San Luis Obispo.com has a short article about a local team of students getting ready for the Team America Rocketry Challenge.
Update (Feb 25): Here's another article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentiel on a local team that's going to be part of the Student Launch Initiative. They're in the SLI because they placed 15th in the nation at TARC last year.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Wisconsin Student Rocket Design Competition
The Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium plans to hold a Student Rocket Design Competition where launches will be held this April in Richard Bong State Recreation Area, a spot that Tripoli Wisconsin uses for their launches. The prizes aren't just for engineering presentations and rocket launches to a specified altitude; the teams also have to land with a "Ground Excursion Module" that needs to move quickly away from the landing spot to win. Multiple prizes are at stake; the first place prize is $5,000.
Punkworks and Space Miners videos
The Space Elevator blog has more videos from last year of microwave beam power team Punkworks working, and also goes back to 2005 for Space Miners.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Videos and Articles on New Lunar X PRIZE Teams
San Francisco's ABC Channel 7 has a news video about the new Google Lunar X PRIZE teams. The link also has a separate video interview of Googles Sergei Brin.
Discovery.com Free Space includes a video by Peter Diamandis about the announcement right in front of the Google SpaceShipOne replica, where William Pomerantz's video blog post yesterday was from.
YouTube has a video on the origin of the GLXP by Peter Diamandis. The two X PRIZE Foundation videos I mentioned above have also been loaded to YouTube.
Finally, the Space Fellowship discusses Interplanetary Ventures, a potential GLXP team that hasn't been officially register yet, but that appears to be busy nevertheless.
Update (February 24): FREDNET posts a bit about the event, and may post more later.
Discovery.com Free Space includes a video by Peter Diamandis about the announcement right in front of the Google SpaceShipOne replica, where William Pomerantz's video blog post yesterday was from.
YouTube has a video on the origin of the GLXP by Peter Diamandis. The two X PRIZE Foundation videos I mentioned above have also been loaded to YouTube.
Finally, the Space Fellowship discusses Interplanetary Ventures, a potential GLXP team that hasn't been officially register yet, but that appears to be busy nevertheless.
Update (February 24): FREDNET posts a bit about the event, and may post more later.
Asteroid Prize Proposal
Mark Whittington has a proposal for an asteroid prize. The prize suggestion is on page 3 of the article.
One problem with the current implementation of the Vision for Space Exploration, NASA's ESAS architecture, is that it doesn't plan to return exploration results until 2020. That's a long time for taxpayers and politicians to wait. If a human asteroid mission done with, if we must, the traditional contracting approach can be done before a comparable lunar mission, it's tempting to hope for that route, followed by either Mars or lunar missions. However, I suspect that an asteroid mission using that approach would also involve a huge time gap between the decision to do it and any actual results.
However, the proposal that was publicized before the Stanford meeting Mark describes actually didn't suggest an asteroid as the next step. It suggested adding the capability to an Ares I/Orion baseline, using commercial assistance like a Bigelow module, to do Lagrange point satellite servicing missions to maintain multiple assets like the James Webb Space Telescope. This sounds like it could be achieved much sooner, in which case it would be a quite interesting stepping stone whether the next step is an asteroid or the Moon. It wouldn't solve all of the current problems with ESAS, but it could be an improvement over current plans. Perhaps it would keep Ares 1 productively busy before Ares V is built, allowing commercial vendors to supply the ISS without political resistance from Ares 1 operational supporters.
One problem with the current implementation of the Vision for Space Exploration, NASA's ESAS architecture, is that it doesn't plan to return exploration results until 2020. That's a long time for taxpayers and politicians to wait. If a human asteroid mission done with, if we must, the traditional contracting approach can be done before a comparable lunar mission, it's tempting to hope for that route, followed by either Mars or lunar missions. However, I suspect that an asteroid mission using that approach would also involve a huge time gap between the decision to do it and any actual results.
However, the proposal that was publicized before the Stanford meeting Mark describes actually didn't suggest an asteroid as the next step. It suggested adding the capability to an Ares I/Orion baseline, using commercial assistance like a Bigelow module, to do Lagrange point satellite servicing missions to maintain multiple assets like the James Webb Space Telescope. This sounds like it could be achieved much sooner, in which case it would be a quite interesting stepping stone whether the next step is an asteroid or the Moon. It wouldn't solve all of the current problems with ESAS, but it could be an improvement over current plans. Perhaps it would keep Ares 1 productively busy before Ares V is built, allowing commercial vendors to supply the ISS without political resistance from Ares 1 operational supporters.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Mars Project Challenge
The Mars Society has started a Mars Project Challenge, which is an effort for Mars Society members to suggest ideas for the next project the Society should do to "take it to the next level". It seems like a pretty ambitious level as space society projects go, too, if they have the funding to match their proposal. There isn't a cash prize for the winner, if one is chosen from the suggestions, but the satisfaction of knowing your idea is being used.
Since this is Space Prizes I'll note that there are a lot of ideas already out there in the prize world that might work for the Mars Society. Their own University Rover Challenge could form the basis of a more ambitious Mars rover prize. The idea of the Mars Robotic Construction Challenge held at a Mars Barn is a similar idea, and could get even better if some Centennial Challenges money could be added. Another possibility would be for the Mars Society to pitch in some bonus prizes to give some of those existing Moon-oriented prizes like the Lunar Lander Challenge, Google Lunar X PRIZE, Regolith Excavation Challenge, or MoonROx Challenge a Mars twist.
Of course there are also a lot of non-prize ideas that might also work. Maybe they'll come up with something they can actually get into suborbital or even orbital space using commercial space services, or even hitch a ride to Mars on a government mission.
Since this is Space Prizes I'll note that there are a lot of ideas already out there in the prize world that might work for the Mars Society. Their own University Rover Challenge could form the basis of a more ambitious Mars rover prize. The idea of the Mars Robotic Construction Challenge held at a Mars Barn is a similar idea, and could get even better if some Centennial Challenges money could be added. Another possibility would be for the Mars Society to pitch in some bonus prizes to give some of those existing Moon-oriented prizes like the Lunar Lander Challenge, Google Lunar X PRIZE, Regolith Excavation Challenge, or MoonROx Challenge a Mars twist.
Of course there are also a lot of non-prize ideas that might also work. Maybe they'll come up with something they can actually get into suborbital or even orbital space using commercial space services, or even hitch a ride to Mars on a government mission.
Pomerantz Video Blog on Google Lunar X PRIZE
William Pomerantz has a video blog from Google headquarters right in front of their SpaceShipOne replica. He gives an overview of the announcement of the current Google Lunar X PRIZE teams, and of the status of the prize. He also has some suggestions on how to keep up with GLXP events.
Unreasonable Rocket Makes Room
Unreasonable Rocket had a bittersweet day taking the first rocket to the place where all rockets must one day go. However, this leaves room for the next generation.
Apophis Mission Design Winners To Be Announced Soon
Here & Now has a radio intereview of the Planetary Society's Bruce Betts on the Apophis Mission Design Contest. He gives some flavor of the kinds of innovative proposals that were sent in. The winner should be announced in a few days ...
More on New Google Lunar X PRIZE Teams
Guest reporter Robin at RLV News gathers some more articles on the Google Lunar X PRIZE teams and Space Florida announcement. This SF Chronicle article gathers links to some of the team's sites (apart from the Google Lunar X PRIZE Teams page). It also includes a video of Google's Sergei Brin talking about the origin of the prize. This related article, also by the San Francisco Chronicle, has some interesting and in some cases entertaining comments from members of some of the competing teams.
In case you've linked directly to this post instead of the blog's main page, here's my post from yesterday on the same topic.
In case you've linked directly to this post instead of the blog's main page, here's my post from yesterday on the same topic.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
10 Google Lunar X PRIZE Teams (9 New) in Major Announcement
Yes, the Google Lunar X PRIZE went from 1 team to 10 teams all in 1 announcement!
Some of the new teams are already familiar because although they weren't officially registered they were well publicized ahead of time as Google Lunar X PRIZE teams. Some of them are familiar from past prize competitions like the Ansari X PRIZE and the Lunar Lander Challenge. Some are brand new, as far as I know. There's lots of reporting and commentary already on the announcement, so I'll present some links but I'll try to keep them to ones that strike me as providing different information.
First, check out the official press release from the Google Lunar X PRIZE. Don't overlook the fact that not only does the press release announce and describe all of the teams, but it also announces a new $2M prize for the first place winner from Space Florida, as long as that winner launches from that state. Here's the press release from Space Florida on their strategic partnership with the X PRIZE Foundation. I've had other posts where I've hoped that more bonus prizes would be added (or existing ones ehanced), and this one makes perfect sense all around. Maybe Space Florida should even allow the 2nd place team to win their prize, or some of it, if the Grand Prize winner happens to launch from somewhere else. Second place brings just as much launch business to Florida as first place ... especially if there are a couple successful Florida launches in the middle somewhere that don't happen to win either prize.
Now I'll present some of the other news on the announcement with briefer commentary:
Cnet News.com - This includes some comments from Google's Sergei Brin, the CMU Team's Red Whittaker, Micro-Space, and Odyssey Moon, not to mention some skepticism on the idea of Space-Based Solar Power built from lunar resources from one of the teams.
Red Orbit - This one goes into a lot of detail on the Carnegie Mellon University Moon Prize Team, which is working with Raytheon and the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Lab and Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering in the combined form of Astrobotic Tech. This is a "don't miss" article for anyone interested in GLXP teams. It has a great overview of this prominent GLXP team, demonstrating what each team member brings to the table. From the article:
LPL will provide its premier expertise in designing, building and operating imaging camera systems, Lauretta said. LPL will also convert the Phoenix Science Operations Center by adding such facilities as a clean room and a high bay because the spacecraft will be assembled on campus.
Silicon Valley Mercury News - features one of the team leaders, Adil Jafry, who like many space entrepreneurs has succeeded in another industry and now is trying his luck (a phrase that generally means "skill and motivation") at the space industry.
WBST - An Indiana station covers a local team, LunaTrex. You may have heard of some of the people leader Pete Bitar is working with:
He said the team includes Orion Propulsion and High Altitude Research, both based in Huntsville, Ala.; MC Squared of Phoenix, Ariz.; and Orbit Frontiers of Lafayette.
Other group members come from the University of Dayton (Ohio) and Purdue University, along with several aerospace professionals.
IndyStar - gives another view of the same team.
Popular Science - shows us the logos of the 10 teams.
MSNBC - has a general article with some artists' depictions of 2 of the teams' systems. It's also at Space.com.
Wired Science - gives an overview of the 10 teams.
You can also learn about the teams the same way we've been learning about Odyssey Moon: go to the Google Lunar X PRIZE Teams page. Odyssey Moon has been blogging for a couple months now - since they were officially registered - and now the rest of the teams are expected to do the same. You'll find an enormous amount of information about the teams if you click on their links and followed their detailed team descriptions and initial posts, as well. Speaking of posts, with this long post I actually haven't had a chance to read the Teams' information myself yet ... I'll probably absorb it all gradually, maybe 1 team per day.
Some of the new teams are already familiar because although they weren't officially registered they were well publicized ahead of time as Google Lunar X PRIZE teams. Some of them are familiar from past prize competitions like the Ansari X PRIZE and the Lunar Lander Challenge. Some are brand new, as far as I know. There's lots of reporting and commentary already on the announcement, so I'll present some links but I'll try to keep them to ones that strike me as providing different information.
First, check out the official press release from the Google Lunar X PRIZE. Don't overlook the fact that not only does the press release announce and describe all of the teams, but it also announces a new $2M prize for the first place winner from Space Florida, as long as that winner launches from that state. Here's the press release from Space Florida on their strategic partnership with the X PRIZE Foundation. I've had other posts where I've hoped that more bonus prizes would be added (or existing ones ehanced), and this one makes perfect sense all around. Maybe Space Florida should even allow the 2nd place team to win their prize, or some of it, if the Grand Prize winner happens to launch from somewhere else. Second place brings just as much launch business to Florida as first place ... especially if there are a couple successful Florida launches in the middle somewhere that don't happen to win either prize.
Now I'll present some of the other news on the announcement with briefer commentary:
Cnet News.com - This includes some comments from Google's Sergei Brin, the CMU Team's Red Whittaker, Micro-Space, and Odyssey Moon, not to mention some skepticism on the idea of Space-Based Solar Power built from lunar resources from one of the teams.
Red Orbit - This one goes into a lot of detail on the Carnegie Mellon University Moon Prize Team, which is working with Raytheon and the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Lab and Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering in the combined form of Astrobotic Tech. This is a "don't miss" article for anyone interested in GLXP teams. It has a great overview of this prominent GLXP team, demonstrating what each team member brings to the table. From the article:
LPL will provide its premier expertise in designing, building and operating imaging camera systems, Lauretta said. LPL will also convert the Phoenix Science Operations Center by adding such facilities as a clean room and a high bay because the spacecraft will be assembled on campus.
Silicon Valley Mercury News - features one of the team leaders, Adil Jafry, who like many space entrepreneurs has succeeded in another industry and now is trying his luck (a phrase that generally means "skill and motivation") at the space industry.
WBST - An Indiana station covers a local team, LunaTrex. You may have heard of some of the people leader Pete Bitar is working with:
He said the team includes Orion Propulsion and High Altitude Research, both based in Huntsville, Ala.; MC Squared of Phoenix, Ariz.; and Orbit Frontiers of Lafayette.
Other group members come from the University of Dayton (Ohio) and Purdue University, along with several aerospace professionals.
IndyStar - gives another view of the same team.
Popular Science - shows us the logos of the 10 teams.
MSNBC - has a general article with some artists' depictions of 2 of the teams' systems. It's also at Space.com.
Wired Science - gives an overview of the 10 teams.
You can also learn about the teams the same way we've been learning about Odyssey Moon: go to the Google Lunar X PRIZE Teams page. Odyssey Moon has been blogging for a couple months now - since they were officially registered - and now the rest of the teams are expected to do the same. You'll find an enormous amount of information about the teams if you click on their links and followed their detailed team descriptions and initial posts, as well. Speaking of posts, with this long post I actually haven't had a chance to read the Teams' information myself yet ... I'll probably absorb it all gradually, maybe 1 team per day.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Google Lunar X PRIZE Discussed at International Space University
In his latest X PRIZE Foundation blog post, William Pomerantz discusses his recent (return) visit to the International Space University, where he discussed the Google Lunar X PRIZE with the current students. He also mentions ways for teams who haven't officially registered yet to let the world (including potention team members) know they're out there, like posting to the GLXP Forum and attending the GLXP Team Summit.
Latest Draft of Space Access '08 Speakers With Prize-Related Additions
The first draft of speakers at Space Access '08 has been updated, and since 2 of the additions are prize-related, I'm going to make a copy of the latest speaker list here:
Confirmed SA'08 presentations so far: AFRL FAST/RASTE/Commercial Partnerships, Armadillo Aerospace, Ken Davidian/NASA ESMD Commercial Development, FAA AST, Flometrics, Frontier Astronautics, Jordin Kare/LaserMotive, Masten Space, Jim Muncy/PoliSpace, Misuzu Onuki, Rocketplane LLC, Space Propellant Depots Panel with Jon Goff, Dallas Bienhoff, Frank Zegler, and Rand Simberg, Space Studies Institute, SpeedUp, Henry Spencer, Unreasonable Rocket, XCOR Aerospace. Keep an eye on this space for more as the conference approaches.
The prize-related additions to the list are Ken Davidian, recently manager of NASA Centennial Challenges (and who in all likelihood will be able to discuss these challenges if asked, whether or not they're in his official presentation plans) and Jordin Kare from Space Elevator Games team LaserMotive.
Confirmed SA'08 presentations so far: AFRL FAST/RASTE/Commercial Partnerships, Armadillo Aerospace, Ken Davidian/NASA ESMD Commercial Development, FAA AST, Flometrics, Frontier Astronautics, Jordin Kare/LaserMotive, Masten Space, Jim Muncy/PoliSpace, Misuzu Onuki, Rocketplane LLC, Space Propellant Depots Panel with Jon Goff, Dallas Bienhoff, Frank Zegler, and Rand Simberg, Space Studies Institute, SpeedUp, Henry Spencer, Unreasonable Rocket, XCOR Aerospace. Keep an eye on this space for more as the conference approaches.
The prize-related additions to the list are Ken Davidian, recently manager of NASA Centennial Challenges (and who in all likelihood will be able to discuss these challenges if asked, whether or not they're in his official presentation plans) and Jordin Kare from Space Elevator Games team LaserMotive.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Unofficial Regolith Excavation Forum and CSA Spacebound! Newsletter
Regolith Excavation team ACME Robotics has started an Unofficial Regolith Excavation Challenge Forum similar to those used by the Automotive X PRIZE, the Google Lunar X PRIZE, and others. Currently it has categories like rules, robotics, and announcements. Here's their blog post announcing the forum, and here's a press release on it.
It's good for these challenges to have active official and unofficial news and communications tools like these, and I hope we see more of this type of thing from participants in, or just people interested in and supportive of, the other Centennial Challenges like MoonROx, General Aviation, and Astronaut Glove that don't have (as far as I know) this type of help.
They also have a map of the teams. Although the official teams haven't been announced, some teams have announced their intention to enter, and the Regolith Excavation blog has mentioned that all of the teams that competed in 2007 plan to return this year. It will be interesting to see how this map develops.
Meanwhile, page 5 of the Winter 2008 California Space Authority newsletter SpaceBound! has an article on the 2008 Regolith Challenge and the MoonROx Challenge. Here's a little bit of information from the article about 2 teams I haven't heard of before:
New to the competition this year are Toy Garden, led by Charles Sink, and a team led by William Cushman. Charles Sink is a self taught toy designer and prototyper with 19 years of experience designing innovative high tech remote control and microprocessor driven robotic toys. A number of his creations have been licensed and made available on toy store shelves by nationally recognized toy companies. William Cushman, Ph.D. is a research scientist, formerly employed by the US Navy and now in the private sector focused on product development and solving production problems.
It's good for these challenges to have active official and unofficial news and communications tools like these, and I hope we see more of this type of thing from participants in, or just people interested in and supportive of, the other Centennial Challenges like MoonROx, General Aviation, and Astronaut Glove that don't have (as far as I know) this type of help.
They also have a map of the teams. Although the official teams haven't been announced, some teams have announced their intention to enter, and the Regolith Excavation blog has mentioned that all of the teams that competed in 2007 plan to return this year. It will be interesting to see how this map develops.
Meanwhile, page 5 of the Winter 2008 California Space Authority newsletter SpaceBound! has an article on the 2008 Regolith Challenge and the MoonROx Challenge. Here's a little bit of information from the article about 2 teams I haven't heard of before:
New to the competition this year are Toy Garden, led by Charles Sink, and a team led by William Cushman. Charles Sink is a self taught toy designer and prototyper with 19 years of experience designing innovative high tech remote control and microprocessor driven robotic toys. A number of his creations have been licensed and made available on toy store shelves by nationally recognized toy companies. William Cushman, Ph.D. is a research scientist, formerly employed by the US Navy and now in the private sector focused on product development and solving production problems.
Queen's Space Engineering Team
The Space Elevator blog features another Climber team that I haven't heard much about before, the Queen's Space Engineering Team. Like some of the other teams, they're looking for new recruits, and they're registered for the 2008 games. Check out the link to their site, which I'll add to the Space Elevator Teams list on the right. I'm also going to make a few other updates to the list based on the 2008 Teams list at the Space Elevator blog, although I'm going to leave the 2007 teams with accessible websites there, too.
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