Editing Centennial Challenges (section)

=== Vertical and lunar lander challenges ===
{{Main|Lunar Lander Challenge}}
[[Image:Armadillo Aerospace Technicians inspect their rocket.jpg|thumb|Armadillo Aerospace technicians on the launch pad performing a vehicle inspection.]]
Also announced at the XPrize Cup Expo and run by the XPrize Foundation, this prize is for a VTVL (vertical take-off, vertical landing) suborbital rocket that can achieve the altitudes and launch energies that are equivalent to what would be needed for a lunar lander. The Vertical Lander Challenge requires 50 meter minimum altitude, horizontal distance of 100 meters, flight time of 90 seconds, and landing on a smooth surface and after refueling, return to its original location. The more aggressive Lunar Lander Challenge increases that to 180s of flight time and landing on a rocky surface. The VLC has a first prize of $350,000, while the LLC has a first prize in excess of this. For 2006 at the [[Wirefly X PRIZE Cup]], [[Armadillo Aerospace]] was the only team able to compete. Their vehicle "Pixel" completed one leg of the trip on its third try but crashed shortly after takeoff on the return, leaving all prizes unclaimed.

In 2008, [[Armadillo Aerospace]] successfully completed the easier level one VLC prize.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.armadilloaerospace.com/n.x/Armadillo/Home/News?news_id%3D362 |title=Lunar Lander Challenge '08 – We win one! |access-date=2008-10-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081031053518/http://www.armadilloaerospace.com/n.x/Armadillo/Home/News?news_id=362 |archive-date=2008-10-31 }}</ref>

In 2009, the level two first prize was won by [[Masten Space Systems]], while Armadillo Aerospace took the level two second prize.<ref>{{cite web|last=and Mike Green|first=Tricia Talbert|title=Masten and Armadillo Claim Lunar Lander Prizes|url=http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/early_stage_innovation/centennial_challenges/cc_ll_feature_lvl2.html|publisher=NASA|access-date=June 28, 2012}}</ref>