Tuesday, November 29, 2011

The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar Video: Closing Comments

The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar Video: CubeCab

The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar Video: Nova Rocketcraft

The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar Video: Vog Rockets

The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar Video: Interorbital Systems

A Snapshot: The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar Video: Generation Orbit

Friday, November 25, 2011

The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar Video: NASA/Space Florida Feedback



This video is from the second day of the seminar. This is the follow-up discussion to the rules of the NLC. NASA and Space Florida asked and was asked a number of questions regarding the rules of the challenge.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Third Engine Sold!


Team Phoenicia is proud to announce that we have sold our 3rd Z150 rocket engine to Nova Rocketcraft. NRC is a based in Florida and considering an entry into the Nanosat Launcher Challenge. They came out to our seminar, as they did the first year it was offered, and were active participants.

We are looking forward to working with NRC in the future.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

A Snapshot: The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar


We have a massive load of video from the second day. The first day, unfortunately, did not get recorded. We will be releasing the video over time. Team Phoenicia wants to say thank you to NASA, the FAA, Techshop, Space Florida and the various assorted other presenters.. With their help, this has been a massive success.

The active participation of the attendees was awesome!

Presentations will go up on Nov 18th. Videos will be released starting on Nov 25th.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

2nd Nanosat Launcher Challenge Launcher Agenda

This is the agenda for the 2nd Nanosatellite Launcher Challenge seminar. Note there is a parallel seminar on the Centennial Challenges at Techshop - Menlo Park on Nov 12th starting at 11:30 AM.

Note: This agenda is evolving as groups and individuals that we have contacted get back to us. Please check regularly for changes.

Nov 12th:

8 AM to 8:50 AM: Sign in and continental breakfast

8:50 AM to 9:00 AM: Welcome by William Baird of Team Phoenicia

9:15 AM t0 9:45 AM: NASA Presentation: Aspirations of the Nanosat Launcher Challenge by Samuel Ortega, Program Manager, Centennial Challenges

9:45 AM to 10:45 AM: Nano-Satellite Launch Market Assessment by SpaceWorks

10:45 AM to 11:00 AM: BREAK

11:00 AM to 11:45 AM: Nanosat Markets, Economics and Keeping Realistic, Carlos Yu

11:45 AM to 12:15 PM: Connecting to Launchers to Customers, Amaresh Kollipara

12:15 PM to 12:30 PM: BREAK

12:30 PM to 2:00 PM: Draft Rules Input for the Community, Space Florida, Percy Luney (as a working lunch)

2:00 PM to 2:15 PM: BREAK

2:15 PM to 3:45 PM: FAA AST presentation, Nick Demidovich

3:45 PM to 4:45 PM: Space Florida, Percy Luney

4:45 PM to 6:00 PM: Spaceport America, Dr Bill Gutman

6:30 PM: Dinner at Techshop - Menlo Park

10:00 PM: close out.

November 13th:

8:00 AM to 8:50 AM: check-in.

8:50 AM to 9:00 AM: Welcome remarks

9:30 AM to 10:30 AM: Additional feedback to Space Florida and NASA

10:30 AM to 12:30 PM: Panel on Funding the NLC bids

12:30 AM to 12:45 AM: BREAK

12:45 PM to 1:30 PM: LUNCH

1:30 PM to 1:50 PM: CADTrak Engineering, David Levitt

1:50 PM to 2:00 PM: Team Phoenicia as a Supplier

2:00 PM to 2:15 PM: Advice on getting sponsorships, William Baird

2:15 PM to 2:25 PM: Generation Orbit, AC Charania


2:45 PM to 2:50 PM: Vog Rockets

2:50 PM to 3:00 PM: BREAK

3:10 PM to 3:20 PM: Nova Rocketcraft, Sumontro Sinha

3:20 PM to 3:30 PM: Cube Cab, Adrian Tymes

3:30 PM to 3:40 PM: Samuel Ortega, NASA's commentary and closing remarks

3:40 PM to 3:45 PM: closing 'remarks' by William Baird of Team Phoenicia

Feedback is always welcome.

Parallel Seminar DELAY

Due to a scheduling conflict the seminar will start at 2 PM instead.




Team Phoenicia is delighted that we will have a second parallel seminar happening at the same time the Nanosat Launcher Challenge seminar will be taking place. NASA, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Clean Tech Open will be presenting at Techshop - Menlo Park about the Centennial Challenges in general, Sample Return Robot Challenge, Power Beaming Challenge, and Nightrover Challenge.

UPDATE: THIS IS NOV 12.

This seminar is FREE and open to the public.

Draft Agenda:

2 PM to 3:00: The Centennial Challenges, Sam Ortega, NASA

3:00 PM to 4:00 PM: Power Beaming Challenge, Ben Shelef, Spaceward Foundation

3:00 PM to 3:15 PM: BREAK (tours of techshop available)

3:15 PM to 4:15 PM: Night Rover Challenge, Josh Neubert, Cleantech Open

4:15 PM to 4:30 PM: BREAK (tours of techshop available)

4:30 PM to 5:30 PM: Sample Return Robot Challenge, Colleen Shaver, WPI

6:00 PM to 6:30 PM: Thank you and invitation to the social

6:30 PM to 10:00 PM: Dinner and social (combined with Nanosat Launcher Challenge Seminar) Note: Dinner is NOT free.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Flight of the Second Generation Avionics Testbed



Team Phoenicia has been continuing to work on the avionics testbeds for the team's lander. The first step was a standard quadcopter. The second step, demonstrated here, is what we have been referring to as the tetracopter. It has the same layout of engines as the lander does, although obviously not the same kind. The intent is to develop and discover the algorithms for the avionics needed for our lander. We are working with a unique layout and that will require, in turn, unique flight software. With the integration of new sensors, the team took the tetra to the air ... outside and here are the results.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Reminder: AAIA/SVSC Team Phoenicia Techtalk


Team Phoenicia will be presenting in the AAIA SF section and Silicon Valley Space Center techtalk series. We will be talking today (Nov 3rd, 2011) at 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at Hackerdojo. This is a free session and we encourage as many as possible to attend. We will talk about our participation and progress in the GLXP and the ways that we fund our efforts.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

2nd Nanosat Launcher Challenge Seminar Draft Agenda Updated 11/2/2011

This is the draft agenda for the 2nd Nanosatellite Launcher Challenge seminar. Note there is a parallel seminar on the Centennial Challenges at Techshop - Menlo Park on Nov 12th starting at 11:30 AM.

Note: This agenda is evolving as groups and individuals that we have contacted get back to us. Please check regularly for changes.

Nov 12th:

8 AM to 8:50 AM: Sign in and continental breakfast

8:50 AM to 9:00 AM: Welcome by William Baird of Team Phoenicia

9:00 AM t0 9:30 AM: NASA Presentation: Aspirations of the Nanosat Launcher Challenge by Samuel Ortega, Program Manager, Centennial Challenges

9:30 AM to 10:00 AM: Nano-Satellite Launch Market Assessment by Jeff Denis of SpaceWorks

10:00 AM to 10:30 AM: The Potential of an Affordable, Responsive Nanosat Launcher

10:30 AM to 10:45 AM: BREAK

10:45 AM to 11:15 AM: Nanosat Markets, Economics and Keeping Realistic, Carlos Yu

11:15 AM to 11:45 AM: Connecting to Launchers to Customers, Amaresh Kollipara

11:45 AM to 12:00 PM: BREAK

12:00 PM to 2:00 PM: Draft Rules Input for the Community, Space Florida, Percy Luney (as a working lunch)

2:00 PM to 2:15 PM: BREAK

2:15 PM to 3:30 PM: FAA AST presentation

3:30 PM to 3:45 PM: BREAK


4:15 PM to 4:45 PM: Spaceport America, Dr Bill Gutman

4:45 PM to 5:15 PM: Space Florida, Percy Luney

5:15 PM to 5:30 PM: BREAK

5:30 PM to 6:00 PM: Fourth Launch Site

6:00 PM to 6:30 PM: Fifth Launch Site

6:30 PM: Dinner at Techshop - Menlo Park

10:00 PM: close out.

November 13th:

8:00 AM to 8:50 AM: check-in.

8:50 AM to 9:00 AM: Welcome remarks

9:00 AM to 10:00 AM: Additional feedback to Space Florida

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM: Panel on Funding the NLC bids

11:00 AM to 11:15 AM: BREAK

11:15 AM to 11:25 AM: CADTrak Engineering, David Levitt

11:25 AM to 11:35 AM: Second Supplier Presentation

11:35 AM to 11:45 AM: Third Supplier Presentation

11:45 AM to 11:55 AM: Fourth Supplier Presentation

11:55 AM to 12:05 PM: Fifth Supplier Presentation

12:05 PM to 12:15 PM: Team Phoenicia as a Supplier Presentation

12:15 PM to 1:30 PM: Lunch

1:30 PM to 1:40 PM: Generation Orbit, AC Charania



2:10 PM to 2:20 PM: Vog Rockets

2:20 PM to 2:30 PM: Nova Rocketcraft, Sumontro Sinha

2:30 PM to 2:45 PM: BREAK

2:45 PM to 2:55 PM: Cube Cab, Adrian Tymes

2:55 PM to 3:05 PM: Seventh Team Presentation

3:05 PM to 3:15 PM: Eighth Team Presentation

3:15 PM to 3:25 PM: Ninth Team Presentation

3:25 PM to 3:35 PM: Tenth Team Presentation

3:35 PM to 3:45 PM: BREAK

3:45 PM to 4:45 PM: Networking Session

4:45 PM to 4:55 PM: Samuel Ortega, NASA's commentary and closing remarks

4:55 PM to 5:00 PM: closing 'remarks' by William Baird of Team Phoenicia

5:00 PM to 8:00 PM: informal dinner at TechShop

10 PM: Close out.

Feedback is always welcome.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

NASA Announces Allied Org for Nanosat Launcher Challenge

NASA AND SPACE FLORIDA SMALL SATELLITE RESEARCH CENTER PARTNER IN SPACE LAUNCH CHALLENGE

WASHINGTON -- NASA has signed an agreement with the Space Florida Small Satellite Research Center of Cape Canaveral, Florida, to manage the Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge, one of the agency's new Centennial Challenges prize competitions.

The Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge is to launch satellites with a mass of at least 2.2 pounds (1 kg) into Earth orbit, twice within the span of one week. The new challenge has a NASA-provided prize purse of $2 million.

The objective of the competition is to encourage innovations in propulsion and other technologies, as well as operations and management relevant to safe, low-cost, small payload delivery system for frequent access to Earth orbit. Innovations stemming from this challenge will be beneficial to broader applications in future launch systems. They may enhance commercial capability for dedicated launches of small satellites at a cost comparable to secondary payload launches -- a potential new market with government, commercial, and academic customers.

"Monday's agreement between NASA and Space Florida for use of facilities at the Kennedy Space Center even better positions the organization for managing this new Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge," said Michael Gazarik, director for NASA's Space Technology Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Space Florida has extensive experience working with NASA, the FAA, the Air Force, commercial spaceflight companies and universities to advance their plans for spaceflight operations. We look forward to having the Space Florida Small Satellite Research Center overseeing the competition and bringing together innovative teams with creative problem-solving ideas."

Space Florida submitted a proposal last spring in response to a NASA solicitation for this partnership opportunity. They will now begin detailed preparations for the challenge, publishing rules and then registering competitors. The first competition launch attempt is expected to take place in the summer of 2012.

The Centennial Challenges seek unconventional solutions to problems of interest to NASA and the nation. Competitors have included private companies, student groups and independent inventors working outside the traditional aerospace industry. Unlike contracts or grants, prizes are awarded only after solutions are successfully demonstrated.

NASA's Centennial Challenges program provides the prize purse for the technology and innovation competitions. The competitions are managed by non-profit organizations that cover the cost of operations through commercial or private sponsorships.

In October, NASA awarded the largest prize in aviation history following Pipistrel-USA's win of the agency's CAFE Green Flight Challenge, sponsored by Google. NASA's $1.35 million first prize and a $120,000 second prize recognized competitors using electric airplanes to break all previous fuel efficiency records. The technology and innovation used in electric aircraft may end up in general aviation aircraft, spawning new jobs and new industries for the 21st century.

There have been 22 Centennial Challenges competition events since 2005. NASA has awarded nearly $6 million to 15 different
challenge-winning teams. Centennial Challenges is one of the ten Space Technology programs, managed by NASA's Office of the Chief Technologist. For more information about the program and descriptions of each of the challenge competitions, visit:


For more information about Space Florida and updates on the Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge, visit:


For more information about NASA's Office of the Chief Technologist, visit:


Team Phoenicia has been aware of Space Florida being the allied org in final negotiations since August when we started putting together the 2nd Nanosat Launcher Challenge Seminar. We are delighted that Space Florida will be joining us for the seminar and laying out the rules and requirements for participating in the NLC.

We will be updating the agenda for the seminar later today with the new information.

Congratulations to Space Florida. We look forward to working with your group.