[Techtaffy Newsdesk]

Moon Express, a Google Lunar X PRIZE contender, has won an additional task order from NASA under its Innovative Lunar Demonstration Data (ILDD) Program contract.

The newest task order in the $10 million ILDD contract calls for Moon Express to provide NASA with data about the company’s progress through a Preliminary Design Checkpoint Technical Package that documents details of mission operations, spacecraft development, payload accommodations and Planetary Protection Plans.

Silicon Valley-based Moon Express was one of only three U.S. companies awarded the first $500K Task Order under NASA’s ILDD program. Successful completion of the newest task order will bring the company’s ILDD awards to $610,000.

Moon Express is the first company to flight test a prototype lunar lander system designed for the Moon, developed in partnership with NASA.  The company plans to send a series of robotic spacecraft to the Moon for ongoing exploration and commercial development focused on benefits to Earth.

Moon Express signed a Reimbursable Space Act Agreement with NASA in 2010 to invest over $500K into the commercialization of the agency’s technology in return for technical assistance.

Moon Express (MoonEx) is a privately funded lunar transportation and data services company based at the NASA Ames Research Park in Silicon Valley.

Upload: 03-12-12