The Manx mission to the moon has signed up with what it describes as a 'dream team' of partner companies.

Odyssey Moon is teaming up with investment bank Near Earth, marketing firm WPP Group, insurance company Aon International Space Brokers and leading global law firm Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy.

Odyssey Moon is hoping to win the Google Lunar X prize, a $30 million competition for private companies which aims to put a craft on the moon.

Robert Richards, Odyssey Moon's CEO says the team combines the very best of the global satellite industry with the best of the space exploration community.

The company, based in Athol Street in Douglas, says it plans its first mission to the moon in 2012.