The Cal Poly, Team Phoenicia and Tyvak, oh my! Q&A over the press release

Blatantly stolen from here.  We're working on updated one because we loved it.



We've had a number of questions over the past week.  They've run a gamut of topics, but they, by and large, boil down to one thing.  What does that press release mean?  Can you use nonPR english?  We grinned and thought, "sure!"

1.  What does the it mean to collaborate like it says?

1a.  It means that every time that Team Phoenicia launches its landers towards the moon, Cal Poly and Tyvak will be buying excess mass and volume for deploying lunar and interplanetary cubesats.

2.  Interplanetary cubesats?  Excuse me?

2a.  This is best covered by a video presented by NASA JPL's Robert Staelhe based on a study down under the aspises of NIAC:



Likewise, Gizmag covered one of the concepts that NASA is studying and Dr Staehle covers above.

3.  Isn't a bit early to be talking interplanetary cubesats?  They have some time to mature as yet.

3a.  They do, but in one case they've already flown an important bit of hardware.  The cost of cubesat based space probes is so much less that if they build a little, test a little, fly a little, and even fail a little, the entire development cost will be far, far less than even a discovery mission.

4.  Who is Adaptive Launch Solutions?

4a.  Here.

5.  Will your Phoenicia Lunar Payload Rack System (Legion System), work only with the ALS A Deck ESPA rings?

5a.  No.  We can mate it to any ESPA ring of the proper diameter.

6. So you are divvying up the secondary payload on a launch, right?  How much will that cost?

6a. Yes.  That's under NDA, sorry, but contact us and we will happily forward one to you if we're interested in doing business.

7. Who should we contact about the nanosat slots?

7a.  Tyvak and Cal Poly.  Its their volume and space.

8.  What is this about the contract being a long term relationship?

8a.  Team Phoenicia is pursuing the Google Lunar X PRIZE.  Our first launch will be pursuant of that goal.  We will NOT be stopping with the GLXP.  We want to launch as often as we can and place payloads on the moon.  Every time we go, Tyvak and Cal Poly will go.  This opens up interplanetary space to cubesat derived probes, etc.

9.  Will Cal Poly and Tyvak be willing to work with other teams?

9a.  No.  And yes.  Cal Poly and Tyvak are exclusively with Team Phoenicia for launching payloads for the Google Lunar X PRIZE.  They will not be working with other teams to place cubesats on their flights.  However, if there is a piece of $tech that is for sale on their website or whatnot, they are more than welcome to sell it.  If there is a question regarding a grey area, the parties will consult.  

10.  Are there other slots available for a small sat in the Legion System with Phoenicia's lander and the cubesat PPODs in place?

10a.  Yes, there is.  The cylindrical volume you see below in the video deploying is an unnamed or open slot.  We have groups negotiating for the slot.  We hope to announce the first group that has signed on in the near future.  However, this is a long term coalition, not just a one off.  We are going to have slots available over the next decade that are not always going to be filled.  Contact us to discuss costs and requirements.



11.  Are you willing to work with other teams?

11a.  We will leave it at 'yes.'

12.  When is the first launch planned?

12a.  We're aiming for 2014.  More soon.

13.  Can you tell us home much money is coming from this?

13a.  Its seven plus figures per launch.  Its very favourable to all parties.

14.  Can you tell us more?

14a.  Soon.