The X PRIZE Foundation has announced that it has selected AGI, producer of analysis software for land, sea, air, and space, as an official "preferred partner" for the Google Lunar X PRIZE. Preferred partners offer discounted services to the teams competing in the $30 million international competition.

The Google Lunar X PRIZE challenges privately-funded teams to safely land a robot on the surface of the Moon, travel 500 meters over the lunar surface, and send images and data back to Earth. Under this partnership, AGI has agreed to provide each team with nearly $200,000 worth of complimentary software and engineering services.

There are currently four other X PRIZE Foundation preferred partners: Space Exploration Technologies (Preferred Launch Partner), SETI Institute and Universal Space Network (Preferred Communications Partners), and Space Florida (Preferred Launch Site).

"AGI is thrilled to offer our ready-to-use software and space mission expertise to this exciting challenge, which is sure to advance efforts in commercial space flight while developing innovative approaches and new technologies," says Paul Graziani, AGI president and CEO.

"Our products have been relied upon for nearly two decades for analysis and 3-D visualization of space mission designs, real-time operations, and post-mission analysis, so they are an inherent fit to help these teams reach the Moon. We applaud those vying for this challenge and how their efforts will inspire young engineers and scientists of tomorrow."

"AGI's software is unsurpassed and will bring critical new capabilities to the competing teams," said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Chairman and CEO of the X PRIZE Foundation.

"This modeling and visualization software will be a great asset for the teams. We are delighted to welcome AGI as a preferred partner for the Google Lunar X PRIZE."