ORLANDO, FL. (Omega Envoy PR) – Omega Envoy, the Florida team competing in the Google Lunar X PRIZE (GLXP), and its parent company, Earthrise Space Inc (ESI), are proud to announce that the team has secured a sponsorship from [Boca Bearings] to provide hardware for ESI’s lunar spacecraft and a partnership with CT Social to assist on outreach efforts.

Boca Bearings, Inc. is an innovative bearing manufacturing firm focused on producing vehicle components that reduce resistance and conserve energy. The company prides itself in providing a variety of high-quality, miniature ceramic bearings as well as lubrication-based technology which is used in industry, for hobbies and a variety of other purposes.  Boca Bearings has agreed to provide bearings for ESI’s lunar rover – for both the prototype as well as the actual flight article.

“Why do we sponsor projects like yours? Outside of the obvious ‘cool’ factor that Omega Envoy’s lunar robot has, Boca Bearings has always demonstrated a commitment to creativity and invention by supporting unique projects, such as the 10,000-year clock and other progressive projects and ideas. We believe in supporting innovators who push the limits of new technologies that will possibly drive the future economy,” said Boca Bearings VP of Marketing, Jason Flanzbaum.

Earthrise Space, Inc. is a Florida-based non-profit corporation dedicated to developing space technology in collaboration with industry and academic institutions. ESI’s Omega Envoy Project is creating a key set of lunar spacecraft infrastructure which will fulfill the requirements of the Google Lunar X PRIZE and provide a platform for the delivery of commercial payloads to the lunar surface. All ESI efforts involve significant numbers of students and young professionals through paid internships, providing them with hands on experience building real spacecraft, and preparing them for future employment in the entrepreneurial space industry.

“We approached Boca Bearings, Inc. after identifying their reliable and dry-running, maintenance free bearings as a great choice for our spacecraft. They should perform well in the harsh environment of the Moon and in the vacuum of space,” said Maxwell Greenspan, a mechanical engineering intern actively designing ESI’s Lunar Rover.

Boca Bearings has launched a series of expanded mounted unit bearings. The new bearing series will integrate mini mounted units together with low profile housings, and thermoplastic housings.