And now time for our weekend infotech news!

The world’s biggest brand and one with the deepest coffers seem to have nothing better to do with their money.

Google has just waged a $30 million standing offer to anyone who could build a robotic rover to actually land on the moon, move for a few minutes and then send video and data back to earth.

Google has announced that they are sponsoring the Google Lunar X Prize. Cnet further explains “The contest invites private teams from around the world to build a robotic rover capable of roaming the lunar surface for at least 500 meters and then sending video, images and data back to Earth, among other feats. The idea behind the challenge is to urge private industry to develop new robotic and virtual-presence technology to reduce the cost of space exploration.”

Xprize founder, Dr. Peter Diamandis is thankful to Google for the offer and the partnership.

“The Google Lunar X PRIZE seeks to create a global private race to the Moon that excites and involves people around the world and, accelerates space exploration for the benefit of all humanity. The use of space has dramatically enhanced the quality of life and may ultimately lead to solutions to some of the most pressing environmental problems that we face on earth – energy independence and climate change.” Diamandis said.

Best of luck to the contestants.

What will they think of next?!?

Via Cnet and Xprize