NASA has picked the Cleantech Open as the Allied Organization to run the $1.5M Night Rover Centennial Challenge to collect solar energy and store it long enough to do productive work during the lunar night.
NASA and The Cleantech Open Partner in Robotics Challenge - NASA
Here's their Night Rover Challenge website. You will see there that Joshua Neubert, who was the Executive Director of the Conrad Foundation, is on the management team.
Challenge.gov also has a Night Rover Challenge page.
***
Get ready for the NASA Green Flight Challenge run by the CAFE Foundation, and the subsequent Google Green Flight Challenge Expo at NASA Ames:
NASA is Painting the Skies Green Over Santa Rosa - NASA - It will be held at the Sonoma County Airport there.
NASA competition could lead to air taxis anyone can afford - Al.com
NASA, CAFE Foundation Host Google Green Flight Challenge Expo - NASA
Here's the Green Flight Challenge fact sheet. (PDF)
***
It isn't strictly a Centennial Challenge, but I think of it as a product of the Regolith Excavation Challenge:
NASA 2012 Lunabotics Competition Open For Registration - NASA - The Lunabotics Mining Competition will be held May 21-26 at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
NASA's Digital Learning Network will hold a webcast about the Lunabotics competition on September 27, 4:00 ET.
***
The X PRIZE Foundation, which ran the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge, will hold a Radical Benefit for Humanity on October 20.
Briefs: Speed Up update; Will Watson interview; Space regulation discussion panel - RLV News - SpeedUp was one of the Lunar Lander Challenge competitors. SpeedUp is now Ready for Tether Testing.
***
The first winner of the Beam Power Centennial Challenge, LaserMotive, is in the news a lot lately:
Space Angels Network Invests in Wireless Power Beaming Company: LaserMotive, Inc. (PDF) - Space Angels Network
Lasermotive is in NASA power beaming project - RLV News
Could laser propulsion open up space? - Next Big Future has an interview with LaserMotive's Jordin Kare.
***
It would be nice to get some discussion going at this NASASpaceflight.com forum post on the 2nd Nanosat Launcher Challenge Seminar.
Showing posts with label regolith challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label regolith challenge. Show all posts
Friday, September 23, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
2011 Lunabotics (University Regolith Excavation) Competition
NASA's Second Annual Lunabotics Mining Competition, a university student competition to excavate and collect simulated lunar regolith that is similar to the NASA Regolith Excavation Centennial Challenge, will be held at the Kennedy Space Center from May 26-28. I hope this Lunabotics overview will get you in the mood to support this competition.
NASA Invites Reporters To Second Annual Lunabotics Competition - NASA press release
Here's the Lunabotics Facebook page: ESMD Lunar Regolith Excavator Competition. You can see quite a bit about some of the teams on the Wall page, and there's also a lot of information about other aspects of the competition like last year's event, a Senior Design Course based on the challenge, and more. There's also a Lunabotics twitter account, but that hasn't been active lately. That might change as the competition approaches; it's worth a try to check it out then.
There's also a Lunabotics YouTube Channel with video from last year's event, and also some new content.
Now for the teams! There are quite a few teams, and many of them have been showing their progress on YouTube and other sites.
Temple University Lunabotics 2011:
Colorado School of Mines:
University of North Dakota Robotics:
Harvard Lunabotics 2011 (see quite a few more at their YouTube channel):
Oakton Community College 2011 Lunabotics:
LAR-E (Lunar All-terrain Regolith Excavator) from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott (also see the article Lunabotics & LAR-E: Mechanical Engineering Senior Robotics Design):
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona:
University of Louisville (It looks like this is for a capstone class with a Lunabotics theme, as I don't see the school in the Lunabotics teams list):
UNC Charlotte:
Chondrobot, BRAC University:
Universidad de Los Andes:
University of Southern Indiana, Lunar Ash Borers:
Here are some other articles, team sites, and other links related to the competition:
McGill LunarEx - team site from McGill University
West Virginia University Lunabotics - This Facebook page has plenty of videos and photos from the team.
McBride-inspired WVU team to compete in Lunabotics Mining competition - WVU Today
Robot to work on the moon : novel creation by WVU students - Gizmo Watch
ISU Lunabotics - Ames, Iowa - Here's another team Facebook page. They expect to put recent pictures up soon.
UND NASA Lunabotics Mining Competition 2010-2011 - University of North Dakota team site, including photos.
Vizag team hopes to mine lunar surface - Deccan Chronicle
Lunabotics Mining Competition - Team site for The Robotics Association at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
NASA’s Lunabotics 2011 – Symbiosis Sponsors Indian team - Symbiosis Coaching
Engineers to take robot to NASA competition - Collegiate Times, Virginia Tech
NASAMICI is already looking ahead to the 2012 competition, and how Minority Serving Institutions can try to get a $5,000 grant for that event.
NASA Invites Reporters To Second Annual Lunabotics Competition - NASA press release
Here's the Lunabotics Facebook page: ESMD Lunar Regolith Excavator Competition. You can see quite a bit about some of the teams on the Wall page, and there's also a lot of information about other aspects of the competition like last year's event, a Senior Design Course based on the challenge, and more. There's also a Lunabotics twitter account, but that hasn't been active lately. That might change as the competition approaches; it's worth a try to check it out then.
There's also a Lunabotics YouTube Channel with video from last year's event, and also some new content.
Now for the teams! There are quite a few teams, and many of them have been showing their progress on YouTube and other sites.
Temple University Lunabotics 2011:
Colorado School of Mines:
University of North Dakota Robotics:
Harvard Lunabotics 2011 (see quite a few more at their YouTube channel):
Oakton Community College 2011 Lunabotics:
LAR-E (Lunar All-terrain Regolith Excavator) from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott (also see the article Lunabotics & LAR-E: Mechanical Engineering Senior Robotics Design):
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona:
University of Louisville (It looks like this is for a capstone class with a Lunabotics theme, as I don't see the school in the Lunabotics teams list):
UNC Charlotte:
Chondrobot, BRAC University:
Universidad de Los Andes:
Alabama Lunabotics (Also see the Alabama Lunabotics twitter account):
University of Southern Indiana, Lunar Ash Borers:
Here are some other articles, team sites, and other links related to the competition:
McGill LunarEx - team site from McGill University
West Virginia University Lunabotics - This Facebook page has plenty of videos and photos from the team.
McBride-inspired WVU team to compete in Lunabotics Mining competition - WVU Today
Robot to work on the moon : novel creation by WVU students - Gizmo Watch
ISU Lunabotics - Ames, Iowa - Here's another team Facebook page. They expect to put recent pictures up soon.
UND NASA Lunabotics Mining Competition 2010-2011 - University of North Dakota team site, including photos.
Vizag team hopes to mine lunar surface - Deccan Chronicle
Lunabotics Mining Competition - Team site for The Robotics Association at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
NASA’s Lunabotics 2011 – Symbiosis Sponsors Indian team - Symbiosis Coaching
Engineers to take robot to NASA competition - Collegiate Times, Virginia Tech
NASAMICI is already looking ahead to the 2012 competition, and how Minority Serving Institutions can try to get a $5,000 grant for that event.
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Prize Roundup: Nanosat Launch Seminar, Centennial Winners Keep Going, ZeroG Pictures, More
As the Nanosatellite Launch Challenge Seminar this weekend approaches, the news continues:
Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Challenge Seminar: Gathering Questions - Team Phoenicia:
The FAA-AST has asked Team Phoenicia to gather questions that the community would like answered for their part of the challenge.
Nanosat Launcher Challenge Seminar: Agenda Change (11/1/10) - Team Phoenicia
Getting closer - Vog Rockets
@TeamPrometheus - Getting ready to go to the conference for the NASA Centennial Challenge Nanosat contest! Go! Team Prometheus!
Several past Centennial Challenge winners are keeping themselves in the spotlight. LaserMotive is getting a lot of press and staying active:
@LaserMotive: Regardless of how our pitch is received, I overcame my mental glitches and delivered a good presentation today.
Copter sets a laser-powered record - Cosmic Log
Laser-Powered Helicopter Breaks Records, Is Pretty Cute - Discover
Nov 2nd Update: Joining “The Vault” - Altius Space Machines
NASA’s Quest to Send a Robot to the Moon - The New York Times features Armadillo Aerospace in part of this article.
@paulsrobotics: Moonraker will be dropping the first puck this Friday @ Worcester Sharks! Buy tix through me to support FRC190. Check out the #omgrobots
Of course there's plenty of prize news from other sources, too:
@GoZeroG: 2010 Weightless Photo Competition http://conta.cc/aBapiz via #constantcontact
@sedsusa: The SEDS-USA Video Contest is finished. Thanks to everyone who submitted! Comment on your favorites - http://bit.ly/c6nNxe
CPM TV Pre-Launch Test Phase Begins - Synergy Moon on Google Lunar X PRIZE Teams page
@arielwaldman: Science Hack Day SF is looking for prizes and/or sponsors! Anyone able to help? http://sf.sciencehackday.com/
Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Challenge Seminar: Gathering Questions - Team Phoenicia:
The FAA-AST has asked Team Phoenicia to gather questions that the community would like answered for their part of the challenge.
Nanosat Launcher Challenge Seminar: Agenda Change (11/1/10) - Team Phoenicia
Getting closer - Vog Rockets
@TeamPrometheus - Getting ready to go to the conference for the NASA Centennial Challenge Nanosat contest! Go! Team Prometheus!
Several past Centennial Challenge winners are keeping themselves in the spotlight. LaserMotive is getting a lot of press and staying active:
@LaserMotive: Regardless of how our pitch is received, I overcame my mental glitches and delivered a good presentation today.
Copter sets a laser-powered record - Cosmic Log
Laser-Powered Helicopter Breaks Records, Is Pretty Cute - Discover
Nov 2nd Update: Joining “The Vault” - Altius Space Machines
NASA’s Quest to Send a Robot to the Moon - The New York Times features Armadillo Aerospace in part of this article.
@paulsrobotics: Moonraker will be dropping the first puck this Friday @ Worcester Sharks! Buy tix through me to support FRC190. Check out the #omgrobots
Of course there's plenty of prize news from other sources, too:
@GoZeroG: 2010 Weightless Photo Competition http://conta.cc/aBapiz via #constantcontact
@sedsusa: The SEDS-USA Video Contest is finished. Thanks to everyone who submitted! Comment on your favorites - http://bit.ly/c6nNxe
CPM TV Pre-Launch Test Phase Begins - Synergy Moon on Google Lunar X PRIZE Teams page
@arielwaldman: Science Hack Day SF is looking for prizes and/or sponsors! Anyone able to help? http://sf.sciencehackday.com/
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Colorado School of Mines at the Regolith Excavation and Lunabotics Competitions
Briefs: SBSP economics; ISRU conference papers - RLV News - The Eleventh Space Resources Roundtable and Planetary & Terrestrial Mining Sciences Symposium site includes presentations from the June 2010 symposium and pictures from an ISRU demonstration session. Some of the presentations and demonstrations feature prizes in one way or another. For example:
Lunar and Planetary Excavation Systems: Lessons Learned at the Colorado School of Mines - (PDF, zipped) - P.J. van Susante, C.B. Dreyer - This describes lessons learned in the Regolith Excavation Challenge and the 2010 Lunabotics competition.
2010 Lunabotics Mining Competition (PDF, zipped) - R. Mueller, G. Murphy - This includes an overview of the 2010 Lunabotics competition, a look ahead to the 2011 competition, and the perspective of Colorado School of Mines team.
The following links are for pictures from the ISRU demonstrations:
Colorado School of Mines Excavators. - From left to right: Backhoe, Lunabotics Bucket Ladder, and NASA Regolith Centennial Challenge Bucket Ladder (Chris Dreyer and CSM students).
Colorado School of Mines NASA Regolith Centennial Challenge Bucket Ladder Excavator - (Mark Gefreh and CSM students)
Lunar and Planetary Excavation Systems: Lessons Learned at the Colorado School of Mines - (PDF, zipped) - P.J. van Susante, C.B. Dreyer - This describes lessons learned in the Regolith Excavation Challenge and the 2010 Lunabotics competition.
2010 Lunabotics Mining Competition (PDF, zipped) - R. Mueller, G. Murphy - This includes an overview of the 2010 Lunabotics competition, a look ahead to the 2011 competition, and the perspective of Colorado School of Mines team.
The following links are for pictures from the ISRU demonstrations:
Colorado School of Mines Excavators. - From left to right: Backhoe, Lunabotics Bucket Ladder, and NASA Regolith Centennial Challenge Bucket Ladder (Chris Dreyer and CSM students).
Colorado School of Mines NASA Regolith Centennial Challenge Bucket Ladder Excavator - (Mark Gefreh and CSM students)
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Prize Roundup: SEDS Videos, Waste Limitation, Mars Education, North Dakota Sats, More
@nss: Student video contest: http://seds.org/more/projects/video-ad-contest/. NSS will help judge & provide prizes.
From the SEDS site:
SEDS-USA is now accepting entries for the SEDS Video Ad contest. We challenge you, your friends, or your club to develop an awesome ad for SEDS-USA that shows the world what our organization is all about!
NASA's Waste Limitation Management and Recycling Design Challenge - NASA NES Teacher's Corner
Mars Education Challenge: Challenging Today's Students to become Tomorrow's Martians - Explore Mars:
The goal of this program will be to challenge science educators around the United States to develop ingenious ways to fit Mars science and exploration into the classroom.
@paulsrobotics: WPI_Robotics #WPI Moonraker, 2k9 FRC Robot, & some RBE class bots at the #makerfaire in NYC this weekend! Stop by & say hi! #omgrobots
@unrocket: Off to FAR to work on the site
Sitting in voyager cafe proteus taxis by must be mojave
101F at FAR mojave did not get the summers over memo
From NASA Centennial Challenges:
For those interested in competing in the three new challenges - the new Allied Organizations will be posting competition rules and plans for team registration sometime after they are selected in October. The actual competitions will probably not begin before 2011.
NASA Selects High Schools To Compete In New Challenge; Winning Software Designs Will Program Satellites on the International Space Station - NASA
ND Satellite Research Contest - University of North Dakota Department of Space Studies:
Through funding provided by Space Grant, Pablo de Leon and UND students will build an actual size satellite that will hang from the ceiling of the Heritage Center. ... Choose one of the satellites. Determine its relevance to North Dakota. ... The one who establishes the best ND connection to the satellite selected will win a prize of $250!
Here we have our quandary: [you] are going to get there first... - Team Phoenicia
@teamprometheus: Thanks to the people that donated to the team we received the new flight control unit for the rocket today! It's... http://fb.me/ILWPL1I2
@conradawards: Check out our new website---http://www.conradawards.org
Google Lunar X PRIZE Roundup #29
Google Lunar X PRIZE Roundup #30 - Luna C/I: Moon Colonization and Integration
From the SEDS site:
SEDS-USA is now accepting entries for the SEDS Video Ad contest. We challenge you, your friends, or your club to develop an awesome ad for SEDS-USA that shows the world what our organization is all about!
NASA's Waste Limitation Management and Recycling Design Challenge - NASA NES Teacher's Corner
Mars Education Challenge: Challenging Today's Students to become Tomorrow's Martians - Explore Mars:
The goal of this program will be to challenge science educators around the United States to develop ingenious ways to fit Mars science and exploration into the classroom.
@paulsrobotics: WPI_Robotics #WPI Moonraker, 2k9 FRC Robot, & some RBE class bots at the #makerfaire in NYC this weekend! Stop by & say hi! #omgrobots
@unrocket: Off to FAR to work on the site
Sitting in voyager cafe proteus taxis by must be mojave
101F at FAR mojave did not get the summers over memo
From NASA Centennial Challenges:
For those interested in competing in the three new challenges - the new Allied Organizations will be posting competition rules and plans for team registration sometime after they are selected in October. The actual competitions will probably not begin before 2011.
NASA Selects High Schools To Compete In New Challenge; Winning Software Designs Will Program Satellites on the International Space Station - NASA
ND Satellite Research Contest - University of North Dakota Department of Space Studies:
Through funding provided by Space Grant, Pablo de Leon and UND students will build an actual size satellite that will hang from the ceiling of the Heritage Center. ... Choose one of the satellites. Determine its relevance to North Dakota. ... The one who establishes the best ND connection to the satellite selected will win a prize of $250!
Here we have our quandary: [you] are going to get there first... - Team Phoenicia
@teamprometheus: Thanks to the people that donated to the team we received the new flight control unit for the rocket today! It's... http://fb.me/ILWPL1I2
@conradawards: Check out our new website---http://www.conradawards.org
Google Lunar X PRIZE Roundup #29
Google Lunar X PRIZE Roundup #30 - Luna C/I: Moon Colonization and Integration
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Space Prize Roundup: Masten Members, NYC Maker Faire, NWEN, New Huntsville Team, More
Here's some updates from some NASA Centennial Challenge winning teams and team members:
New crew lineup at Masten Space - RLV News
Transitions - Selenian Boondocks
@wikkit: As requested by @QuantumG, a short video of the short pulsejet run. http://youtu.be/iZYqnz6sDLM It seems almost as loud as the rockets.
Cryofrost grows around cables like a tree around a wound. http://twitpic.com/2mu5hz
@paulsrobotics: Moonraker will most likely be on display in the #WPI Robotics booth at the NYC Maker Faire! Look out for us if you're in the area!
LaserMotive Makes NWEN First Look Forum Top 20 - LaserMotive
There's been a lot of activity with current and future space prizes, too. For the Google Lunar X PRIZE:
Google Lunar X PRIZE Roundup #28 - Luna C/I: Moon Colonization and Integration, covering a wide swath of time
You've probably already heard about the new team:
New Google Lunar X PRIZE Team: Rocket City Space Pioneers! - Luna C/I: Moon Colonization and Integration
Rocket City Space Pioneers announce entry into Google Lunar X Prize competition - Huntsville Newswire
Dynetics Chases Google Lunar X Prize - al.com - photos from the Huntsville Times
Orion Propulsion, now part of Dynetics, was part of the LunaTrex team. Draper Laboratory is also part of the Next Giant Leap team. I might speculate that the Rocket City Space Pioneers could work mainly with a different part of Draper - their Huntsville office.
Space entrepreneurship forum at Congressional Black Caucus conference - RLV News
Google Lunar X PRIZE Summit to be Held on the Isle of Man - X PRIZE Foundation
Here's some other news:
Challenges.gov - RLV News
Some progress... - Unreasonable Rocket
An Orbital Vehicle Part 1 - Unreasonable Rocket
Student Rocketeers Wanted For World's Largest Amateur Launch - Team America Rocketry Challenge Opens Registration - Aero-News.net
New crew lineup at Masten Space - RLV News
Transitions - Selenian Boondocks
@wikkit: As requested by @QuantumG, a short video of the short pulsejet run. http://youtu.be/iZYqnz6sDLM It seems almost as loud as the rockets.
Cryofrost grows around cables like a tree around a wound. http://twitpic.com/2mu5hz
@paulsrobotics: Moonraker will most likely be on display in the #WPI Robotics booth at the NYC Maker Faire! Look out for us if you're in the area!
LaserMotive Makes NWEN First Look Forum Top 20 - LaserMotive
There's been a lot of activity with current and future space prizes, too. For the Google Lunar X PRIZE:
Google Lunar X PRIZE Roundup #28 - Luna C/I: Moon Colonization and Integration, covering a wide swath of time
You've probably already heard about the new team:
New Google Lunar X PRIZE Team: Rocket City Space Pioneers! - Luna C/I: Moon Colonization and Integration
Rocket City Space Pioneers announce entry into Google Lunar X Prize competition - Huntsville Newswire
Dynetics Chases Google Lunar X Prize - al.com - photos from the Huntsville Times
Orion Propulsion, now part of Dynetics, was part of the LunaTrex team. Draper Laboratory is also part of the Next Giant Leap team. I might speculate that the Rocket City Space Pioneers could work mainly with a different part of Draper - their Huntsville office.
Space entrepreneurship forum at Congressional Black Caucus conference - RLV News
Google Lunar X PRIZE Summit to be Held on the Isle of Man - X PRIZE Foundation
Here's some other news:
Challenges.gov - RLV News
Some progress... - Unreasonable Rocket
An Orbital Vehicle Part 1 - Unreasonable Rocket
Student Rocketeers Wanted For World's Largest Amateur Launch - Team America Rocketry Challenge Opens Registration - Aero-News.net
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Prize Roundup: Astronaut Glove at NASA, Robotic Precursor RFI, NASAMICI Kick-Off, Moon Art, NASA ASK, More
@digitalart: The 2010 NASA Moon Art Contest: Last night I finished casting my votes as a judge in the NASA Life and Work on the... http://bit.ly/aUSd2r
@fineri: Video here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSE4Y7nkT0E , only a snipit of todays work.
Water test set up today. http://twitpic.com/1q88a2
@NASAMICI: Did several test runs today in prep for Mon big kick-off. Still time for undergrads & faculty to register http://nasamici.com/ #NASA
@paulsrobotics: Moonraker on display for the #makerfaire, come see the #omgrobots and learn more about #wpi http://twitpic.com/1q2clw
Calling all mavericks, for a good X Prize cause - SFGate
Sergey Brin talks to XPrize Audience thru Texai Robot - YouTube
Google Lunar X PRIZE Roundup #19 - Luna C/I: Moon Colonization and Integration
TEAM AMERICA ROCKETRY CHALENGE 2010 FINAL RESULTS (PDF) - Team America Rocketry Challenge
Astronaut Glove Prizewinners Demonstrate their Innovations to NASA Spacesuit Engineers - NASA Centennial Challenges:
On Apr. 30, 2010, the winners of the 2009 Astronaut Glove Challenge visited Johnson Space Center to meet with NASA space suit experts and demonstrate their gloves in a vacuum glove box. ... We are currently evaluating options for future work with the winners of the Astronaut Glove Challenge.
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) - Exploration Precursor Robotic Missions - Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, NASA - NASA NSPIRES - This is not about prizes, but it may be of interest to prize competitors like Google Lunar X PRIZE teams.
Open-Door Innovation - Andrew Petro, NASA ASK Magazine
@fineri: Video here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSE4Y7nkT0E , only a snipit of todays work.
Water test set up today. http://twitpic.com/1q88a2
@NASAMICI: Did several test runs today in prep for Mon big kick-off. Still time for undergrads & faculty to register http://nasamici.com/ #NASA
@paulsrobotics: Moonraker on display for the #makerfaire, come see the #omgrobots and learn more about #wpi http://twitpic.com/1q2clw
Calling all mavericks, for a good X Prize cause - SFGate
Sergey Brin talks to XPrize Audience thru Texai Robot - YouTube
Google Lunar X PRIZE Roundup #19 - Luna C/I: Moon Colonization and Integration
TEAM AMERICA ROCKETRY CHALENGE 2010 FINAL RESULTS (PDF) - Team America Rocketry Challenge
Astronaut Glove Prizewinners Demonstrate their Innovations to NASA Spacesuit Engineers - NASA Centennial Challenges:
On Apr. 30, 2010, the winners of the 2009 Astronaut Glove Challenge visited Johnson Space Center to meet with NASA space suit experts and demonstrate their gloves in a vacuum glove box. ... We are currently evaluating options for future work with the winners of the Astronaut Glove Challenge.
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) - Exploration Precursor Robotic Missions - Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, NASA - NASA NSPIRES - This is not about prizes, but it may be of interest to prize competitors like Google Lunar X PRIZE teams.
Open-Door Innovation - Andrew Petro, NASA ASK Magazine
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Prize Roundup: FAR Weekend, TARC, Power Beam & Tether, Moonraker 2.0 Put to Work
Pennsylvania students win national TARC championship - Rocketry Planet
Briefs: Space elevator newsletter; IKAROS launch delayed - RLV News
The Artsutanov and Pearson prizes - The Space Elevator Blog
The Artsutanov and Pearson Prizes Entry Deadline Extended to May 31 - The Space Elevator Reference
Reach for the Stars Rocket Contest update - Space for All
WPI Breaks Ground for a Stunning – and Sustainable – Sports and Recreation Center - Worcester Polytechnic Institute:
Moonraker 2.0, the student-designed robot that won a $500,000 prize from NASA for its ability to excavate moon dust last year, used its remarkable digging capabilities to kick-off construction of the new center ... The center will provide attractive space for large-scale events, such as admissions open houses, career fairs, national academic conferences and alumni events. In addition, the facility will have space dedicated to WPI's robotics program, and will enable WPI to support regional and national robotics competitions.
Lori Garver's Photos - Collier Award
@gozerog: Find out if a contestant wins a ZERO-G Experience during Friday’s ‘Price is Right’ Showcase Showdown! http://bit.ly/dtNhWv
Three days in the desert. - Unreasonable Rocket
Here are some nice pictures from that desert:
@TeamPrometheus: Lift off! Prometheus II http://bit.ly/d7Kgpj
PaulBreed testing some telemitry equipment at FAR. http://bit.ly/cYEBwP
Flowmetrics working on there alcohol LOX static test in the hangar at FAR http://bit.ly/9KaQo9
Briefs: Space elevator newsletter; IKAROS launch delayed - RLV News
The Artsutanov and Pearson prizes - The Space Elevator Blog
The Artsutanov and Pearson Prizes Entry Deadline Extended to May 31 - The Space Elevator Reference
Reach for the Stars Rocket Contest update - Space for All
WPI Breaks Ground for a Stunning – and Sustainable – Sports and Recreation Center - Worcester Polytechnic Institute:
Moonraker 2.0, the student-designed robot that won a $500,000 prize from NASA for its ability to excavate moon dust last year, used its remarkable digging capabilities to kick-off construction of the new center ... The center will provide attractive space for large-scale events, such as admissions open houses, career fairs, national academic conferences and alumni events. In addition, the facility will have space dedicated to WPI's robotics program, and will enable WPI to support regional and national robotics competitions.
Lori Garver's Photos - Collier Award
@gozerog: Find out if a contestant wins a ZERO-G Experience during Friday’s ‘Price is Right’ Showcase Showdown! http://bit.ly/dtNhWv
Three days in the desert. - Unreasonable Rocket
Here are some nice pictures from that desert:
@TeamPrometheus: Lift off! Prometheus II http://bit.ly/d7Kgpj
PaulBreed testing some telemitry equipment at FAR. http://bit.ly/cYEBwP
Flowmetrics working on there alcohol LOX static test in the hangar at FAR http://bit.ly/9KaQo9
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Weekend Prize Roundup: FAR Results, Electric Aircraft Prizes, UROC contests, more
@alias_amanda: Successful tethered test with @unrocket's Blue vehicle. They are moving to another pad for a higher flight (1200 ft?)
http://twitpic.com/19vxac - There was an in-flight abort at 100+ ft. Vehicle fell to ground.
@wikkit: Super boring rocket video. I know you're all sick of them. :-) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKfnhjdE2wY&fmt=22
@mattcannella: http://twitpic.com/19xq2x - Great Pic our rocket Xombie (@MastenSpace), & the @unrocket blue-ball rocket on the same pad! Bummer day for blu
@ad_astra2: RT @Xconomy Lindbergh Grandson Launches Incentive Prizes for Advances in Electric Aircraft and Green Aviation http://xconomy.com/?p=69372
Here's an excerpt:
The four LEAP awards, which have yet to be funded, will be awarded annually at the EAA’s annual AirVenture “fly-in,” the popular air show held each July in Oshkosh, WI. ...
Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prize (LEAP) - Space for All
I should also mention some items on the CAFE Foundation, another organization with ties to EAA and electric/green aviation:
Eco-Marathon an Echo of the Green Flight Challenge - CAFE Foundation Blog - This relatively new blog has quite a few other posts, too.
The 2010 CAFE Foundation Electric Aircraft Symposium - CAFE Foundation - The dates are April 23-24.
TeamPrometheus: Gimbal control module! Very simple and effective! http://bit.ly/aR2EcT
Space Policy Essay Competition - Space for All
NorthWest Entrepreneur Network Panel Features Tom - LaserMotive
WPI By the Numbers - Worcester Polytechnic Institute
New meeting - DeSoto: ESA´s CanSat competition.
January 2010 Meeting Minutes - UROC.org - The Utah Rocket Club minutes cover Utah TARC entries and the club's Pioneer contest. They will also be involved with NARAM 52 in Pueblo, CO, and hope to help with rocket contests there, too.
http://twitpic.com/19vxac - There was an in-flight abort at 100+ ft. Vehicle fell to ground.
@wikkit: Super boring rocket video. I know you're all sick of them. :-) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKfnhjdE2wY&fmt=22
@mattcannella: http://twitpic.com/19xq2x - Great Pic our rocket Xombie (@MastenSpace), & the @unrocket blue-ball rocket on the same pad! Bummer day for blu
@ad_astra2: RT @Xconomy Lindbergh Grandson Launches Incentive Prizes for Advances in Electric Aircraft and Green Aviation http://xconomy.com/?p=69372
Here's an excerpt:
The four LEAP awards, which have yet to be funded, will be awarded annually at the EAA’s annual AirVenture “fly-in,” the popular air show held each July in Oshkosh, WI. ...
Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prize (LEAP) - Space for All
I should also mention some items on the CAFE Foundation, another organization with ties to EAA and electric/green aviation:
Eco-Marathon an Echo of the Green Flight Challenge - CAFE Foundation Blog - This relatively new blog has quite a few other posts, too.
The 2010 CAFE Foundation Electric Aircraft Symposium - CAFE Foundation - The dates are April 23-24.
TeamPrometheus: Gimbal control module! Very simple and effective! http://bit.ly/aR2EcT
Space Policy Essay Competition - Space for All
NorthWest Entrepreneur Network Panel Features Tom - LaserMotive
WPI By the Numbers - Worcester Polytechnic Institute
New meeting - DeSoto: ESA´s CanSat competition.
January 2010 Meeting Minutes - UROC.org - The Utah Rocket Club minutes cover Utah TARC entries and the club's Pioneer contest. They will also be involved with NARAM 52 in Pueblo, CO, and hope to help with rocket contests there, too.
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Weekend Roundup Part 2 - The Non-Twitter Side
Stephen Hawking to Accept Cosmos Award in Cambridge, England - The Planetary Society - Note that the award presentation was a week ago (the linked press release is from February 24).
Greetings From Space Up in Sunny San Diego! - The Planetary Society reviews the unconference, including photos of people and hardware from Unreasonable Rocket and Masten Space Systems.
Masten Space Systems Update - NASASpaceflight.com - Jon from Masten links to another picture from the unconference in this discussion.
Let's put robots AND humans in space - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Astrobotic's David Gump considers NASA's new budget proposal. Much of the debate over this budget concerns a controversy over whether NASA should use its own systems, commercial systems, or both to give NASA astronauts access to space. This article focuses on a less-debated, but essential, part of the new plan that goes beyond the old astronauts-vs-robotics debate: a new line of robotic astronaut precursor missions to do things like travel to the Moon's surface and demonstrate production of rocket propellant from lunar ice.
NASA Wants to Fund Centennial Challenges at $10 Million Per Year - Parabolic Arc
Bankrupt Sea Launch Gets More Financing – Heinlein Prize Trust Involved - Parabolic Arc
Centennial Challenges gathering… - The Space Elevator Blog
“One of the problems we had last year was wind-induced oscillation…” - The Space Elevator Blog points to some video clips from Bitter Jester Creative, Inc.
Announcing the Artsutanov and Pearson awards - The Space Elevator Blog
Marshall hosts the 2010 Great Moonbuggy Race - Lunar Networks
Ted Southern - Eyebeam Art + Technology Center
You can see more photos of Ted's astronaut glove at his Glove & Hands page. From there you can also get to his other projects.
A wry report on regolith removal - RLV News
Explore Mars, Inc. opens - Space for All:
... We are pleased to announce the formation of Explore Mars, Inc. (exploremars.org). ... In the first half of 2010, Explore Mars will launch a series of technology development challenges relating to Mars exploration, with prizes ranging from $10,000 - $100,000. ... the first of these challenges will focus on in situ resource utilization - technologies that will allows us to "live off the land" on other planets. ... collaborating with Aerojet and NASA's Spaceward Bound, we will be creating the Mars Education Challenge that will challenge educators to design new and innovative Mars curriculum. ... Explore Mars plans to announce details of at least two prizes in the first half of 2010. The Explore Mars team includes individuals such as Apollo 11 Astronaut, Buzz Aldrin; NASA Planetary scientist, Dr. Chris McKay; Space historian, Andy Chaikin; former Biosphere 2 director of science and research, Bruno D.V. Marino; and many others.
Aero Club of Atlanta presents Epps Award - GeneralAviationNews.com:
... Huffman has inspired students who later become astronauts, including two students from Henderson High School, the only known school in the world to graduate two NASA astronauts. ... She is the founder of the SEMAA (NASA’s Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy) LINKS Engineering team and sponsored the Wild Blue Wonders Team America Rocketry Challenge. ...
The latest NewSpace News links to an article by Peter Diamandis, Beam Power team LaserMotive, and information about the 2010 Space Access conference that includes numerous space prize teams.
Johns Hopkins Engineering - Winter 2010 - One of the features in this article is on the JHU Robotics Team. The team participates in the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle competition and the International Aerial Robotics competition.
Working on Blue and.... - Unreasonable Rocket
Volanz Aerospace Thanks Secor Strategies - Secor Strategies
Greetings From Space Up in Sunny San Diego! - The Planetary Society reviews the unconference, including photos of people and hardware from Unreasonable Rocket and Masten Space Systems.
Masten Space Systems Update - NASASpaceflight.com - Jon from Masten links to another picture from the unconference in this discussion.
Let's put robots AND humans in space - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Astrobotic's David Gump considers NASA's new budget proposal. Much of the debate over this budget concerns a controversy over whether NASA should use its own systems, commercial systems, or both to give NASA astronauts access to space. This article focuses on a less-debated, but essential, part of the new plan that goes beyond the old astronauts-vs-robotics debate: a new line of robotic astronaut precursor missions to do things like travel to the Moon's surface and demonstrate production of rocket propellant from lunar ice.
NASA Wants to Fund Centennial Challenges at $10 Million Per Year - Parabolic Arc
Bankrupt Sea Launch Gets More Financing – Heinlein Prize Trust Involved - Parabolic Arc
Centennial Challenges gathering… - The Space Elevator Blog
“One of the problems we had last year was wind-induced oscillation…” - The Space Elevator Blog points to some video clips from Bitter Jester Creative, Inc.
Announcing the Artsutanov and Pearson awards - The Space Elevator Blog
Marshall hosts the 2010 Great Moonbuggy Race - Lunar Networks
Ted Southern - Eyebeam Art + Technology Center
You can see more photos of Ted's astronaut glove at his Glove & Hands page. From there you can also get to his other projects.
A wry report on regolith removal - RLV News
Explore Mars, Inc. opens - Space for All:
... We are pleased to announce the formation of Explore Mars, Inc. (exploremars.org). ... In the first half of 2010, Explore Mars will launch a series of technology development challenges relating to Mars exploration, with prizes ranging from $10,000 - $100,000. ... the first of these challenges will focus on in situ resource utilization - technologies that will allows us to "live off the land" on other planets. ... collaborating with Aerojet and NASA's Spaceward Bound, we will be creating the Mars Education Challenge that will challenge educators to design new and innovative Mars curriculum. ... Explore Mars plans to announce details of at least two prizes in the first half of 2010. The Explore Mars team includes individuals such as Apollo 11 Astronaut, Buzz Aldrin; NASA Planetary scientist, Dr. Chris McKay; Space historian, Andy Chaikin; former Biosphere 2 director of science and research, Bruno D.V. Marino; and many others.
Aero Club of Atlanta presents Epps Award - GeneralAviationNews.com:
... Huffman has inspired students who later become astronauts, including two students from Henderson High School, the only known school in the world to graduate two NASA astronauts. ... She is the founder of the SEMAA (NASA’s Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy) LINKS Engineering team and sponsored the Wild Blue Wonders Team America Rocketry Challenge. ...
The latest NewSpace News links to an article by Peter Diamandis, Beam Power team LaserMotive, and information about the 2010 Space Access conference that includes numerous space prize teams.
Johns Hopkins Engineering - Winter 2010 - One of the features in this article is on the JHU Robotics Team. The team participates in the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle competition and the International Aerial Robotics competition.
Working on Blue and.... - Unreasonable Rocket
Volanz Aerospace Thanks Secor Strategies - Secor Strategies
Friday, February 19, 2010
Centennial Challenges Ceremony, Lots of Masten Activity, LaserMotive Expands, Much More
Centennial Challenges technical symposium and recognition ceremony - RLV News - They are in Washington DC on February 25-26. Here's the technical symposium agenda.
Winning mission patch for the last Shuttle mission - Space for All
Last Chance to Enter Kids’ Science Challenge! - Space for All
Masten Space Xombie highlights video - RLV News
21st Century Space Operations: Challenges and Opportunities - MIT Entreprise Forum - Central Coast - This was on February 17, and on e of the speakers was Dave Masten.
Tom and Dave go full-time - LaserMotive:
Although the focus for Team LaserMotive is on the 2010 Level 2 prize in the Power Beaming Challenge (scheduled for May), LaserMotive, LLC, has its eye on the future applications of power beaming.
For example, LaserMotive is already working to develop ways of recharging unmanned aerial vehicles, such as the “drones” used by the military. The majority of drones that are lost are lost during takeoff and landing for refueling.
Rocket Racing League Announces "Inaugural Show" - AVweb
Moon dreams - The Economist - This discusses private space plans, including Space Adventures, Bigelow, and the Google Lunar X PRIZE teams:
Now, though, the private sector is arguing that the new spending plan actually makes it more likely America will return to the moon. ...
If the United States is to return to the moon, it needs to do so in a way that is demonstrably superior to the first trip—for example, being led by business rather than government. Engaging in another government-driven spending battle, this time with the Chinese, will do nothing more than show that America has missed the point.
Humobots in space - COSMIC LOG - The Google Lunar X PRIZE is featured in this discussion of lunar robotics.
CanSat teachers attend introductory workshop - ESA
Masten Space provides flight to New Mexico student team - RLV News - From Masten's press release:
Masten Space Systems announced that it is offering the winner of the Next-generation Suborbital Research Conference 2010 Student Suborbital Experiment Competition a free zero gravity flight. The winning proposal was New Mexico State University’s “Experimental Validation of a Robotics-Based Inertial Property Identification Algorithm for Orbiting Spacecraft.”
Here are some twitter updates:
@paulsrobotics: working late preparing some robots for Motorama this weekend! (Broadcasting live at http://ustre.am/54fd)
@Doug_Comstock: Check out the NASA Pavilion at Innocentive where you can help NASA solve 3 important challenges. Visit http://tinyurl.com/NASA-Pavilion
@LaserMotive: Press release on LaserMotive expansion and personnel additions: http://bit.ly/cxl32j
@csf_spaceflight: CSF Welcomes Historic NASA Commitment of $75 Million for Commercial Suborbital Flights and Payloads: http://is.gd/8GjCJ #NSRC
Winning mission patch for the last Shuttle mission - Space for All
Last Chance to Enter Kids’ Science Challenge! - Space for All
Masten Space Xombie highlights video - RLV News
21st Century Space Operations: Challenges and Opportunities - MIT Entreprise Forum - Central Coast - This was on February 17, and on e of the speakers was Dave Masten.
Tom and Dave go full-time - LaserMotive:
Although the focus for Team LaserMotive is on the 2010 Level 2 prize in the Power Beaming Challenge (scheduled for May), LaserMotive, LLC, has its eye on the future applications of power beaming.
For example, LaserMotive is already working to develop ways of recharging unmanned aerial vehicles, such as the “drones” used by the military. The majority of drones that are lost are lost during takeoff and landing for refueling.
Rocket Racing League Announces "Inaugural Show" - AVweb
Moon dreams - The Economist - This discusses private space plans, including Space Adventures, Bigelow, and the Google Lunar X PRIZE teams:
Now, though, the private sector is arguing that the new spending plan actually makes it more likely America will return to the moon. ...
If the United States is to return to the moon, it needs to do so in a way that is demonstrably superior to the first trip—for example, being led by business rather than government. Engaging in another government-driven spending battle, this time with the Chinese, will do nothing more than show that America has missed the point.
Humobots in space - COSMIC LOG - The Google Lunar X PRIZE is featured in this discussion of lunar robotics.
CanSat teachers attend introductory workshop - ESA
Masten Space provides flight to New Mexico student team - RLV News - From Masten's press release:
Masten Space Systems announced that it is offering the winner of the Next-generation Suborbital Research Conference 2010 Student Suborbital Experiment Competition a free zero gravity flight. The winning proposal was New Mexico State University’s “Experimental Validation of a Robotics-Based Inertial Property Identification Algorithm for Orbiting Spacecraft.”
Here are some twitter updates:
@paulsrobotics: working late preparing some robots for Motorama this weekend! (Broadcasting live at http://ustre.am/54fd)
@Doug_Comstock: Check out the NASA Pavilion at Innocentive where you can help NASA solve 3 important challenges. Visit http://tinyurl.com/NASA-Pavilion
@LaserMotive: Press release on LaserMotive expansion and personnel additions: http://bit.ly/cxl32j
@csf_spaceflight: CSF Welcomes Historic NASA Commitment of $75 Million for Commercial Suborbital Flights and Payloads: http://is.gd/8GjCJ #NSRC
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Numerous Google Lunar X PRIZE Updates, More
@paulsrobotics Saturday night, perfect time to machine robot parts! http://twitpic.com/11tfkw
@glxp Fun visit with @Bob_Richards of @Odyssey_Moon this morning at the #xprize office: http://bit.ly/d7hN88
@PTScientists http://twitpic.com/11cpsr - yesterday we were in geek heaven. no pictures from the inside tho.
Harvard-Based Crowdsource Project Seeks New Diabetes Answers — & Questions - Wired
Moon Exploration is Not Dead - Space Travel - Exploration and Tourism
@ikluft: Space Access Conference Apr 8-10 in Phoenix, info update posted at http://space-access.org/ #newspace
@Odyssey_Moon Historic NASA funding announcement coincided with a Google Lunar X PRIZE Team Summit @NASAJPL http://bit.ly/cgAsIi #GLXP
@glxp Fun visit with @Bob_Richards of @Odyssey_Moon this morning at the #xprize office: http://bit.ly/d7hN88
@PTScientists http://twitpic.com/11cpsr - yesterday we were in geek heaven. no pictures from the inside tho.
Harvard-Based Crowdsource Project Seeks New Diabetes Answers — & Questions - Wired
Moon Exploration is Not Dead - Space Travel - Exploration and Tourism
@ikluft: Space Access Conference Apr 8-10 in Phoenix, info update posted at http://space-access.org/ #newspace
@JUXTOPIA_JURBAN NSBE Space partners with JURBAN Team for the Goolge Lunar X PRIZE.
@LunaCI This week's Google Lunar X PRIZE Roundup is a juicy one! Ton of interesting news. http://is.gd/7OExO #GLXP
@synergymoon Team SYNERGY MOON will be at the San Diego Science Festival Expo Day, March 27th, 2010! http://bit.ly/bWkduK@Odyssey_Moon Historic NASA funding announcement coincided with a Google Lunar X PRIZE Team Summit @NASAJPL http://bit.ly/cgAsIi #GLXP
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Idea Connection list, Dave Masten and FREDNET, International Cansat, SLI, What If?, and more
@TeamPrometheus - Tommrow we start on 2 new landers for Frednet! I'll post when we go Live on livestream. http://bit.ly/8wEv2s
David Masten Intro - FREDNET forum:
The particular tasks I've volunteered for are to do a trade study on liquid propulsion systems for the lander and bus, and then trade on the idea of a single stage or two stage approach. After that, I think I need to get with the lander folks and ask for some changes, and start in on the TLI stage design and engine designs.
Idea Connection has a list of Open Innovation Success Stories that includes several NASA Centennial Challenges:
Xoie - Reusable Rocket (Masten and the Lunar Lander Challenge)
Otis (LaserMotive and the Beam Power Challenge)
NASA uses Open Innovation Contest to develop Moonraker (Paul's Robotics and the Regolith Excavation Challenge)
Open Innovation: Astronaut Glove (Peter Homer and the Astronaut Gove Challenge)
Other prize competitions are also included in the list.
@GoZeroG - Compete for cash prizes in the What if? Student Competition. Register your 6th, 7th, or 8th grader at http://bit.ly/5W2sPH
The 8th Continent Project Business Plan Competition 2010 - Colorado Space Coalition
@NASA_Ames - Design your Space Settlement (6-12th graders, D/L March 31st) http://settlement.arc.nasa.gov/ .:. 70s inspiration: http://is.gd/6cUHa
@tedprize - Can Oceans Survive the Human Appetite for Seafood? Sylvia Earle on "Talk of the Nation" http://bit.ly/6GQqtV
Alliances Takes us Back to School with the Newly Launched X PRIZE Lab at UW - neXt PRIZE
Rocket Boys volunteer remembered by co-workers - Al.com
Once Upon a Time, There Was a Rocket - NASA on the Student Launch Initiative
Mars Experiment Design Competition winners - Space for All:
... The competition invited Florida middle and high school students to design scientific experiments to send to the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah in March 2010. ...
8th-11th April 2010, Madrid, Are you ready for it? - International Cansat Competition
Ciaraldi on Award-Winning Robot Team - Worcester Polytechnic Institute Computer Science
David Masten Intro - FREDNET forum:
The particular tasks I've volunteered for are to do a trade study on liquid propulsion systems for the lander and bus, and then trade on the idea of a single stage or two stage approach. After that, I think I need to get with the lander folks and ask for some changes, and start in on the TLI stage design and engine designs.
Idea Connection has a list of Open Innovation Success Stories that includes several NASA Centennial Challenges:
Xoie - Reusable Rocket (Masten and the Lunar Lander Challenge)
Otis (LaserMotive and the Beam Power Challenge)
NASA uses Open Innovation Contest to develop Moonraker (Paul's Robotics and the Regolith Excavation Challenge)
Open Innovation: Astronaut Glove (Peter Homer and the Astronaut Gove Challenge)
Other prize competitions are also included in the list.
@GoZeroG - Compete for cash prizes in the What if? Student Competition. Register your 6th, 7th, or 8th grader at http://bit.ly/5W2sPH
The 8th Continent Project Business Plan Competition 2010 - Colorado Space Coalition
@NASA_Ames - Design your Space Settlement (6-12th graders, D/L March 31st) http://settlement.arc.nasa.gov/ .:. 70s inspiration: http://is.gd/6cUHa
@tedprize - Can Oceans Survive the Human Appetite for Seafood? Sylvia Earle on "Talk of the Nation" http://bit.ly/6GQqtV
Alliances Takes us Back to School with the Newly Launched X PRIZE Lab at UW - neXt PRIZE
Rocket Boys volunteer remembered by co-workers - Al.com
Once Upon a Time, There Was a Rocket - NASA on the Student Launch Initiative
Mars Experiment Design Competition winners - Space for All:
... The competition invited Florida middle and high school students to design scientific experiments to send to the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah in March 2010. ...
8th-11th April 2010, Madrid, Are you ready for it? - International Cansat Competition
Ciaraldi on Award-Winning Robot Team - Worcester Polytechnic Institute Computer Science
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
A Look Back at the Regolith Excavation Challenge
Much More Than We Anticipated, Less Than We Deserved - Big Freewheeling Digger - This is a great summary of what this team encountered at the 2009 Regolith Excavation Challenge, including close calls, triumphs, and controveries. Looking ahead:
What next? In the short term, the team has been invited by NASA to participate in a in-situ resource utilization exercise this February. Fortunately, it is in Hawaii so the team can take some much needed rest after their work is complete. In the long term, I have been hoping to enter the NASA power beaming challenge with an approach unlike any fielded so far. ...
What next? In the short term, the team has been invited by NASA to participate in a in-situ resource utilization exercise this February. Fortunately, it is in Hawaii so the team can take some much needed rest after their work is complete. In the long term, I have been hoping to enter the NASA power beaming challenge with an approach unlike any fielded so far. ...
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Prize Roundup: 2009 Lunar Lander Challenge and Space Elevator Games Even Closer, GLXP Variety, X PRIZE Meeting, Regolith Reviews, New Mexico News
Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge
@nasaprize - on the way to california for the final lunar lander attempts of 2009
@dmasten - We have been testing so much our Pad A looks worse than the lunar pad. http://twitpic.com/n5mjn
I think we are ready for #ngllc level 2. All tests are done. Last was a nice stable hover of 195sec in 30+ knot winds.
@mojaverocketguy - In at the shop, bright and surly. At least not 4:50am like last Tuesday.
Bad news: Missed seeing the flight because I someone had to stay for the UPS delivery. Good news: Xoie's fine and I heard it from the shop.
Doing concrete work in 50mph wind gusts--not fun. Good thing I got myself a college edjumacation so I wouldn't have to do jobs like that...
@ngllc09 - #NGLLC news update on The Launch Pad: http://bit.ly/lLWxm
NGLLC 2009: And Here They Come Down the Final Stretch! New post on The Launch Pad: http://bit.ly/I3QSI #ngllc
Tune in tmrw for webcast of Masten Lvl 2 #NGLLC attempt starting at 9am PST/16:00 UTC: http://bit.ly/ngllc09
Unreasonable update - RLV News
BonNova recap - RLV News
Briefs: Speed Up hybrid test; Source of rocket grade H2O2 - RLV News
I'm posting these Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge updates on Wednesday morning:
Unreasonable ups and downs - RLV News
Masten Space Level II attempt - Oct..28.09 - viewing info - RLV News - Using the #ngllc twitter search on this page, you can already see a lot of tweets on the event as people get ready to go, like these:
alias_amanda: Only for a rocket launch could I be up at 4am and be somewhat happy about it #ngllc
ikluft: I'll be tweeting from Mojave today for the @mastenspace flight in Level 2 of the Lunar Lander Challenge #ngllc
Pomerantz: Made it to Mojave (& gave #NGLLC team SpeedUp's Bob Steinke a ride on the way up). Excited for tmrw's @mastenspace flights! Godspeed, Xoie
Space Elevator Games: Power Beaming/Tether Climber
@lasermotive - The designing, building and testing is finally done. Today the packing begins. We are ready.
@segames - Very good - just organized a commentary team for the live cast. (Live video has a lot of boring moments, and while we have some B-roll+ ... material, there's nothing like play-by-play descriptions.)
NASA Centennial Power Beaming Challenge to Feature Three Teams - The Space Elevator Reference
Games updates - The Space Elevator Blog
Briefs: Power Beaming Challenge; Regolith scraper - RLV News
Regolith Excavation Challenge
@doug_comstock - Check out cool Gigapan images (a nasa spinoff http://tinyurl.com/bm3pl6) from the Regolith Excavation Challenge: http://tinyurl.com/yk45lmf
@paulsrobotics - WPI Reception for the team is currently scheduled for Wednesday at 2PM in HL005 (we think). Feel free to stop by... http://bit.ly/1Y75C
Also see the RLV News link in the previous section for another Regolith Excavation Challenge article.
Google Lunar X PRIZE
@team_selenokhod - The first Selenokhod mockup rollout: http://selenokhod.com/en/node/44
The first Russian private-built-rover at Mission Control Center: http://selenokhod.com/en/node/45 That was amazing!
@nextgiantleap - Nice day for a drive to Louisville, CO, but looks like snow for the way home. ... Looking forward to meetings at SNC tomorrow!
@omegaenvoy - With our rover naming contest coming to an end, will you be the one to break the tie? http://bit.ly/POiyi #GLXP
Notice the new name (with an underscore) on the twitter address for this next one:
@Odyssey_Moon - Odyssey Moon Chief Scientist Dr. Paul Spudis on lunar lava tubes: http://bit.ly/19GDbc
@arcaspace - Octomber 23, 2009 - CONSTANTA The first launch attempt of Helen vehicle will take place starting with October 29... http://bit.ly/2NEU5n
Other Prizes
Economy, rule change ground X Prize plans - Las Cruces Sun: Landeene said the X Prize Cup does spur interest in aerospace among students.
"Ultimately, what I'd like to do is have X Prize-like events at the spaceport and surrounding community," he said.
Spaceport Visitor Center Approved - - KRWG TV: The Board of Directors of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) has voted to establish a welcome center for Spaceport America in downtown Truth or Consequences... A welcome center is also planned for the village of Hatch which is on the southern approach to Spaceport America.
@fineri (N-Prize team) - http://twitpic.com/mzn62 - Plumbing all done, cone needs finishing, electronics and engine need integrating.
@peterdiamandis - Great X Prize Trustees dinner at Elon Musk's home... great crowd, Sergey Brin, Ansari Family, Beyster's, Mike Boustridge, Jim Gianopulos... great to also host Esther Dyson, Peter Bloom, Rob McEwen, Erik Lindbergh and Peter Ferrel
i am searching for a strong Director/Chief of Staff to work with me as CEO of X Prize, MBA desired. LA base @ XPF HQ
@nasaprize - on the way to california for the final lunar lander attempts of 2009
@dmasten - We have been testing so much our Pad A looks worse than the lunar pad. http://twitpic.com/n5mjn
I think we are ready for #ngllc level 2. All tests are done. Last was a nice stable hover of 195sec in 30+ knot winds.
@mojaverocketguy - In at the shop, bright and surly. At least not 4:50am like last Tuesday.
Bad news: Missed seeing the flight because I someone had to stay for the UPS delivery. Good news: Xoie's fine and I heard it from the shop.
Doing concrete work in 50mph wind gusts--not fun. Good thing I got myself a college edjumacation so I wouldn't have to do jobs like that...
@ngllc09 - #NGLLC news update on The Launch Pad: http://bit.ly/lLWxm
NGLLC 2009: And Here They Come Down the Final Stretch! New post on The Launch Pad: http://bit.ly/I3QSI #ngllc
Tune in tmrw for webcast of Masten Lvl 2 #NGLLC attempt starting at 9am PST/16:00 UTC: http://bit.ly/ngllc09
Unreasonable update - RLV News
BonNova recap - RLV News
Briefs: Speed Up hybrid test; Source of rocket grade H2O2 - RLV News
I'm posting these Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge updates on Wednesday morning:
Unreasonable ups and downs - RLV News
Masten Space Level II attempt - Oct..28.09 - viewing info - RLV News - Using the #ngllc twitter search on this page, you can already see a lot of tweets on the event as people get ready to go, like these:
alias_amanda: Only for a rocket launch could I be up at 4am and be somewhat happy about it #ngllc
ikluft: I'll be tweeting from Mojave today for the @mastenspace flight in Level 2 of the Lunar Lander Challenge #ngllc
Pomerantz: Made it to Mojave (& gave #NGLLC team SpeedUp's Bob Steinke a ride on the way up). Excited for tmrw's @mastenspace flights! Godspeed, Xoie
Space Elevator Games: Power Beaming/Tether Climber
@lasermotive - The designing, building and testing is finally done. Today the packing begins. We are ready.
@segames - Very good - just organized a commentary team for the live cast. (Live video has a lot of boring moments, and while we have some B-roll+ ... material, there's nothing like play-by-play descriptions.)
NASA Centennial Power Beaming Challenge to Feature Three Teams - The Space Elevator Reference
Games updates - The Space Elevator Blog
Briefs: Power Beaming Challenge; Regolith scraper - RLV News
Regolith Excavation Challenge
@doug_comstock - Check out cool Gigapan images (a nasa spinoff http://tinyurl.com/bm3pl6) from the Regolith Excavation Challenge: http://tinyurl.com/yk45lmf
@paulsrobotics - WPI Reception for the team is currently scheduled for Wednesday at 2PM in HL005 (we think). Feel free to stop by... http://bit.ly/1Y75C
Also see the RLV News link in the previous section for another Regolith Excavation Challenge article.
Google Lunar X PRIZE
@team_selenokhod - The first Selenokhod mockup rollout: http://selenokhod.com/en/node/44
The first Russian private-built-rover at Mission Control Center: http://selenokhod.com/en/node/45 That was amazing!
@nextgiantleap - Nice day for a drive to Louisville, CO, but looks like snow for the way home. ... Looking forward to meetings at SNC tomorrow!
@omegaenvoy - With our rover naming contest coming to an end, will you be the one to break the tie? http://bit.ly/POiyi #GLXP
Notice the new name (with an underscore) on the twitter address for this next one:
@Odyssey_Moon - Odyssey Moon Chief Scientist Dr. Paul Spudis on lunar lava tubes: http://bit.ly/19GDbc
@arcaspace - Octomber 23, 2009 - CONSTANTA The first launch attempt of Helen vehicle will take place starting with October 29... http://bit.ly/2NEU5n
Other Prizes
Economy, rule change ground X Prize plans - Las Cruces Sun: Landeene said the X Prize Cup does spur interest in aerospace among students.
"Ultimately, what I'd like to do is have X Prize-like events at the spaceport and surrounding community," he said.
Spaceport Visitor Center Approved - - KRWG TV: The Board of Directors of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) has voted to establish a welcome center for Spaceport America in downtown Truth or Consequences... A welcome center is also planned for the village of Hatch which is on the southern approach to Spaceport America.
@fineri (N-Prize team) - http://twitpic.com/mzn62 - Plumbing all done, cone needs finishing, electronics and engine need integrating.
@peterdiamandis - Great X Prize Trustees dinner at Elon Musk's home... great crowd, Sergey Brin, Ansari Family, Beyster's, Mike Boustridge, Jim Gianopulos... great to also host Esther Dyson, Peter Bloom, Rob McEwen, Erik Lindbergh and Peter Ferrel
i am searching for a strong Director/Chief of Staff to work with me as CEO of X Prize, MBA desired. LA base @ XPF HQ
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
After the 2009 Regolith Excavation Challenge, Getting Ready for Big Lunar Lander Challenge Week, Automotive X PRIZE Downselect, More
Regolith Excavation Challenge
@regolith_chal - NASA Administrator Charles Bolden talks about how @regolith_chal winners help to inspire the next generation: http://moourl.com/irp75
@doug_comstock - It looks like all 3 prizes for Regolith Excavation Challenge will be awarded!! See pictures of the competition: http://tinyurl.com/yh37a3f
@paulsrobotics - We won! Special thanks to our sponsors: WPI, Barnstorm Cycles, Hydro-cutter, AIAA New England, and Hacker Dojo! #WPI http://bit.ly/5x5Rp
article on msnbc http://bit.ly/26MLCR great photo of the team with the #WPI flag
This article includes a video of us excavating from the New Scientist http://bit.ly/C0aEm
Big Win - $750,000 in Prize Money for Lunar Excavators - The Launch Pad
From Regolith Excavation Challenge 2009:
Photos by Jamie Foster are here: Regolith-Media.
Many more photos by Jamie Foster are here: Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
(I've already pointed out some of the other links there to Regolith Excavation Challenge photos, videos, news, and more.)
@pkhomer - ... We were allowed a demo run in the sandbox after the final presentations. Our bot delivered JSC-1A at a rate of over 2 kilos per second!
... We didn't, and the teams that did put it all together won fair & square. One thing we got very right is the digger...
Will post video & details in a few days when i get home.
Google Lunar X PRIZE
@teamfrednet - Some of our members are working on a high altitude balloon to be launched soon. Here is a video showing some tests: http://bit.ly/27hRNP
@arcaspace - ARCA message in the World Kids Stories E-book no 3, after the Obama family introduction http://bit.ly/4a6LAL
Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge
Unreasonable update - RLV News
Briefs: Unreasonable update; NGLLC schedule. - RLV News
@unrocket - On site at 630
@wikkit - http://twitpic.com/mdfno - MSS Strategic Helium Repository, or the source of Talk Like a Tween Tuesday.
http://twitpic.com/mdkld - I sent a bit of text to the AV press, and they ran a nice article.
Progressive Automotive X PRIZE
@progautoxp - Auto X Prize cuts green-car contest pool in half http://ow.ly/vhQ1
Check out this multimedia news release for details, videos, slideshow and more http://ow.ly/vhXW
ThinkWrap, Auto X Prize partner for "near-real time" race vehicle monitoring - Autoblog Green
Students build green cars for $7.5M in prizes - Today Show (link from X PRIZE Foundation)
Design Judging Complete: Over Half of All Entries Eliminated - Progressive Automotive X PRIZE blog
Space Elevator Games - Power Beaming/Climbing
@lasermotive - Autumnal illnesses are striking many of us. I hope we're all healthy for the competition!
Power beam climbing at the local REI store - RLV News
Other prizes
Cheap Contest II - Selenian Boondocks
@glxp - Calling all coders! @_TopCoder_ announces NASA challenge to benefit human spaceflight: http://bit.ly/20zcQ4 (thx @spaceguy)
@pomerantz - RT @tim846: NASA FIRST Robotics Grants Available - applications due Nov. 2! More info at http://bit.ly/Bz83i (via @defygravity0G)
NASA Chief Praises Commercial Spaceflight, Suborbital Science, & Innovation Prizes in Speech - Commercial Spaceflight Federation
@regolith_chal - NASA Administrator Charles Bolden talks about how @regolith_chal winners help to inspire the next generation: http://moourl.com/irp75
@doug_comstock - It looks like all 3 prizes for Regolith Excavation Challenge will be awarded!! See pictures of the competition: http://tinyurl.com/yh37a3f
@paulsrobotics - We won! Special thanks to our sponsors: WPI, Barnstorm Cycles, Hydro-cutter, AIAA New England, and Hacker Dojo! #WPI http://bit.ly/5x5Rp
article on msnbc http://bit.ly/26MLCR great photo of the team with the #WPI flag
This article includes a video of us excavating from the New Scientist http://bit.ly/C0aEm
Big Win - $750,000 in Prize Money for Lunar Excavators - The Launch Pad
From Regolith Excavation Challenge 2009:
Photos by Jamie Foster are here: Regolith-Media.
Many more photos by Jamie Foster are here: Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
(I've already pointed out some of the other links there to Regolith Excavation Challenge photos, videos, news, and more.)
@pkhomer - ... We were allowed a demo run in the sandbox after the final presentations. Our bot delivered JSC-1A at a rate of over 2 kilos per second!
... We didn't, and the teams that did put it all together won fair & square. One thing we got very right is the digger...
Will post video & details in a few days when i get home.
Google Lunar X PRIZE
@teamfrednet - Some of our members are working on a high altitude balloon to be launched soon. Here is a video showing some tests: http://bit.ly/27hRNP
@arcaspace - ARCA message in the World Kids Stories E-book no 3, after the Obama family introduction http://bit.ly/4a6LAL
Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge
Unreasonable update - RLV News
Briefs: Unreasonable update; NGLLC schedule. - RLV News
@unrocket - On site at 630
@wikkit - http://twitpic.com/mdfno - MSS Strategic Helium Repository, or the source of Talk Like a Tween Tuesday.
http://twitpic.com/mdkld - I sent a bit of text to the AV press, and they ran a nice article.
Progressive Automotive X PRIZE
@progautoxp - Auto X Prize cuts green-car contest pool in half http://ow.ly/vhQ1
Check out this multimedia news release for details, videos, slideshow and more http://ow.ly/vhXW
ThinkWrap, Auto X Prize partner for "near-real time" race vehicle monitoring - Autoblog Green
Students build green cars for $7.5M in prizes - Today Show (link from X PRIZE Foundation)
Design Judging Complete: Over Half of All Entries Eliminated - Progressive Automotive X PRIZE blog
Space Elevator Games - Power Beaming/Climbing
@lasermotive - Autumnal illnesses are striking many of us. I hope we're all healthy for the competition!
Power beam climbing at the local REI store - RLV News
Other prizes
Cheap Contest II - Selenian Boondocks
@glxp - Calling all coders! @_TopCoder_ announces NASA challenge to benefit human spaceflight: http://bit.ly/20zcQ4 (thx @spaceguy)
@pomerantz - RT @tim846: NASA FIRST Robotics Grants Available - applications due Nov. 2! More info at http://bit.ly/Bz83i (via @defygravity0G)
NASA Chief Praises Commercial Spaceflight, Suborbital Science, & Innovation Prizes in Speech - Commercial Spaceflight Federation
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Continuing Regolith Excavation Challenge Coverage
Here's a continuation of the Regolith Excavation Challenge coverage I started in this post:
Regolith Challenge Update: Braundo Rancho Qualified for Prize - Parabolic Arc summarizes the events of the day.
Lunar Regolith Challenge Photos - Parabolic Arc (the post above also has some nice pictures)
Video: Lunar Excavator in Action - Parabolic Arc
@pkhomer - Tech Ranch has lost their camera! Digging well by blind reconning, but missing the collector.
Rock paper digger. Paper covers rock, rock beats digger! C2 Technologies, also driving blind, runs over rock and gets stuck.
@paulsrobotics - http://twitpic.com/lz0cd Moonraker from our quick photoshoot the other night
@spacemansam - This is what happens when you don't design a lunar rover to handle rocks and soft soil. http://twitpic.com/lyu7e
NASA 2009 Regolith Excavation Challenge Kicks Off - California Space Authority press release at SpaceRef
NASA 2009 Regolith Excavation Games Continue Into Second Day - California Space Authority press release at SpaceRef
Regolith Excavation Challenge 2009 has a number of updates from the competition and shortly before it started:
pictures
video
2009 Regolith Excavation Challenge Presenters (PDF)
@glxp -now that's dust!
The Moonraker officially qualified! Nice job, @paulsrobotics #regolith2009
@nasaprize - Paul's Robotics run was a qualifying one with the highest mass so far
@spacemansam: Prepping a regolith garden requires the skills of a Zen Master. #regolith2009 http://twitpic.com/m1d3k
Moonraker filled up the bin! The scale overloaded! OMG! #regolith2009 http://twitpic.com/m1jk0
Update (Sunday evening):
@pkhomer - Team Terra delivers 270.6 kilos to take 2nd place.
@spacemansam: Team Terra works TOO well. Overloads its own bucket. #regolith2009 http://twitpic.com/m30bz
@spacemansam: Updated photos from 8am to 1pm today http://bit.ly/4bPe3B #regolith2009
Regolith Excavation Challenge update - RLV News - As this post notes, Parabolic Arc has numerous posts on the event. The one I linked has the latest update showing that with 1 team left there are already teams qualified to take first, second, and third places.
Regolith Challenge Update: Braundo Rancho Qualified for Prize - Parabolic Arc summarizes the events of the day.
Lunar Regolith Challenge Photos - Parabolic Arc (the post above also has some nice pictures)
Video: Lunar Excavator in Action - Parabolic Arc
@pkhomer - Tech Ranch has lost their camera! Digging well by blind reconning, but missing the collector.
Rock paper digger. Paper covers rock, rock beats digger! C2 Technologies, also driving blind, runs over rock and gets stuck.
@paulsrobotics - http://twitpic.com/lz0cd Moonraker from our quick photoshoot the other night
@spacemansam - This is what happens when you don't design a lunar rover to handle rocks and soft soil. http://twitpic.com/lyu7e
NASA 2009 Regolith Excavation Challenge Kicks Off - California Space Authority press release at SpaceRef
NASA 2009 Regolith Excavation Games Continue Into Second Day - California Space Authority press release at SpaceRef
Regolith Excavation Challenge 2009 has a number of updates from the competition and shortly before it started:
pictures
video
2009 Regolith Excavation Challenge Presenters (PDF)
@glxp -
The Moonraker officially qualified! Nice job, @paulsrobotics #regolith2009
@nasaprize - Paul's Robotics run was a qualifying one with the highest mass so far
@spacemansam: Prepping a regolith garden requires the skills of a Zen Master. #regolith2009 http://twitpic.com/m1d3k
Moonraker filled up the bin! The scale overloaded! OMG! #regolith2009 http://twitpic.com/m1jk0
Update (Sunday evening):
@pkhomer - Team Terra delivers 270.6 kilos to take 2nd place.
@spacemansam: Team Terra works TOO well. Overloads its own bucket. #regolith2009 http://twitpic.com/m30bz
@spacemansam: Updated photos from 8am to 1pm today http://bit.ly/4bPe3B #regolith2009
Regolith Excavation Challenge update - RLV News - As this post notes, Parabolic Arc has numerous posts on the event. The one I linked has the latest update showing that with 1 team left there are already teams qualified to take first, second, and third places.
Regolith Excavation Main Event Starts Today; NSS SE Team Videos, Robots
Regolith Excavation Challenge
The Stage is Set - Regolith Excavation Challenge
As the main regolith competition approaches, the Regolith Excavation Challenge twitter is for obvious reasons sending out a lot of messages. Here are just a few of them.
@regolith_chal - Here is a gigapan image from earlier today: http://gigapan.org/gigapans/34874/
Thanks @spacevidcast for the fun and well researched video about the regolith challenge. http://moourl.com/0as0f
... We will be posting video clips during event and lots of video will be recorded for distribution later.
@paulsrobotics - #WPI robot has arrived at NASA Ames! Waiting for check-in... http://twitpic.com/lrt8a
#WPI robotics team is @ NASA competition this weekend http://bit.ly/4bP3Qm (via @WPIAlumni)
@nasaprize - In Mountain View CA for Regolith Excavation Challenge today and tomorrow - met with judges last night - teams & venue look great
Update (Saturday afternoon):
A Regolith Challenge team qualifies for purse - RLV News - This also includes a tag that some of the twitter updates are using:
@Regolith_Chal: BTW, the official tag for flickr and other media is #regolith2009.
Here are some of the updates I see using that tag:
@motorbikematt: Check out the Lunar Regolith Excavation Challenge robots #regolith2009 http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbikematt/sets/72157622480723227/
By the way, that picture collection from motorbikematt is well worth checking out.
@spacemansam: Roboexcavators! This is gonna get messy! http://twitpic.com/lw3a3
Team has an impressive control interface, including stereoscopic cameras! #regolith2009 http://twitpic.com/lw8f2
GLXP has a number of updates already, and most of them come with links to pictures. Here's one; click on the glxp link or the tag for more:
@glxp - http://twitpic.com/lxsfa - Team Astrobotic is up in about a half hour with their Moondiggers A robot. Good luck! #lunarRC
Peter Homer of Astronaut Glove Challenge fame is also making some updates:
@pkhomer - 6 of 20 teams done, only 1 successful. We don't know when our turn until 1/2 hour before. I'm updating via Twitter @pkhomer
He also has a number of updates on the status of other teams that have made attempts.
Paul's Robotics is keeping us up to date:
paulsrobotics - Auric and Next Step both moved zero. Top Hat in the box with technical difficulties. Lunar Arc up next...
Top Hat and Lunar Arc also moved zero. Laurentian Rock setting up. Moondiggers A on-deck.
NASA's Doug Comstock has some pictures of the robots:
@doug_comstock - http://twitpic.com/lx6a2 - Some of the robotic excavators in the 2009 regoligh excavation challenge.
http://twitpic.com/lx74f - More of the robotic excavators at the regolith excavation challenge.
Space Elevator Games Power Beaming/Climber Competition
And now, the movie - The Space Elevator Games (look in the "blog" section for the content specific to this post)
There is cool and then there is Über-cool… - The Space Elevator Blog has more video of the first day of the NSS team's recent qualification tests, including the "reflectivity test", the "climber melt test", and the "optics melt test".
A different sort of climber (NSS - plan B) - The Space Elevator Games - This is the 2nd part of the "plan A" story I linked to yesterday.
Other Prizes
@conradawards - Opportunities for Aerospace Innovation, webinar, David Thompson, Pres of AIAA and CEO of Orbtial, Mon., 10/19, 3pm PDT www.conradawards.org
MIT takes the wrappers off autonomous, robotic helicopter with intelligent navigation - Engadget
MileHiCon 41 - - October 23-25, Denver - One of the guest authors for this Science Fiction convention is Nancy Kress, and I happen to be reading her Probability Moon at the moment. That follows yesterday's post that included a contest involving Alastair Reynolds' Zima Blue - and I just finished his Revelation Space. It's all just coincidence. The reason this appears on this blog, though, is the Critter Crunch - a robot battle contest.
The Stage is Set - Regolith Excavation Challenge
As the main regolith competition approaches, the Regolith Excavation Challenge twitter is for obvious reasons sending out a lot of messages. Here are just a few of them.
@regolith_chal - Here is a gigapan image from earlier today: http://gigapan.org/gigapans/34874/
Thanks @spacevidcast for the fun and well researched video about the regolith challenge. http://moourl.com/0as0f
... We will be posting video clips during event and lots of video will be recorded for distribution later.
@paulsrobotics - #WPI robot has arrived at NASA Ames! Waiting for check-in... http://twitpic.com/lrt8a
#WPI robotics team is @ NASA competition this weekend http://bit.ly/4bP3Qm (via @WPIAlumni)
@nasaprize - In Mountain View CA for Regolith Excavation Challenge today and tomorrow - met with judges last night - teams & venue look great
Update (Saturday afternoon):
A Regolith Challenge team qualifies for purse - RLV News - This also includes a tag that some of the twitter updates are using:
@Regolith_Chal: BTW, the official tag for flickr and other media is #regolith2009.
Here are some of the updates I see using that tag:
@motorbikematt: Check out the Lunar Regolith Excavation Challenge robots #regolith2009 http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorbikematt/sets/72157622480723227/
By the way, that picture collection from motorbikematt is well worth checking out.
@spacemansam: Roboexcavators! This is gonna get messy! http://twitpic.com/lw3a3
Team has an impressive control interface, including stereoscopic cameras! #regolith2009 http://twitpic.com/lw8f2
GLXP has a number of updates already, and most of them come with links to pictures. Here's one; click on the glxp link or the tag for more:
@glxp - http://twitpic.com/lxsfa - Team Astrobotic is up in about a half hour with their Moondiggers A robot. Good luck! #lunarRC
Peter Homer of Astronaut Glove Challenge fame is also making some updates:
@pkhomer - 6 of 20 teams done, only 1 successful. We don't know when our turn until 1/2 hour before. I'm updating via Twitter @pkhomer
He also has a number of updates on the status of other teams that have made attempts.
Paul's Robotics is keeping us up to date:
paulsrobotics - Auric and Next Step both moved zero. Top Hat in the box with technical difficulties. Lunar Arc up next...
Top Hat and Lunar Arc also moved zero. Laurentian Rock setting up. Moondiggers A on-deck.
NASA's Doug Comstock has some pictures of the robots:
@doug_comstock - http://twitpic.com/lx6a2 - Some of the robotic excavators in the 2009 regoligh excavation challenge.
http://twitpic.com/lx74f - More of the robotic excavators at the regolith excavation challenge.
Space Elevator Games Power Beaming/Climber Competition
And now, the movie - The Space Elevator Games (look in the "blog" section for the content specific to this post)
There is cool and then there is Über-cool… - The Space Elevator Blog has more video of the first day of the NSS team's recent qualification tests, including the "reflectivity test", the "climber melt test", and the "optics melt test".
A different sort of climber (NSS - plan B) - The Space Elevator Games - This is the 2nd part of the "plan A" story I linked to yesterday.
Other Prizes
@conradawards - Opportunities for Aerospace Innovation, webinar, David Thompson, Pres of AIAA and CEO of Orbtial, Mon., 10/19, 3pm PDT www.conradawards.org
MIT takes the wrappers off autonomous, robotic helicopter with intelligent navigation - Engadget
MileHiCon 41 - - October 23-25, Denver - One of the guest authors for this Science Fiction convention is Nancy Kress, and I happen to be reading her Probability Moon at the moment. That follows yesterday's post that included a contest involving Alastair Reynolds' Zima Blue - and I just finished his Revelation Space. It's all just coincidence. The reason this appears on this blog, though, is the Critter Crunch - a robot battle contest.
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