Fwd: Lions on the Moon

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From: Newt Gingrich <no-reply@gingrichproductions.com>
Date: June 5, 2013 4:41:34 PM GMT-06:00
To: bobbygmartin1938@gmail.com
Subject: Lions on the Moon

Having trouble viewing this email? click here. LIONS ON THE MOON There's a real possibility that in 2013 we will have a lion on the Moon -- a Lunar Lion. Let me explain. Although NASA continues to struggle with bureaucracy and changing political direction on the future of space exploration, entrepreneurial space leaders, with American businesses at the forefront, have taken on what was once believed to be only the purview of national governments: exploration of the Moon. Twenty-three private initiatives around the world, including 7 led by American teams, are working to land robotic spacecraft on the Moon once again – with minimal government funding. The teams are competing to win the Google Lunar XPRIZE, which will award $20 million, plus up to $10 million in bonus prizes, to the first group to successfully land a robot on the Moon, beam high definition video back to Earth, and travel 500 meters. Google is sponsoring this prize through the XPRIZE Foundation, which, in 2004, awarded $10 million to the team behind SpaceShipOne, the first private human spaceflight vehicle. The best part is that although there are now 23 projects working to send robots to the moon, Google won't spend anything until one of them is successful. The prize model, around which most of our efforts in space should be restructured, ensures that you pay for the achievement, not for the effort. Amidst this resurgence in the space industry, there is a shining example that combines exploration with education. Penn State University is pursuing Google's prize with a group of students and researchers called the Lunar Lion team. At Newt University, I recently sat down for a fascinating interview with Michael Paul, who leads the Lunar Lion project. Penn State is the only university leading a team in this challenge, and the team's design has taken a unique and interesting approach. You can watch the interview here. Michael and his team's current estimated cost to launch is only about 10% of their original expectation, and their unconventional design eliminates unnecessary weight and complexity. If the mission takes place in Spring 2015 as planned, the ultimate price will be a tiny fraction of what previous projects would require to do such a mission. You'll have to watch the interview for a fuller picture of how they plan to achieve such a remarkable reduction in cost, and to hear Michael's thoughts on the renaissance in private space exploration, the prize model of achieving big breakthroughs, and more. Watch the interview here. Coming Soon to Grand Rapids On Friday, June 28, I will be in Grand Rapids, Michigan for an evening of conversation with you. We're calling it "Newt Uncensored", and it will be unlike anything we've done before. No questions unanswered. No holds barred. And no commercial interruptions. Anyone who cares about the future of our country knows that we have a lot to talk about. In these evenings, I want to share the brutal truth with you as I see it. And I want to hear what YOU think. It will be a conversation about America's past and future. We'll talk about ideas and experiences. We'll also talk about the pioneers of the future, and why they matter NOW more than ever. Finally, I plan to share some great stories about our country. It will be an unforgettable evening! Newt Uncensored will be at the DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Friday, June 28th at 7:30 pm. So if you live in the area, please come. And if you have friends or family in Grand Rapids, please let them know, too! Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, and the DeVos Performance Hall Box office. Your Friend, Newt Charity of the Month: Salvation Army by Newt and Callista Gingrich We were deeply saddened by the devastating tornadoes that recently ravaged Oklahoma. The destruction, injury and loss of life were horrific and our prayers go out to the many people who were affected. In the wake of the tornadoes, the Salvation Army has been on the ground in Oklahoma distributing thousands of meals and cleanup kits to displaced families and emergency responders. Please consider supporting tornado relief efforts in Oklahoma through the Salvation Army, which is providing critical supplies to those in need. The Salvation Army has been has been one of our country's most important charitable organizations for more than 130 years, touching the lives of almost 30 million Americans each year. Please join us in assisting tornado victims through the Salvation Army and continue to keep them all in your thoughts and prayers. Your Friends, Newt and Callista Land of the Pilgrims' Pride Ellis is back and ready to learn about the birth of our great nation in the New York Times bestseller, Land of the Pilgrims' Pride. Written and illustrated by Callista Gingrich and Susan Arciero, Ellis once again educates and entertains as he discovers America's thirteen original colonies. Order autographed copies now>> Victory at Yorktown New York Times bestselling authors, Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen present the triumphant conclusion to their George Washington series with Victory at Yorktown, a new novel about faith, leadership, and the triumph of the American cause. Order autographed copies now>>  Follow on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Forward to a friend  Copyright © 2013 Gingrich Productions, All rights reserved. Received this from a friend? Subscribe. Gingrich Productions | 4501 North Fairfax Drive | Suite 900 | Arlington, VA | 22203 Unsubscribe