HUNTSVILLE - A team of Huntsville space professionals is undertaking a mission that Governor Riley says is monumental for Alabama.

It’s called the "Google X prize"-And it’s a global competition for low-cost robotic exploration of the moon.

"There are certain things that happen, in an individuals life, in a state's life, in a country's life that really does mark it. And it begins to add to almost a transformation of the perception that people have about it,” said Riley.

If the rocket city space pioneers succeed, they'll bring pride and global recognition to the state of Alabama, and images of the moon right to your cell phone.

"In a nutshell the project is--we've got to go to the moon, with a robot, be able to drive it 500 meters, and we've got to take some video, send it back to earth, and we've got to be able to do that affordably,” said Tim Pickens, Team Leader, Rocket City Space Pioneers.

The video from the robots will belong to Google--but what they'll do with it is anyone's guess.

"They got Google maps, Google images, who knows what they're up to with the moon. The moon's the high ground. What is their ultimate goal here, I don't know?” said Pickens.

But what they do know is that winning Google’s $20 million prize will foster teamwork.

"I think it means a whole lot. You know we're working with the universities, with other companies, i think it shows a real collectivism," said Pickens.

And the chance to help the rocket city shine even brighter.

"I think it shows Huntsville at our best. This is what we do," said Pickens.

This team is one 27 competing globally.

The mission is due for completion in December 2012.