TeamIndus, an Indian aerospace startup and one of the front-runners for the Google Lunar XPRIZE, today announced an international jury for Lab2Moon, a competition to challenge the brightest young minds globally to think beyond our planet and create an experiment to fly on board the TeamIndus spacecraft to the Moon in 2017.

As part of Lab2Moon, youngsters below the age of 25 years have to imagine, design and build a project that would catalyze the evolution of mankind as a multi-planetary species. Lab2Moon will look for experiments in sustainable living that will have benefits both on Earth and beyond. Teams of up to three members will share their ideas in the form of a concept note and video. 20 shortlisted teams will build prototypes and will be flown to Bangalore to showcase to the jury. The winning project will be declared on 14th February, 2017.

The international jury of experts will include Dr. K. Kasturirangan, Former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation, Dr. Alain Bensoussan, Former President of CNES (French Space Agency) and Former Chairman of Council, ESA (European Space Agency) and Dr. Joe Pelton, Former Dean of the International Space University (ISU).

Rahul Narayan, CEO of TeamIndus, said, “It is an honour to announce such eminent names to our jury. It will be especially exciting for youngsters who will showcase their projects to this jury and interact with them.”

Keeping in mind the global academic schedule, TeamIndus has also extended the last date for registering on L2M.teamindus.in till the 10th of September 2016. Over 200 teams have signed up including teams from Germany, Italy, Peru, Mexico, Singapore, India and other countries.

About TeamIndus

TeamIndus is India’s only entry into the Google Lunar XPRIZE, a competition for privately funded teams to successfully place a robot on the moon’s surface that explores at least 500 meters and transmits high-definition media back to Earth. For demonstrating its landing technology, TeamIndus has won a $1 million milestone prize. There are over 85 engineers including 15 former ISRO scientists who are helping TeamIndus design and develop its proprietary technology from its headquarters in Bangalore.