Discovery, Science Channels to chronicle Google Lunar XPRIZE competition, will air live moon landing

The Discovery Channel is adding another live event to its slate, following the surprising success of Nik Wallenda’s live Grand Canyon tightrope walk. This new event will literally be going out-of-this-world and will be preceded by a mini-series event.

Discovery and its sister network Science will be the TV partners for the Google Lunar XPRIZE challenge, which is a $30 million competition of privately-funded teams trying to create an unmanned craft. It has to successfully land on the moon, travel 500 meters and then broadcast image and video live.

The landing is expected to take place on Dec. 31, 2015. Leading up to the landing, Discovery and Science will air a mini-series that will chronicle the different teams from around the world.

“In addition to the technological breakthroughs catalyzed by the Google Lunar XPRIZE, we have an equally important goal of inspiring young scientists, engineers and space explorers,” Robert K. Weiss, vice chairman and president of XPRIZE, said in a statement. “More than half the world’s population has never had the opportunity to experience a live broadcast from the moon. Partnering with Discovery Channel and Science Channel will allow us to engage the public around this milestone event, creating an ‘Apollo Moment’ for the next generation.”

After Wallenda’s live tightrope walk was such a success, garnering over 13 million viewers, Discovery announced another live, death-defying event in February. Wingsuit jumper Joby Ogwyn will attempt to jump from the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, in May.

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