Luna C/I: Moon Colonization and Integration

Google Lunar X PRIZE Roundups! August 7, 2012

Posted by Nick Azer in : Google Lunar X Prize, Google Lunar X Prize Roundup, MyMoon, NASA , add a comment

I’ve been posting some awesome Google Lunar X PRIZE Roundups, all about the moon prize goodness from around the GLXP!

Check out GLXP Roundups #2-5 over at MyMoon!:

Check those out for all the best Google Lunar X PRIZE highlights from everyone’s favorite moon prize, over at my new home–NASA’s MyMoon! :)

Google Lunar X PRIZE Roundup #1 July 6, 2012

Posted by Nick Azer in : Google Lunar X Prize, Google Lunar X Prize Roundup , add a comment

Over at MyMoonSpace.com, I’ve started up my Google Lunar X PRIZE Roundups again!:

Google Lunar X PRIZE Roundup #1

Check those out for the five best items from the Google Lunar X PRIZE and all it’s moon prize goodness each week. Private space is hitting the mainstream, so it’s a fun time to be following the Lunar X PRIZE :) I’ll be posting them every weekend, and I’ll link to them from here.

Google Lunar X PRIZE Rover Fashion Show! February 23, 2012

Posted by Nick Azer in : Google Lunar X Prize, MyMoon , 1 comment so far

Over at MyMoon (my new home), I’m running down the best of the best, fashion-wise, of the Google Lunar X PRIZE‘s rovers!

Google Lunar X PRIZE Fashion Show: Part 1
Google Lunar X PRIZE Fashion Show: Part 2

Stay tuned at MyMoon for Part 3 of the most fabulous fashion show to hit the Moon yet ;)

Google Lunar X PRIZE Roundup #44 April 15, 2011

Posted by Nick Azer in : Google Lunar X Prize, Google Lunar X Prize Roundup , 2comments

The Google Lunar X PRIZE is a $30 million competition challenging private space enterprises to land a rover on the Moon. Every two weeks, I round up the latest developments as the teams rocket forwards and upwards…

Apollo veterans are popping up left and right across the GLXP! Lots of content and some great interviews from March 15-31st, so dig right on for some of the latest developments in private space’s march to the moon…

Team Barcelona Moon posted two calls for ideas/proposals: One for lunar science+tech, and one for lunar mini robots!
Team Omega Envoy opened a new facility!
Team Phoenicia had a guest post offering a critique of helium-3 as a lunar driving force! The team also added carbon fiber company Hexcel as a sponsor!
Team ARCA posted 7+ new video blogs to their Youtube channel!
Team Next Giant Leap posted the three steps to winning the GLXP (and where they’re at), a video overview of their mission concept, a 2009 presentation to the Space Investment Summit,and an official GLXP video interview with their team leader, Michael Joyce! The team also blogged about their partner, and significant NewSpace enterprise, the Sierra Nevada Corporation!
Team Rocket City Space Pioneers interviewed former NASA Administrator, Michael Griffin! The team also posted video of a drivetrain test bed rover, and some of the team’s students interviewed Apollo veteran Fred Haise!
Team Astrobotic posted a video on staying cool during the lunar day, and a video interview from their 500m field test!
Team Euroluna posted a video discussing retro rocket options! They also blogged about CubeSat development (and the challenges of carrying one onto a plane…) :)
Team Puli posted a detailed update on their progress! They also stopped in with Evadot to talk the far side of the moon, posted video of rover demonstrations, and featured a film about Yuri Gagarin’s first flight :)
Team Selenokhod posted an animation of their rover concept! They also blogged about rover thermal analysis, and posted video of one of their meetings :) Also, Russian 24/7 news network RT featured the team in a video segment!
Team Mystical Moon blogged about the challenges of rocketry, as well as collaboration vs competition with other teams!
Team Indus blogged about the impact matrix and the way going forward, as well as team branding!
Team White Label Space is looking for a video producer (students welcome)! They also blogged a timeline of space history in April, and posted a video of how to disassemble their lander (mockup) :)
Team Part Time Scientists blogged in German, and featured their Android app! :) They also posted two more of their big Fan friday Q+As—one in English, one in German :)
Team Penn State Lunar Lion blogged about closing in on designs!
Team Space IL blogged about coverage in Israel and abroad!
Team Synergy Moon blogged about their Tesla surveyor! They also posted a video on their new advisor: Mike Vucelich, Apollo veteran!
Team Plan B posted a brief update on vehicle development!

Almost half of those were from one day—-March 31st. Phew! An epic day for GLXP goodness :) Roundup #45 should be coming along shortly (for April 1-15), so keep an eye out… :)

Google Lunar X PRIZE Roundup #43 March 28, 2011

Posted by Nick Azer in : Germany, Google Lunar X Prize, Google Lunar X Prize Roundup, Google Lunar X PRIZE Team Profile , add a comment

The first half of March brought a bevy of significant updates all around the GLXP—both quantity and quality! The full rundown for March1st-March15th:

Team Astrobotic released their payloads user’s guide! The team also posted an in-depth look at lander structure , posted video of their 500m field test, were featured in an official GLXP video, and held an interactive Q+A on Reddit!
Legendary Apollo veteran Mike Vucelich became an advisor to team Synergy Moon! The team also posted a blog on their wireless tech :)
Team ARCA posted a bunch of new videos (#s 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20) in their series on the road to supersonic! They also announced a name change for the supersonic carrier :)
Team Part Time Scientists sat down with Evadot for a podcast on building CPUs! The team also blogged about their CeBIT tech trade fair visit, and posted their eighth in-depth Fan Friday Q+A!
Team White Label Space completed the body on their rover prototype! They also posted an update on their team members based in Sendai, Japan—all safe!; posted a new promotional video; and posted a talk from Luke Weston, of their Aussie partner Lunar Numbat :)
Team Phoenicia posted several (parts three, four) new blogs in their series on how they are funding their GLXP entry!
Team SELENE featured their development and testing of a 4WD, rocker-bogie-suspension rover concept!
The new mystery team, Mystical Moon, posted an introduction!
Team Plan B blogged about trajectory calculation issues!
The Huntsville Center for Technology—a partner of team Rocket City Space Pioneers–is participating in the Great Moonbuggy Race! The RCSPs also blogged about progress on their lunar rover!
The Penn State Lunar Lion team blogged a reflection on the second quarter Moon, and about their progress under a new moon!
Team Puli blogged about their journey into the media spotlight! They also blogged about their education efforts :)

A handy note: The official GLXP team pages now have a video bar at the bottom with each team’s Youtube and other updates! Quick-click grand centrals for GLXP vloggage :)

GLXP Team Profile: The Penn State Lunar Lion Team! March 25, 2011

Posted by Nick Azer in : Google Lunar X Prize, Google Lunar X PRIZE Team Profile , add a comment

With the Google Lunar X PRIZE final team roster announced, 8 new teams came into the fold for the $30 million prize.

Here on Luna C/I previously, whenever a new team was announced, I’d post a spotlight on them. Eight new teams at once, though, presented a bit of a conundrum.

So, what I’ve decided to do is post profiles of not just the eight new teams, but all 29! :) Starting with the eight new kids on the block and rolling into the rest of the competition, I’ll be posting perspectives on who each team is, where they come from, and what their strategies mean.

—

So, without further ado…first up under the GLXP-scope: the Penn State Lunar Lion team!

A joint effort between researchers and students at Penn State University in central Pennsylvania, the team aims for a goal of simplicity, which results in pretty interesting craft:

Their craft is actually going to be an all-in-one: spacecraft, lander, and…well, lander. This multitasking Lunar Lion, instead of roving across the surface to meet the 500m prize requirement, will lift back up and fly the distance (at a low altitude, Neil Armstrong-style). The concept is similar to team Next Giant Leap‘s hopper, which also goes airborne instead of roving…and has been attracting some pretty serious buzz!

Armed with a good concept, the Penn State Lunar Lion has a ton of experience to back it up: team leader Michael Paul was the spacecraft systems engineer from 2000-2008 on the MESSENGER craft, which made headlines this week by arriving successfully in Mercury orbit. Other team members have experience on everything from the Phoenix Mars lander mission (Miles Smith) to actually flying on Space Shuttle missions (Terry J. Hart), so the team’s definitely got a lion’s share of experience it can pride itself on.

This actually marks the second Pennsylvanian team; GLXP powerhouse Astrobotic is based in nearby Pittsburgh (and also sports a close relationship with a university—in their case, Carnegie Mellon). Considering the muscle behind both teams, Pennsylvania could be shaping up as a surprisingly important space state.

The Penn State Lunar Lion Team also wins an unusual-diction award as the only team that always prompts using a “the” in front of their name (which really threw me off at first when writing about them, ha.) (Rocket City Space Pioneers come close, but as demonstrated there, not all the way :D)

All things considered, the Penn State Lunar Lion Team has a serious chance to come out as a king of the pack…so their GLXP competiton should be prepared! :)

—-

Previous GLXP team profiles:

Space IL (new team announcement)
Moon Express (new team announcement)
Rocket City Space Pioneers (new team announcement)
Barcelona Moon (new team announcement)

Google Lunar X PRIZE Roundup #42 March 12, 2011

Posted by Nick Azer in : Google Lunar X Prize, Google Lunar X Prize Roundup, Virgin Galactic , add a comment

Late February was a huge time for the Google Lunar X PRIZE—EIGHT new teams became official! Holy Tchaikovsky! Without further ado, here’s all the highlights for Feburary 15th-March 1st:

The official final team roster was announced!! Eight new official teams entered the fold, brining the final tally for the prize to 29. (Keep an eye here as I post spotlights on all eight of the new teams over the next few weeks!)
Longtime GLXP Guy Will Pomerantz stepped down in order to take an awesome-sounding VP position over at Virgin Galactic! Comgrats :)
New Canadian team Plan B posted a video introduction, an update on vehicle design,
New Hungarian team Puli posted a detailed blog post on education!
New U.S. team Phoenicia posted several blogs (one and two) on their funding! They also did an Evadot podcast :)
New mystery team Mystical Moon posted a tease… :)
The new Penn State Lunar Lion team posted a few quick blogs (one and two)!
Team Selenokhod partnered with SmirnovDesign!
Team Part Time Scientists posted two new detailed Fan Fridays (#s sixand seven)!
Team ARCA blogged about work on their subsonic wind tunnel, and about work on a cabine mold for their E-111 supersonic airplane!
Team SELENE blogged about rocket antenna considerations, and on their rocket propellant tumbler!
Team White Label Space blogged a video on constructing their lander mockup!
Team Eurlouna video blogged about high tension power supply!
Carnegie Mellon posted a profile site on their resident team, Astrobotic! Astrobotic also blogged about a robot city field test, 3D mapping, and taking lunar exploration online!
Team Barcelona Moon posted about a commercial space conference in D.C. and signing of their master team agreement!
Team Rocket City Space Pioneers’ leader, Tim Pickens, blogged about going back to his roots :)
Team Next Giant Leap posted a weekly update!
Wired posted a great article about the GLXP and the final roster! The GLXP also got Slashdotted :)

Keep an eye out for my profiles on the 8 new teams over the next few weeks, and I’ll have Roundup #43 (for Mar 1st-15th) up soon as well! :)

New Google Lunar X PRIZE Team: Space IL! February 11, 2011

Posted by Nick Azer in : Google Lunar X Prize, Google Lunar X PRIZE Team Profile, Israel, Space IL , add a comment

A new team has joined the Google Lunar X PRIZE: Team Space IL!

The first Israeli team in the competition, they’re a non-profit effort launched by three engineers: Yariv Bash, Kfir Damari and Yonatan Winetraub.

Using a CubeSAT-esque approach, the team looks to land on the moon with an $8 million budget and donate all profits to Israeli science education:

“Unlike large satellites, we plan to build a vessel that will last only two weeks to a month in space. That helps us for two reasons: There won’t be a need for massive protection against the sun’s rays, and there won’t be a need for large battery power to drive the vessel when there is no sun …. Everything will be built from existing, cheap products.” -Yariv Bash; “Will Israel Soon Be Able to Plant Its Flag on the Moon?“, Guy Grimland, Haaretz.com

Israel as a country has a launch history—-namely Ofek reconnaissance satellites—and has an active space agency going.

Considering the Israeli infrastructure and the team’s shrewd CubeSAT inspirations, Space IL could prove to be an interesting dark horse in the competition :)

Google Lunar X PRIZE Roundup #41 February 6, 2011

Posted by Nick Azer in : Google Lunar X Prize, Google Lunar X Prize Roundup , add a comment

The Google Lunar X PRIZE is a $30 million competition challenging private space enterprises to land a rover on the Moon. Each week, I round up all the latest developments as the teams rocket forwards and upwards…

A seriously action-packed couple of weeks (Jan 15-31st) for the Google Lunar X PRIZE! New teams, gobs of funding, new partners and a whole lot more! Check it out:

A new team was announced—team Space IL, a nonprofit effort from Israel! Check back here this week for a feature on them :)
Long-quiet team Independence-X has returned to the competition!
GLXP guy Will Pomerantz tweeted that there are more new teams to come!
Team Next Giant Leap announced that $1 million+ in Draper funds will be contributed to their mission’s lunar lander! Also, team member Dr. Todd Mosher was announced as chair of a NASA National Academies Panel, and the team’s hopping rover concept was featured by Space.com!
Team ARCA is building two wind tunnels, and added French mobile app company CRONOS Technologies as a partner, and the team was featured in an official GLXP video!
Team Part Time Scientists posted a blog seeking your thoughts on surviving the lunar night, and they held two more fan friday Q+As while also being featured in an Evadot podcast!
Team Rocket City Space Pioneers announced that Siemens is now a partner of the team! They also blogged about a successful outreach event, and a Q+A with middle schoolers :)
Team Astrobotic blogged about the first iteration of their rover’s solar array!
Blaze Sanders of team JURBAN sat down with Evadot for a podcast!
Team White Label Space blogged about interaction with Google bigwig Vint Cerf, and were featured in an official GLXP video!
Team Selenokhod was also featured in an official GLXP video!
Team Euroluna posted a video update, and were featured in an official GLXP video!
Team Synergy Moon featured an upcoming CPM TV rocket launch!
The GLXP was featured as part of a great Space.com article on the state of the lunar base race :)

Google Lunar X PRIZE Roundup #40 January 26, 2011

Posted by Nick Azer in : Google Lunar X Prize, Google Lunar X Prize Roundup , 1 comment so far

This site is Apture-enabled, so highlight any phrase to discover more about it :)

Here’s your first salvo of GLXP goodness for 2011, covering all the highlights from January 1st-15th:

Team Next Giant Leap recieved a second round of funding from eSpace: The Center for Space Entrepreneurship!
Team ARCA announced a partnership with BRD Asset Management, sponsoring for the team’s supersonic carrier transport plane! ARCA also featured an article about the plane :)
Evadot posted a visualization of the proposed GLXP landing sites across the moon!
Team Selenokhod announced a partnership with 2D/3D CAD provider Ascon Group!
The GLXP was featured in a case for the moon, and GLXP guy Will Pomerantz posted his response to a case against the moon :)
The official GLXP site featured their downloadable Google Earth tour of the moon! :)
Team Part Time Scientists posted their first Fan Friday Q+A! :)
Team Astrobotic blogged about their rover’s power systems!
Evadot posted an email interview with Neda G. Ansari of team Synergy Moon!
Team White Label Space blogged about Evadot’s unofficial (but awesome) GLXP scorecard!
Team Rocket City Space Pioneers geared up for an educational program, and blogged about portable smoke and fire! :)

For more GLXP goodness, check out the increasingly-active official Youtube channel of the GLXP! :)

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