE Foundation, please visit www.xprize.org.

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The Day Commercial Spaceflight Took Off: October 4 Marks Fifth Anniversary of $10 Million Ansari X PRIZE

Michael Timmons — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:43:04 -0700

Untitled Document

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 02, 2009

THE DAY COMMERICAL SPACEFLIGHT TOOK OFF:
OCTOBER 4 MARKS FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF
$10 MILLION ANSARI X PRIZE

X PRIZE Foundation Leads the Field in Prize Competitions and Radical Breakthroughs
for the Benefit of Humanity

PLAYA VISTA, California – On October 4, 2009, the X PRIZE Foundation will celebrate the fifth anniversary of the largest prize in history, the $10 Million Ansari X PRIZE – won by the Mojave Aerospace Ventures team for the historic flights of SpaceShipOne. Led by famed aerospace designer Burt Rutan and backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Mojave Aerospace Ventures was the first private team to build and launch a spacecraft capable of carrying three people to 100 kilometers above the earth’s surface twice within two weeks. The team made world history when it achieved this feat on the anniversary of the historic launch of Sputnik in 1957 – the first man made object that entered earth’s orbit and opened the space age.
When SpaceShipOne touched down on October 4, 2004 and won the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE, a new billion dollar industry was born and Spaceflight was no longer viewed as the exclusive realm of governments.

Today, SpaceShipOne is displayed at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum as a milestone of flight achievement next to Charles Lindbergh’s plane, The Spirit of St. Louis. It was Lindbergh’s flight that inspired the Ansari X PRIZE.

“The success of the Ansari X PRIZE has proven that incentivized competition stimulates growth in industries that have the potential to benefit the entire world,” said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis. “I think ultimately it gave the Ansari X PRIZE teams around the world permission to dream and dare to think about building private spaceships. By creating the structure of the competition, it validated the importance and the viability of private spaceflight.”

Sharing the same belief as Diamandis that a safe, usable private spaceship could be built, Anousheh Ansari, and her family signed on to become the title sponsor of the $10 million X PRIZE. The funding toward the title sponsorship resulted in over $100 million spent by teams vying to do what Mojave Aerospace Ventures was ultimately able to achieve. Shortly after the awarding of the Ansari X PRIZE, Ansari achieved another first and became the first female private space explorer spending a week aboard the International Space Station. Continuing to believe in creating advancements for humanity through incentivized competitions, Ansari and her brother, Amir, are members of the X PRIZE Foundation’s Vision Circle and Board of Trustees.

“Being a title sponsor for the Ansari X PRIZE was one of the best philanthropic investments my family has ever made,” said Anousheh Ansari. “It was wonderful to see how our money was leveraged almost ten to one and to see so many teams from all over the world compete for the prize. It is one of our proudest moments to know that we played a role in making this historical event happen and that we are a part of that history.”
Following the success of the Ansari X PRIZE, the X PRIZE Foundation, whose mission is to “bring about radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity,” was inspired to expand its focus beyond space to include developing and managing competitions in four key prize groups: Exploration (Space and Oceans), Energy & Environment, Life Sciences and Education & Global Development. Currently, there are, three active competitions to spur innovation that have been launched by the X PRIZE Foundation:

Archon X PRIZE for Genomics - $10 million prize for the first team to successfully sequence 100 human genomes in 10 days for less than $10,000 per genome
Google Lunar X PRIZE - $30 million purse for the first privately funded teams to send a robot to the moon, travel 500 meters and transmit video, images and data back to the Earth
Progressive Automotive X PRIZE - $10 million prize for the teams that can demonstrate an automobile which is fast, safe, manufacturable, affordable and exceeds 100 MPGe (energy equivalent) fuel economy

In addition, the X PRIZE Foundation created and operates the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge in cooperation with NASA (who provides the $2 million purse). The goal of the competition is to build an industry of American companies capable of routinely and safely flying vertical take-off and landing rocket vehicles useful both for lunar exploration and for other applications. The prize is part of an effort to jumpstart “Moon 2.0,” a new era of sustainable lunar exploration that involves international partnerships between government space agencies and entrepreneurial firms.

The X PRIZE Foundation continues to further explore future competitions through its prize development. Prize concepts include:

Health X PRIZE – This prize will be awarded to the team that demonstrates a new set of health care incentives that drive increased community wellness as demonstrated by a drop in sick days and hospitalizations and increase in health status by 50% or more over a 3-year period.
TB Diagnostics – This prize would be awarded to the team that creates a set of accurate, rapid and easy to use point-of-care diagnostics for tuberculosis in developing countries.
Ocean X PRIZE Suite – Focusing on research, exploration, conservation and healing to improve life on Earth, the suite of ocean prizes includes the development of a commercially viable alternative to petroleum based plastic that is ocean degradable. Also in development is an ocean exploration prize to increase ocean knowledge with the capacity to directly impact our relationship with the marine world.
Energy and Environment X PRIZE Suite – The suite consists of prizes that will end our addiction to oil and stem the harmful effects of climate change. The Foundation is looking for breakthroughs in clean fuels, renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy storage, carbon reduction, and sustainable housing.

The Foundation has an ongoing goal of launching one or two prizes per year in areas where innovation is stalled or market failures exist.

As noted in a recent McKinsey & Company report, “prizes attract diverse groups of experts, practitioners, and laypeople – regardless of formal credentials – to attempt to solve difficult problems, dramatically expanding the pool of potential solvers and lower the cost of attempting or recognizing solutions.” Further, “prizes highlight and elevate superlative behaviors, ideas, and achievements in order to motivate, guide, and inspire others. Identifying excellence remains the cornerstone of many prizes – the essence of their power to produce change.”

Robert K. Weiss, President and Vice Chair, stated, “We had hoped that a private space industry would be created within a few years of the Ansari X PRIZE being won. We did not foresee the reality that unfolded - Virgin Galactic started during the competition itself. The original $10 million prize has grown into a $1+ billion industry. That’s a leverage of 100 to 1 from the prize purse to the industry impact; that’s key to what an X PRIZE is all about.”

For images of the historic Ansari flight or to request an interview with Peter Diamandis, Robert K. Weiss or Anousheh Ansari, please contact Michael Timmons, Manager, Communications, X PRIZE Foundation at (310) 741-4884.

About The X PRIZE Foundation
The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. In 2004, the Foundation captured world headlines when Burt Rutan, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world’s first private vehicle to space to win the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE. The Foundation has since launched the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE, and the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Foundation is creating and conducting competitions in four prize groups: Exploration (Space and Oceans), Life Sciences, Energy and Environment, Education and Global Development. The Foundation is widely recognized as the leader in fostering innovation through competition. For more information, please visit www.xprize.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Craig Nyman/Wendy Zamaripa
Kirvin Doak Communications
(702) 737-3100

SpaceShipOne attached to White Knight, prior to separation and rocket powered flight into space.

The fuselage of SpaceShipOne in space as viewed from one of the onboard cameras. SpaceShipOne achieved an altitude of 367,442 feet.

Astronaut Brian Binnie after the prize winning X2 flight.

SpaceShipOne now hangs in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum perched above the Apollo 11 capsule and next to Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis. Lindbergh’s flight inspired the Ansari X PRIZE.

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Armadillo Aerospace Makes Record-Breaking Rocket Flights to Qualify for $1 Million NASA PRIZE Presented by X PRIZE Foundation

Michael Timmons — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:00:00 -0700

Armadillo Aerospace Makes Record-Breaking Rocket Flights to Qualify for $1 Million NASA PRIZE Presented by X PRIZE Foundation

DALLAS, TX--(Marketwire - September 15, 2009) - As part of the X PRIZE Foundation's Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge, Armadillo Aerospace, led by id Software founder John Carmack, successfully flew its lunar Lander rocket vehicle, "Scorpius," twice in two hours, flying between a pair of landing pads to qualify for the $1 million top prize purse. This milestone event in privately funded space activity once again demonstrates the value of prizes to stimulate innovation. Other entrants in the competition will have the opportunity over the next several weeks to accomplish the same feat, but Armadillo's flights mean it is certain NASA's Centennial Challenges Program and the X PRIZE Foundation will be giving away at least $1 million before year's end.

These successful flights underscore last week's report to President Obama by the Augustine Commission, which called for increased commercial sector participation both in orbital operations and NASA's efforts to reach the Moon by 2020.

In order to meet the requirements of Level 2 of the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge, the Scorpius vehicle had to simulate a full lunar lander mission with a flight profile that closely simulates the task of descending from lunar orbit to the lunar surface, refueling, and returning to lunar orbit. To match the performance of such a mission here on Earth, the vehicle was required to ascend to a height of 50 meters, translate horizontally to a landing pad 50 meters away, land safely on a rocky lunar-replica surface after at least 180 seconds of flight time, and then to repeat the flight by returning to the original launch site. The two flights of Scorpius, which weighs about 1900 pounds when fully loaded with its ethanol and liquid oxygen propellant, took place Sept. 12th at the Caddo Mills Municipal Airport in Texas, where Armadillo Aerospace's facilities are based.

John Carmack, head of Armadillo Aerospace, stated, "Since the [Northrop Grumman] Lunar Lander Challenge is quite demanding in terms of performance, with a few tweaks our Scorpius vehicle actually has the capability to travel all the way to space." When asked what lessons the traditional aerospace community should learn from their success, Carmack answered, "You learn so much more by getting out there and doing things than you do sitting at a desk running a CAD program. You can't even imagine some of the things that wind up going wrong. It's the unknown unknowns that get you. You wind up getting things done by going out there and trying it, accepting levels of failure and you beat the problem into submission by working on it over and over and over again. And when you can build your operations tempo up to doing things every day, that's what we want to see in the aerospace world."

Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Chairman and CEO of the X PRIZE Foundation, which created and manages the prize on behalf of NASA's Centennial Challenges program, said, "the ultimate goal of the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge is to inspire a new cadre of rocket entrepreneurs that can enable an era of commercial exploration which we call Moon 2.0. On the heels of this week's recommendation by the Augustine Commission, Armadillo's successful launches have more significance than ever before. We believe the time is right for private industry to supply NASA with hardware and services to enable suborbital, orbital, and lunar exploration. We are hopeful that this success will allow policymakers to see the power and success of NASA's Centennial Challenges program -- and the capacity of American businesses to aid on our nation's space program. Congratulations to Armadillo on two excellent flights."

"Other teams will make attempts to win Level 1 second place prize money and the Level 2 first and second place prize purses over the next six weeks. If no one else is able to complete the Level 2 flights, then Armadillo will win $1 million," said William Pomerantz, Sr. Director for Space Prizes at the X PRIZE Foundation. "The fact that there are multiple teams competing makes this multi-year competition even more of a success -- it's really built an industry from the ground up. All told, we estimate that all of our teams have spent the equivalent of about $20 million trying to claim the $2 million available in prizes, so this competition has really been a tremendous value to NASA and to the American public."

Saturday's flights set new records both in total propulsion and rocket endurance for privately funded and constructed vertical take-off, vertical landing rockets like those required to land on the lunar surface. These flights also build on the earlier success of the Armadillo Aerospace team in 2008, when they claimed the $350,000 first place prize for Level 1 of the Lunar Lander Challenge (which differs from Level 2 in requiring 90 seconds of flight time, rather than 180 seconds, as well as by using two flat landing surfaces, instead of a simulated lunar surface).

Two additional competitors for the prize, Masten Space Systems and Unreasonable Rocket are scheduled to make Lunar Lander Challenge attempts before the closing of this year's competition window on Oct. 31. These teams are scheduled to compete for both the Level 1 and Level 2 phases of the competition. Each level includes both first and second place prizes, with the second place prize for Level 1 worth $150,000, and the two prizes for Level 2 worth $1 million and $500,000.

For more information about X PRIZE Foundation, please visit www.xprize.org.

2009 Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge Competition Attempts Scheduled

Michael Timmons — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:08:02 -0700

2009 Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge Competition Attempts Scheduled

Playa Vista, CA (August 25, 2009) – The X PRIZE Foundation announced today that three teams have registered to make attempts to win the $1.65 million still available in the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge. The prize program is managed by the X PRIZE Foundation as part of NASA’s Centennial Challenges Program. The competition is designed to accelerate technological developments supporting the commercial creation of vertical take-off and landing rockets with enhanced safety and performance.

The Challenge is divided into two levels. Level 1, requires a rocket to take off from a designated launch area; climb to a low, fixed altitude; and fly for at least 90 seconds before landing precisely on a different landing pad. The flight must then be repeated in reverse. Both flights, along with all of the necessary preparation for each, must take place within a two and a half hour period. $500,000 in prizes was initially allocated to Level 1. Last year, Armadillo Aerospace of Mesquite, Texas was awarded $350,000 for successfully completing Level 1. There remains an unclaimed award of $150,000 for second place.

The more difficult course, Level 2, requires the rocket to fly for 180 seconds before landing precisely on a simulated lunar surface constructed with craters and boulders. The minimum flight times are calculated so that the Level 2 mission closely simulates the power needed to perform a real descent from lunar orbit down to the surface of the Moon. A $1 million First Place and a $500,000 second place prize remain to be claimed by the winners of Level 2

In previous years, the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge prize money had only been available to teams who performed the required missions at a specific, single location on a particular weekend. This year, however, teams are permitted to make their prize winning attempts at a date and location of their choosing during a window that stretches through the end of October. At the end of the window, any teams that have accomplished the mission will be ranked based on the landing accuracy achieved in each of their rocket powered flights, and the prize purses will be awarded accordingly.

Qualified teams are able to register for prize-winning attempts on a first-come, first-served basis, with a small crew of judges and observers traveling to meet the team at a venue of their choosing.

Teams may submit registration forms through September 15, 2009.

Currently registered teams include:

Armadillo Aerospace will attempt to claim a Level 2 purse from Caddo Mills, TX, on September 12 and 13.
Masten Space Systems will attempt to claim purses in both levels from Mojave, CA, on September 15-16 (Level One), October 7-8 (Level Two), and October 28-29 (Level Two).
Unreasonable Rocket will attempt to claim purses in both levels from Cantil, CA, on Oct 30-31.

For more information about the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge, please visit http://space.xprize.org/lunar-lander-challenge. High resolution photographs, video and other team materials are available upon request.

Northrop Grumman’s history with lunar programs dates back to the 1960s, when the company designed and produced the Apollo lunar modules that landed U.S. astronauts on the moon. The company is looking forward to supporting NASA on its planned lunar lander, Altair, which will place four astronauts on the Moon in the 2020 timeframe and provide life support as well as a base for weeklong surface explorations.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.

ABOUT NASA’s CENTENNIAL CHALLENGES

The Innovative Partnership Program manages the Centennial Challenges, which is NASA’s program to award cash prizes to independent inventors for significant advances in technologies of interest to NASA and the nation. You can read more about all of the competitions at www.ipp.nasa.gov.

ABOUT THE X PRIZE FOUNDATION

The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. In 2004, the Foundation captured the world’s attention when the Burt Rutan-led team, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world’s first private spaceship to win the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE for suborbital spaceflight. The Foundation has since launched the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE, and the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Foundation, with the support of its partner, BT Global Services, is creating prizes in Space and Ocean Exploration, Life Sciences, Energy and Environment, Education and Global Development. The Foundation is widely recognized as a leader in fostering innovation through competition. For more information, please visit www.xprize.org.

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Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE Announces Team of Automotive Experts to Lead Technical Operations for Competition

Michael Timmons — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:58:56 -0700

Automotive Experts will Lead Judging Process in Multimillion Dollar Competition for Super Fuel Efficient Vehicles

Playa Vista, CA. – August 6, 2009 – The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, a multimillion dollar competition to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles, today announced the hire of six new team members who will lead technical operations for the competition. All six new hires will serve on the technical inspection and design judging team and will report to Bob Larsen, Senior Advisor, Technical Operations for the Prize. Under the direction of Larsen, who has spent his career in advanced propulsion systems, fuels, and vehicle competition operations and currently serves as Argonne National Laboratory’s Director Emeritus of the Center for Transportation Research, the group of new hires includes a mix of well respected and established names from the automotive and engineering industries. They include:

Steve Wesoloski – Senior Advisor, Deputy Technical Operations (Expertise in engineering and motorsports; most recently with GM Racing)
Don Taylor – Senior Advisor, Competition Rules (Expertise in ‘Green Racing’; formerly of the National Hot Rod Association)
P.T. Jones – Senior Advisor, Competition Operations (Senior Vehicle Systems Engineer, currently with Sentech, Inc.)
Jody Nelson – Senior Advisor, Energy Storage Technologies (Expertise in alternative and renewable energy technologies; formerly with Daimler AG and currently with BluEngineering)
Spencer Quong – Senior Advisor, Fueling & Advanced Vehicle Technologies (currently Chief Technology Officer with Quong & Associates, Inc.)
Dr. Jim Winkelman – Senior Advisor, Electronics & Advanced Propulsion Technologies (Electrical Engineer with 30+ years in developing advanced products at General Electric, Ford, Visteon and Plug Power)

Automotive expert Aaron Fyke, who currently serves as Director of Energy Prize Development for the X PRIZE Foundation, will also be contributing to the design judging effort. His extensive experience in automotive, alternative energy and manufacturing will be essential to evaluating the technical and business merit and commercial viability of Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE entrants.

“Adding this terrific pool of talent to the competition creates a robust and highly qualified judging panel for the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE,” said Eric Cahill, Senior Director of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE.

The technical team is currently hard at work reviewing the 90+ Registered Teams’ business plans and vehicle data submissions. The Design Judging phase, as it is formally called, is the first competitive event in the competition. Teams must pass this critical phase in order to continue on as Qualified Teams that will compete in a rigorous and demanding series of vehicle challenges that begin with formal opening ceremonies next spring.

“The priority during this phase is to ensure that all teams understand the criteria, that entered vehicles meet or exceed the criteria, and that teams appear capable of building a production intent vehicle to these standards in time for formal vehicle challenges next spring,” noted Steve Wesoloski, newly appointed Senior Advisor, Deputy Technical Operations for the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE.

The newly assembled team of automotive experts will work closely with each competing team to review their vehicle for safety and ensure its readiness for on-road competition events in the coming months. For complete bios on each of the technical team members, please visit here.

ABOUT THE PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE AUTOMOTIVE X PRIZE
The goal of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE is to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles that offer more consumer choices. Ten million dollars in prizes will be awarded to the teams that win a stage competition for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 miles per gallon or energy equivalent (MPGe). The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE will place a major focus on efficiency, safety, affordability, and the environment. It is about developing real, production-capable cars that consumers will want to buy, not science projects or concept cars. This progress is needed because today's oil consumption is unsustainable and because automotive emissions significantly contribute to global warming and climate change. For more information visit www.progressiveautoxprize.org. For related educational resources, please visit www.FuelOurFutureNow.com.

ABOUT PROGRESSIVE:
Progressive, founded in 1937, is one of the country’s largest auto insurance groups and a leading insurer of motorcycles, recreation vehicles, boats, and commercial vehicles. The Company offers competitive rates and innovative products and services that meet drivers’ needs throughout their lifetimes as well as 24/7 online and in-person customer and claims service. One of Progressive’s Core Values is Excellence. To the Company’s more than 26,000 people, it simply means seeking constant improvement. Over time, this has meant introducing revolutionary ideas that make car insurance easier to shop for, buy and use. It’s this same innovative spirit that’s behind the Company’s sponsorship of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE will inspire innovation that will produce more fuel efficient vehicle choices, helping to make a difference in people’s lives. Progressive’s products and services are available locally through more than 30,000 independent insurance agencies in the U.S., online at www.progressive.com, and by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE (1-800-776-4737).

ABOUT THE X PRIZE FOUNDATION
The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. In 2004, the Foundation captured the world’s attention when the Burt Rutan-led team, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world’s first private spaceship to win the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE for suborbital spaceflight. The Foundation has since launched the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE and the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Foundation, with the support of its partner, BT Global Services, is creating prizes in Space and Ocean Exploration, Life Sciences, Energy and Environment, Education and Global Development. The Foundation is widely recognized as a leader in fostering innovation through competition. For more information, please visit www.xprize.org.