The challenge is idiotic. This is coming from someone who loves space tech. There are other nearer term challenges in space that have applications on earth that

The challenge is idiotic. This is coming from someone who loves space tech. There are other nearer term challenges in space that have applications on earth that don't require a lunar landing. How about a materials prize, or a solar cell efficiency prize, or a earth orbit sky-hook demonstration, or better hardened electronics, or or or ... The way a challenge works is to get people motivated by money and publicity beyond a threshold where they normally wouldn't take up the effort because of the costs and risks. X-Prize for a near orbit manned mission and the DARPA Grand Challenge are two good examples. There is simply no way a company not tied to a major aerospace corporation can complete the prize in the near term. It has completely failed as a "challenge".