San Jose, CA, December 6th, 2007 – The first team to complete registration for the $30M Google Lunar X PRIZE unveiled its plans today at the Space Investment Summit in San Jose, California. Representatives of Odyssey Moon announced their plans to make history with the first private robotic mission to the surface of the Moon and their intent to win the Google Lunar X PRIZE competition. Odyssey Moon’s inaugural mission will involve a unique small robotic lander designed to deliver scientific, exploration and commercial payloads to the surface of the Moon.

Odyssey Moon, a private commercial lunar enterprise headquartered in the Isle of Man, is the brainchild of Dr. Robert (Bob) Richards, a founder of the International Space University. “We applaud the X PRIZE Foundation and Google for creating the first privately funded race to the Moon,” he said. “For Odyssey Moon, the Google Lunar X PRIZE was the right thing at the right time to compel us to unveil our plans. We have a long term vision and now with the Google Lunar X PRIZE we have a short term goal: Odyssey Moon is setting its eyes on the prize.” Richards said that the company’s goal is to lower the price of getting to the Moon by an order of magnitude and in doing so help catalyze a “MOONRUSH” to Earth’s sister world, which he describes as an eighth continent rich in energy and resources floating just offshore.

“Our business plans have been in development for a series of missions to the Moon during the International Lunar Decade in support of science, exploration and commerce,” said Richards. “We believe in competition and we believe in this prize. Future generations will view the Google Lunar X PRIZE as the turning point of the 21st century, when humanity realized the Moon’s critical role for prosperity and survival in space and on Earth.”

The chairman of Odyssey Moon is Dr. Ramin Khadem a well known figure in the international satellite industry and former Chief Financial Officer of INMARSAT, a highly successful mobile satellite communications company that he helped pioneer and ultimately privatize. “We have put together an incredibly talented international team with substantial technical know how and financial depth who believe in the long term responsible development of the Moon for the benefit of all humanity,” Dr. Khadem said. He explained that Odyssey Moon is open to international collaboration at several levels and welcomes discussion with others who may wish to join them in their quest for the Google Lunar X PRIZE and the pursuit of the company’s long term business plans for the peaceful development of the Moon.

Odyssey Moon announced that its prime contractor is MDA of Canada, an experienced company with substantial space heritage in providing robotics on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station, and more recently for satellite servicing and planetary exploration. Dr. Christian Sallaberger, a Vice President with MDA’s Information Systems Group, explained his company’s role. “MDA has a long track record of delivering high-value cost-effective solutions to our customers and this has been a key part of our successes in space over the past 40 years,” he said. “We understand the commercial space world, and we have the technical heritage and expertise to support Odyssey Moon’s plan and make it happen.”

The Planetary Society, the world’s largest space interest group, has joined the Odyssey Moon team to assist in education and public involvement as well as international and science liaison. Society Executive Director, Dr. Louis Friedman said, “The Moon is a stepping stone into the solar system, for governments and for the private sector. Odyssey Moon’s leap forward to this stepping stone could presage a new day of commercial ventures beyond Earth.” Founded in 1980 by the late astronomer Carl Sagan, Bruce Murray and Louis Friedman, the Society encourages government, non-government and private and public participation in the exploration of other worlds.

X PRIZE Chairman and CEO Dr. Peter Diamandis said he congratulates Odyssey Moon for being the first team to complete the registration process and that he is thrilled at the response to the $30M Google Lunar X PRIZE. “We applaud all the teams who have been motivated to declare their intentions to compete,” Diamandis said. “We are proud to participate in the announcement of our first fully registered team. We hope the announcement will motivate and inspire even more teams to enter this race; a race that is now truly international.”

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For further information please contact:

Odyssey Moon

Susan Schonfeld, Senior Media Advisor
+1 (845) 721-9456
universepr@aol.com

Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides, Director, Communications and Outreach
+1 (626) 429-6603
loretta.whitesides@odysseymoon.com

Daven Maharaj, Marketing and Development
daven.maharaj@odysseymoon.com

Information about the Odyssey Moon: www.odysseymoon.com

X PRIZE Foundation

Sarah Evans, Vice President, Communications
+1 310-582-5903
sarah.evans@xprize.org

Information about the Google Lunar X PRIZE: www.googlelunarxprize.org