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Team scoops 'lunar landing' prize

4 November 2009 08:00am

A team of California rocketeers has won a million dollar (£611,000) prize in a simulated lunar landing contest backed by Nasa.

The X Prize Foundation said that Mojave, California-based Masten Space Systems had a better landing accuracy than was achieved by Armadillo Aerospace of Rockwall, Texas, which got 500,000 dollars (£306,000) for second place.

The teams flew robotic rockets that had to rise more than 160 feet (49 metres), stay aloft for at least 180 seconds while travelling to a rocky landing pad, and then fly back to the starting point.