Children's Dreams Reach the Moon! Luna Project Wins "Prime Minister's Award"

On August 3, the "Luna Dream Capsule Project," the first private-sector lunar landing initiative, received the Grand Prize and Prime Minister's Award at the 9th Kids Design Awards (organized by the Kids Design Association, supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry).

The project (organized by the Luna Dream Executive Committee: Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Astroscale, Astrobotic Technology) represents a historic challenge: delivering a Dream Capsule to the lunar surface carrying children's dreams from around the world and POCARI SWEAT (powder), symbolizing water essential to humanity. With cooperation from university laboratories and small-to-medium private companies, it aims for the moon, approximately 380,000 kilometers above Earth. The rocket carrying the capsule is scheduled for launch from Florida, USA, in the summer of 2016.

Launched in May 2014, the project reflects the reality that spaceflight, once achievable only through national programs, is now possible through private enterprise. It envisions young people interested in the moon and space personally retrieving the Dream Capsule in the near future and quenching their thirst with a beverage dissolved in lunar water. The capsule will also carry children's dreams, laser-engraved onto titanium plates.

The project website ( http://lunar-dream.com/ ) solicits "dreams" while introducing the plan overview and related events through a wealth of videos.

The Kids Design Award recognized the project's grand scale, its potential to spark imagination and creativity, and its collaborative nature involving Japanese manufacturing companies, overseas firms, and universities, selecting it for the Grand Prize.

Kids Design Award Site:
http://www.kidsdesignaward.jp/2015/