Penn State has launched a $400,000 crowdfunding campaign on Rockethub to fund the construction of its moon rover prototype for the Google Lunar X Prize (GLXP) competition. The university aims to complete its target fund by February 25, according to Onward State.

Penn State hopes to complete its moon mission by the end of 2015 in a bid to take home the $20 million prize money in the contest. The Lunar Lion, Penn State's GLXP team, has already tested the rocket thrusters provided by NASA. These thrusters will be used for the team's moon landing. Now, the team hopes to develop a working prototype of its rover by midsummer, the report detailed.

The crowdfunding campaign is just the first step in completing the university's mission to the moon. To have a successful moon landing, Penn State still has to come up with $60 million. Steve Blake, Penn State's Director of Development for research institutes, says the university hopes to raise a third of that amount through philanthropic campaigns, the report explained.

For the Lunar Lion, the Rockethub campaign is not just an ordinary fundraising. Student leader Ajeeth Ibrahim said it is also an opportunity for the public to contribute to a mission that may revolutionize space missions, Onward State reported.