Team Phoenicia

Progress on a Contract[3]

2012-02-18T08:53:00.000-08:00

Progress on a Contract[2]

2012-02-17T21:52:00.001-08:00

Progress on a Contract

2012-02-12T22:49:00.000-08:00

We can't quite same for whom just yet. However, the blog has been awfully quiet here as of late.

Lander Simulation

2012-01-06T02:03:00.000-08:00

Rover Test Drive

2012-01-04T06:02:00.000-08:00

Phoenicians in Zeit Wissen

2012-01-02T13:50:00.000-08:00

Team Phoenicia was interviewed as part of an article on Techshop for Zeit. We graced pages with a photo and a good chunk of the article. Here's the link. Warning, it's in German!

Happy New Year!

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

2011-11-29T15:37:00.000-08:00

The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar Video: CubeCab

2011-11-29T12:24:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-29T09:18:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-29T06:15:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-29T03:13:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-29T00:08:00.000-08:00

The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar Video: Team Phoenicia as a Supplier and On Sponsorships

2011-11-28T00:32:00.000-08:00

The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar Video: CADTrak Engineering

2011-11-27T00:29:00.000-08:00

The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar Video: Business Panel

2011-11-26T00:59:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-25T00:06:00.000-08:00

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.

Third Engine Sold!

2011-11-21T03:41:00.000-08:00

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.

A Sixth Snapshot: The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar

2011-11-20T16:12:00.000-08:00

A Fifth Snapshot: The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar

2011-11-19T16:11:00.000-08:00

A Fourth Snapshot: The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar

2011-11-18T16:10:00.000-08:00

A Third Snapshot: The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar

2011-11-17T16:10:00.000-08:00

A Second Snapshot: The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar

2011-11-16T16:05:00.000-08:00

A Snapshot: The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar

2011-11-15T15:56:00.001-08:00

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.

2nd Nanosat Launcher Challenge Launcher Agenda

2011-11-12T10:00:00.000-08:00

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

Panelists: Fabian Venter, Wade Woodson, Amaresh Kollipara, Sean Casey, Thomas McLaughlin.

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

2:25 PM to 2:45 PM: Interorbital Systems, Randa Milliron

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

2011-11-12T09:26:00.001-08:00

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.

Flight of the Second Generation Avionics Testbed

2011-11-09T21:41:00.000-08:00

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.

Reminder: AAIA/SVSC Team Phoenicia Techtalk

2011-11-03T00:44:00.000-07:00

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.

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

2011-11-02T00:43:00.000-07:00

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

3:45 PM to 4:15 PM: Mid Atlantic Regional Spaceport, Laurie Naismith.

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

Panelists: Fabian Venter, Wade Woodson, Amaresh Kollipara, more TBA.

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

1:40 PM to 1:50 PM: Interorbital Systems, Randa Milliron

1:50 PM to 2:00 PM: Seraphim Aerospace Systems, Curt Walsh

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.

Registration is now open.

NASA Announces Allied Org for Nanosat Launcher Challenge

2011-11-01T12:38:00.000-07:00

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:

http://www.nasa.gov/challenges

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

www.spaceflorida.gov

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

http://www.nasa.gov/oct

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.

Team Phoenicia/Techshop Centennial Challenge Seminar

2011-10-29T00:35:00.000-07:00

Team Phoenicia is opening up registration for those that wish to reserve their seating at the Centennial Challenge Seminar (aka Parallel Seminar) on Nov 12th starting 11 am at Techshop - Menlo Park. The response has been fairly strong and since this is free and open to the public, its is highly likely that the conference room will fill. We expect to be able to seat 120 individuals.

Registration will guarantee a seat during this seminar and dinner at the combined Nanosat Launcher Challenge Seminar.

Registration is $75.

Regarding the Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Challenge Seminar

2011-10-24T11:10:00.000-07:00

Recently, there has not been a lot of updates for the Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Challenge Seminar. The primary reason has been that we have been waiting for the announcement of the allied organization before updating the agenda. We know whom has been selected. We are just not able to announce it. It has been a little frustrating since we know that more than a few people are waiting on that announcement before signing up. The delay has been frustrating, if understandable: NASA has wanted to avoid some of the pitfalls of how some of the past challenges were run. Since we were part of the push for corrections on those challenges, we can hardly be critical if it takes a while to help get what we wanted for the participants, even if we are not ourselves participating.

Delightfully, we were just updated that the agreement has been signed between NASA and the allied org. HOWEVER! We were told to hang on for the official PR mill to get set to grind. This was not NASA's choice, fwiw. They want to get this out as fast as possible, too. They have been directed to hold off as well.

To that end, Sam Ortega, the Program Manager for Centennial Challenges at NASA, dropped us a note and is allowing us to share that with the community.

From: "Ortega, Samuel A. {Sam}(MSFC-MP92)"
Date: Mon, October 24, 2011 10:05 am
To: "Will Baird"

Will-
I am very excited about the upcoming opportunity to speak at the Nanosat Launcher
Challenge Seminar on Nov 12 - 13th.

To give you a status of the challenge to date. We have the Prize purse of $2M appropriated and set aside with our payment contractor ready to pay out if there is a winner of the challenge. We have been working to find an Allied Organization that will conduct the challenge in manner that will be beneficial to NASA but more importantly beneficial to the competitor. There are many things to consider schedule, media rights, intellectual property rights to name a few that we wanted to make sure would be acceptable to teams wanting to compete.

I am glad to say we have signed a Space Act Agreement with an Allied Organization to run the competition and will be announcing who they are on or about Nov 1, 2011. They will participate in the Seminar on the 12th and the 13th but may have to do so by telecon do to scheduling conflicts.

Thank you for putting the Seminar together. I look forward to Orbit 1 from any of the competitors.

Sam
Program Manager
Centennial Challenges

Now we know for sure that the allied org will be participating and the official rules will be presented. The official announcement as to whom it will be is on or after Nov 1st.

Rover: Suspension Iteration One (part two)

2011-10-22T01:25:00.000-07:00

Pictured are team members Steve Berl, Nick Kelsey and Mark Crockett.

Rover: Suspension Iteration One

2011-10-21T00:44:00.000-07:00

Pictured are team members Bob Monsen and Nick Kelsey with Team Leader Will Baird at Techshop - Menlo Park.

Team Phoenicia's Seminars on Evadot! "So you want to launch your own space hardware eh? Psst. you can!"

2011-10-19T11:17:00.000-07:00

Mike Doornbos welcomes us back on evadot for a podcast to talk about our two joint seminars in November! The first is the Team Phoenicia/Techop Nanosat Launcher Challenge Seminar and the second is the Team Phoenicia/Techshop Parallel Centennial Challenge Seminar. Registration is open and required for the Nanosat Launcher Challenge seminar. The Parallel Centennial Challenge Seminar is open to the public. There is a joint dinner and social on the 12th at techshop.

We are absolutely thrilled that Mike has invited us back.

Welding Up a Test Stand: Hyperkinetic Version

2011-10-18T12:01:00.000-07:00

New Sponsor: Fingertech Robotics

2011-10-10T12:55:00.000-07:00

Team Phoenicia is proud to announce that Fingertech Robotics has become one of the sponsors of our mechanical prototype rover, At the Foot of Pangaea, as we work towards our final flight hardware rover, Victory at Pangaea. Their lightweight, but powerful motors are making a significant difference in our efforts and we are delighted that they have joined our backers.

Special Thanks to Professional Plastics

2011-10-10T09:35:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to say that Professional Plastics for their help in working on our rover. They have been supplying material needed for parts on our mechanical prototype rover.

The intent of this stage of the rover development is that we demonstrate the ability to fit our rover within our known bounding box for our rover payload while deploying to its full footprint and clearance. This is a nontrivial thing and since we have ten days until our unveiling, the help is more than appreciated.

Thank you, John and our other friends at Professional Plastics.

Lunar Mining [Part 4]: Eclipse by Reality of the Economics of Lunar Mining

2011-10-10T06:21:00.000-07:00

Introduction:

This is our fourth and final article on whether or not it makes sense to attempt to exploit the resources that are available on the moon. When Team Phoenicia started working on our rover design, we thought to ask whether or not we ought to outfit the Victory at Pangaea – our rover – with sensors tailored to help a nascent lunar mining operation kick off. To figure this out, we dug into the costs and economics of mining the moon. These posts that we have been writing are touching on what we found and our very basic conclusions.

That said, we have tried to write this post multiple times. We tried cobbling together several technologically plausible scenarios for how lunar resources could be extracted and sent on their merry way to the markets of earth. We attempted to directly walk through the terrestrial process and illuminate what might be done on a lunar mining operation. After each iteration was written, we examined the resulting product. The articles meandered and lost focus. They laid bloated and indigestible on the screen. They simply did not work. So we sat back and looked once more at what are the real issues are for a lunar mining operation.

In the end, there are really three issues that must be addressed if any one entity will ever exploit lunar resources. The first is whether or not it is viable under the law to find and prove a lunar resource. The second is whether or not it is economical to extract from and refine that resource. Finally, it is whether or not it is even remotely viable to move those raw or refined resources back to a market.

These all combine, like some Japanese anime robot, into a single question. Is it possible to mine the moon and turn a profit with the above problems? Let’s examine each of the three above and see what we find and whether or not they actually fit together for a profit making venture or if they are merely smoke and mirrors…or at best premature.

Finding…and Proving

It’s an interesting dichotomy that exists here for Moon mining schema, it may actually be very easy, or relatively so, to find a resource on the moon for exploitation. Remote sensing has become a wondrous beast these days. Satellites and aircraft are picking up mineral resources all the time now. In fact, aircraft found sources of rare earth element ore bodies that are worth exploiting in Afghanistan that may help that poor place find another path than the one what it is on. Similar technologies to this can be used on the moon and have been. Mineral maps are updated every single time that there is a new orbiter placed around the moon. Their resolution is getting better and better. So long as the regolith is not obscuring the underlying ores, or giving a false positive, orbiters may be able to pick out the target ‘mother lodes’ long before a lander or rover touches down. The search need not be as erratic as it can be on Earth.

The flip side of that dichotomy is not discovering the resource, but proving that it is what your lunar prospecting bots say it is. Consider: your rover that you send up must take five cores that are over 15 m (50 ft) long/deep for examination. Each of these is around 100 kg (220 lbs). These must be examined from top to bottom to verify that the mineral ore is present in quantities claimed. Mining companies then use an independent, trustworthy party to do that assessment.

…

Stop and read that again. An independent, trustworthy party. There are very few independent parties that will be willing to build their own rover with the necessary instrumentation to examine those cores. If there were, it would mean that they might violate the second part: trustworthy. They would have too much of a vested interest in making the lunar mining endeavor work. That means that the cores must be returned to earth for examination. What does that entail?

To get back samples to the earth’s surface from the Moon takes 2700 m/s of delta V (or change in velocity) if you use aerobraking, if you don’t it’s higher. Note: lithobraking is highly frowned on. While this is highly contingent on what propellants would be used, let’s use what Team Phoenicia has planned: RP-1/LOX. This would require, with the assumed losses, that the dry mass of the rocket and payload be 10% of the total rocket launching from the lunar surface returning to earth. Let’s be extremely generous and state that the payload is 5% of the dry mass of the rocket. What is the total GLOW – Gross Lift Off Weight (erm, mass) – needed for 1000 kg of lunar core sample payload to be returned earth? If the 1000 kg is 10% of the dry mass and the dry mass is 10% of the GLOW? Then we get a rocket massing 100,000 kg at lift off from the lunar surface…

So to deliver that sized rocket would require multiple Falcon9 launches. How many? 50+. At $55 million each…Oh. Oh my. Wipe that. What about FalconHeavies? At $80 million each? Uh. So obviously, we just busted the bank just proving the source. It should be noted that even this unoptimized design is still around $2.75 billion for the F9 and $560 million for the FH, just for the launch costs.

Interestingly, as an aside, the amount of material returned by the Apollo program was in the same range…and cost around $100 billion (2011). Now, the Apolloans did a lot more than merely dig up core samples and the costs of our core sampler rover have not been included, but the worst case scenario is still an order of magnitude cheaper than the Apollo program. The 1000 lbs of material cost $100 million/lbs. With the core bot and SpaceX, this will cost $5.5+ million/lbs.

There are ways to tweak this problem. The propellants can be swapped to hydrogen or methane for better mass fractions. The mongo rocket could be broken up into five rockets to allow for multiple (!) rounds of funding. NASA or some other space agency may be willing to buy the core samples, if legal, from the lunar mining operation. It may be possible to manufacture LOX on the lunar surface from the regolith. Etc. Even so, just proving the resource would still be at least the cost of the bringing a mine from nada to fully operational on earth, from conception to discovery to proving to refining to even down to delivery. And there are several more steps before the moon resource is even a viable mine. This is only proving that the mineral ores are actually viable … if they were readily accessible.

However, let’s make the assumption that the magic $500/lbs to LEO rockets happen soon and can be used for lunar mining? That would still leave us proving a lunar source costing more than opening an entirely new terrestrial mine. What about $100/lbs to LEO? Um. No one is talking that price range now or in the foreseeable future.

In some ways, we ought to call a halt here. We hit such a huge iceberg for this titanic mining venture that it ought to sink. We want to make sure that the lesson gets driven home. Let’s use the $100/lbs to LEO model and take a look at the mining process refinement that would need to take place.

Refining the Process…and the mineral!

For rare earth elements or platinum group metals, the refining process must be tailored carefully to the ore in question in order to extract the desired metals. The laboratories that this must be done in are here on earth. There is no way that this can be done on the Moon without placing a manned colony there and even then it would be extremely difficult to do. Sadly that remains even more uneconomical. However, the dominating cost for working out the details is the amount of material that must be moved back to earth to be worked on.

The answer we got back from the mining folks? 20 tons.

A half ton was as much as the cost of the opening a terrestrial mine. 20 tons now puts us, well past the order of magnitude in cost for transport using rockets than what is required to open a terrestrial mine.

Even so, let’s continue.

Just Get Me to the Church, Get Me to the Church…erm…Market on Time.

Ok. So, it ought to be obvious that working with a rocket even with $100/lbs to LEO is not going to work here. You would need the previous step to cost $10/lbs to LEO to have a snowball’s chance in the sun to make a lunar mine remotely viable up through proving the process, barring tweaks.

The Sixth Way

Might there be another way? Besides the pleasure of possibly making Robert Heinlein smile in his grave, we talked with the folks that are building the United States Navy their whopping big EM cannon – railgun! – to ask a few pointed questions if it might not be possible to at least fling back the refined metals (preferably) or ore back to earth. In digging around, we found that there were two systems being actively developed that might have applicability.

The first was the railgun effort headed up by the United States Navy. This is an attempt to build a new 200+ mile range weapon for the navy. Some herald this as the return of the battleship because surface ships would be able to engage with guns at ranges only aircraft and missiles could before. Whether or not this would be the return of massive surface ships is only tangential to our interests though: we need a highly energetic propeller of mass from the lunar surface to LEO in the form of an EM gun. A railgun most definitely counts as that.

The second system we looked into that is being developed is the EMALS. This is a linear induction motor being developed for the Gerald R Ford class of nuclear aircraft carriers. This is intended as a replacement for steam catapults that have graced American carriers for decades now. The EMALS system recently test-launched an F/A-18E fighter at 20 metric tons (plus or minus and see test below). While not as fast as a railgun, it definitely can drive mass.

Given that there were two systems in development, we thought to seek out the manufacturer of each and find out what they thought. We spoke with Thomas Hurn of General Atomics about their work for the US Navy on railguns and the linear induction motor for the EMALS catapult system for launching naval fighters off the new Gerald Ford class aircraft carriers. Thomas was delighted to work out the numbers for us, but even before he started, he stated that the linear induction motor was not what we wanted. We needed a railgun for any attempt to lob back material from the lunar surface using an EM gun.

Railguns have come a long way since the mid 1990s when I was actively following them. Back in the day, they had significant problems. The power switching for high energy applications was not up for the task of large slugs at high velocity. The rails themselves would arc and erode, as the slug would be launched. The equipment was enormous and unwieldy. However, times have changed and technology has marched on. So much so that the US Navy is looking forward to moving from a lab environment to a shipboard system within the next decade.

General Atomics has a railgun that fires regularly fires at 2 megajoules. The system, named Blizter, masses between ten and fifteen tons. They use it regularly enough that they can and do fire it very frequently. The technology involved is scalable. The technology is even modular so that chunks of it can be dropped in placed as needed for more power and, through that, velocity.

The technology of Blizter is scalable enough that the USN and General Atomics tested a newer, larger railgun here recently. This is not a mere 2 megajoules railgun, but rather a 32 megajoule beast. The vetted public video of the test firing is below.

Consider what a 32 megajoule railgun could do. Kinetic energy is defined as one half the mass of the slug times the square of the velocity. If we had a one kilogram slug, that railgun could lob it at around 8,000 m/s. That’s more than enough umph to get a 1 kg slug from the moon’s surface to low earth orbit. In fact, its enough to get a 16 ½ kg slug back to LEO if aerobraking were used.

The state of the art railgun is enough for being used as a mass driver. However, for lunar mining the railgun we need will be significantly larger. What about one for one ton slugs?

Thomas stated that the technology at this point was relatively linear for building up capacity in the energy to mass ratio, although understandably, he didn’t reveal the exact numbers. After all, its for the USN’s new uber cannon after all that is intended have a 200+ mile (300+ km) range. However, given that Blizter is somewhere between 10 to 15 tons, that gives us a base number to work with if we can figure out the energy required for one ton slugs.

Thomas was kind enough to provide a ballpark number. That number was in excess of 2 gigajoules. That’s enough for us to try to extrapolate a minimum system mass. That would come in around 1000 times more massive than Blizter…which makes it as massive as a USN Ticonderoga class cruiser by itself.

While being awesomely scalable, it would literally require hundreds of FalconHeavy launches to get to the Moon. A one ton slug of pure platinum, our upper bound for a first approximation of economic viability, would be worth around $55 million. Just to cover the costs of the FalconHeavy launches, it would take four plus slugs for a single launch with equipment and that would just cover the equipment for transport back to earth and not the refining.

In the end…

There is no way, even with exorbitant PGM prices in excess of $50,000/kg that it is remotely economically viable to mine the moon. Proving the source alone would break the budget for mine development when compared to terrestrial sources. Getting the mining process worked out, even when not taking into consideration the very unique lunar conditions, will also break the bank several times over. The cost of transport dominates the equation and that will not change sufficiently enough to make the endeavor viable.

Continuing to claim that it is viable and worth pursuing at this point is … presenting as much of a chimera to potential backers as suggesting that mining Helium-3 is. It is a hue disservice to us all. All it takes is a potential backer to consult a mining professional to discredit the position. Then, more than likely, the backer will be averse to working with many, if not most Moon projects. Perhaps someday in the future lunar platinum group and rare earth element mining will become viable, unlike He-3, but…not now. Definitely not now or even in the foreseeable future.

In wrap up, Team Phoenicia’s rover, Victory on Pangaea, will not be sporting a instrument package that is designed around helping a lunar mining operation get underway. Alas.

PS. Yes, this was the short version of the article.

PPS. This applies to asteroid mining as well.

AAIA-SF/SVSC Techtalk at Hackerdojo 11/3/11

2011-10-05T22:43:00.000-07:00

Team Phoenicia is proud to announce that we have been invited to present in the AAIA SF section and Silicon Valley Space Center techtalk series. We will be talking on Nov 3rd 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.

Rover: Finishing the Hinges (test install on the legs 2)

2011-10-01T04:44:00.000-07:00

Rover: Finishing the Hinges (test install on the legs)

2011-09-30T04:41:00.000-07:00

A Parallel Public Seminar

2011-09-29T11:29:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: THIS IS NOV 12.

This seminar is FREE and open to the public.

Draft Agenda:

11:30 PM to 12:30: The Centennial Challenges, Sam Ortega, NASA

12:30 PM to 2:00 PM: Power Beaming Challenge, Ben Shelef, Spaceward Foundation

2:00 PM to 2:30 PM: BREAK (tours of techshop available)

2:30 PM to 4:00 PM: Night Rover Challenge, Josh Neubert, Cleantech Open

4:00 PM to 4:30 PM: BREAK (tours of techshop available)

4:30 PM to 6:00 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.

Rover: Finishing the Hinges (awaiting bushings)

2011-09-29T04:25:00.000-07:00

...And Another

2011-09-28T16:24:00.000-07:00

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [85]: Starting the Client Test Stands

2011-09-28T10:22:00.000-07:00

Rover: Finishing the Hinges (further along)

2011-09-28T04:24:00.000-07:00

Making One Kind of Mischief

2011-09-27T17:42:00.001-07:00

Team Phoenicia Members Personal Race to the Moon

2011-09-27T13:29:00.000-07:00

Rover: Finishing the Hinges (up close)

2011-09-27T04:24:00.000-07:00

Rover: Finishing the Hinges

2011-09-26T04:23:00.000-07:00

Rover Hinges on the Waterjet at Techshop - San Francisco

2011-09-24T05:58:00.000-07:00

Rover: The Move From Conceptualization To Actualization (working the waterjet 2)

2011-09-23T08:51:00.000-07:00

rover: The Move From Conceptualization To Actualization (working a waterjet)

2011-09-22T08:49:00.000-07:00

An Appearance at Space Exploration: Not Just for Billionaires Anymore

2011-09-21T15:51:00.000-07:00

Team Phoenicia was delighted to participate in the MIT/Stanford Venture Lab Seminar entitled "Space Exploration: Not Just for Billionaires Anymore." Two team members, Anand Karasi and Mel Olivares, participated in the networking session of the seminar. They were hosted at the Silicon Valley Space Center booth and displayed a Z150 rocket engine with injector plate and manifold, a Z550 thrust chamber, a pair of unwelded 6 in (15 cm) milled pressure vessel hemispheres, and a spun 18 in (45 cm) spun aluminum propellant tank.

Anand and Mel reported back that things went exceedingly well and we made a number of new contacts. They stated that a lot of people were very impressed by the manufacturing that the team has done.

We look forward to participating in many more events in the local area promoting NewSpace.

We want to thank Dr Sean Casey for the invitation and being willing to give us display space.

2nd Nanosat Launcher Challenge Seminar Draft Agenda Updated 9/16/2011

2011-09-16T12:59:00.000-07:00

This is the draft agenda for the 2nd Nanosatellite Launcher Challenge. Note that the public lecture at Techshop - Menlo Park is not listed, but will take place in the TechShop - Menlo Park conference room at 5 PM and is free to the public.

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 presented by the allied organization (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

3:45 PM to 4:15 PM: Mid Atlantic Regional Spaceport, Laurie Naismith.

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 the Allied Org

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

Panelists: Fabian Venter, Wade Woodson, Amaresh Kollipara, more TBA.

11:00 AM to 11:15 AM: BREAK

11:15 AM to 11:25 AM: CADTrak, 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

1:40 PM to 1:50 PM: Interorbital Systems, Randa Milliron

1:50 PM to 2:00 PM: Seraphim Aerospace Systems, Curt Walsh

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: Sixth Team Presentation

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.

Registration is now open.

Teasing and Taunting

2011-09-15T15:57:00.001-07:00

Rover: The Move From Conceptualization To Actualization (Final Early View)

2011-09-14T12:54:00.000-07:00

Second Generation Avionics Testbed Progress [3]

2011-09-14T04:19:00.000-07:00

Rover: The Move From Conceptualization To Actualization (Another View)

2011-09-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

Second Generation Avionics Testbed Explanations

2011-09-13T09:24:00.000-07:00

Second Generation Avionics Testbed Progress [2]

2011-09-13T04:17:00.000-07:00

Rover: The Move From Conceptualization To Actualization

2011-09-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

A Word From A Sponsor

2011-09-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

Second Generation Avionics Testbed Progress [1]

2011-09-12T04:08:00.000-07:00

2nd Nanosat Launcher Challenge Seminar Draft Agenda Updated 9/2/2011

2011-09-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

This agenda has been superseded by a new one. Please look here instead.

This is the draft agenda for the 2nd Nanosatellite Launcher Challenge. Note that the public lecture at Techshop - Menlo Park is not listed, but will take place in the TS conference room at 5 PM and is free to the public.

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

11:00 AM to 11:30 AM: Connecting to Launchers to Customers, Amaresh Kollipara

11:30 AM to 11:45 AM: BREAK

11:45 AM to 1:45 PM: Draft Rules presented by the allied organization (as a working lunch)

1:45 PM to 2:00 PM: BREAK

2:00 PM to 3:30 PM: FAA AST presentation

3:30 PM to 3:45 PM: BREAK

3:45 PM to 4:15 PM: Mid Atlantic Regional Spaceport, Laurie Naismith.

4:15 PM to 4:45 PM: Second Launch Site

4:45 PM to 5:15 PM: Third Launch Site

5:15 PM to 5:45 PM: Fourth Launch Site

5:45 PM to 6:15 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 the Allied Org

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

Panelists: Fabian Venter, Wade Woodson, Amaresh Kollipara, more TBA.

11:00 AM to 11:15 AM: BREAK

11:15 AM to 11:25 AM: First Supplier Presentation

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

1:40 PM to 1:50 PM: Interorbital Systems, Randa Milliron

1:50 PM to 2:00 PM: Seraphim Aerospace Systems, Curt Walsh

2:10 PM to 2:20 PM: Fourth Team Presentation

2:20 PM to 2:30 PM: Fifth Team Presentation

2:30 PM to 2:40 PM: Sixth Team Presentation

2:40 PM to 2:50 PM: Seventh Team Presentation

2:50 PM to 3:00 PM: Eighth Team Presentation

3:00 PM to 3:10 PM: Ninth Team Presentation

3:10 PM to 3:20 PM: Tenth Team Presentation

3:20 PM to 4:30 PM: Networking Session

4:30 PM to 4:50 PM: Samuel Ortega, NASA's commentary and closing remarks

4:50 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.

Registration is now open.

2nd Nanosat Launcher Challenge Seminar Registration

2011-08-31T18:00:00.000-07:00

Registration is now open.

We are opening registration a little early.

General Information:

This page is for registering for the 2nd Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Challenge Seminar at Team Phoenicia's The Shipyard and Techshop - Menlo Park on Saturday Nov 12th and Sunday Nov 13th, 2011 at 8 AM.

Draft agenda is posted here.

Unlike last year, reservations are required for participation in the seminar proper.

Also unlike last year, we expect to have 10 ten minute speaking slots available for NLC participants and 6 ten minute slots for suppliers. There is no extra charge for being a presenter. All presentations will take place on Nov 13th. We will require the presentations be delivered to us on the 12th.

There will be a free public lecture by NASA at Techshop - Menlo Park for those that wish to learn more about the Centennial Challenges like the Nanosat Launcher Challenge at 5 PM. A catered social will follow the lecture at Techshop and will be open to the public, but food is not free except to registered conference attendees. Meals and drinks will be provided throughout the entire conference for registered attendees.

Registration

A registration is not free and is not complete until after payment.

Early registration is between September 1st and September 30. An early reservation costs $120.

Standard registration is between October 1st and October 31st. This costs $160.

Late registration is between November 1st and November 11th. This will cost $200.

We will have 200 seats available. We will update weekly on the number of available seats remaining.

Please Note:

A reservation without completing payment is considered invalid. All registrants will be contacted after completion to verify registration and see whom would want to present as a supplier or participant in the NLC. If you do not receive an email within 24 hours, contact Team Phoenicia.

No payments will be accepted at the door for the seminar.

Meal tickets can be bought at TechShop for participation at the social for non-attendees.

The link for registration is on the sidebar and here.

The New GLXP Site is Live

2011-08-30T16:40:00.000-07:00

The X Prize Foundation trotted out its new website for the Google Lunar X Prize. Our team leader made an appearance in their video. I think we need a new front man.

2nd Nanosat Launcher Challenge Seminar Draft Agenda

2011-08-25T16:48:00.000-07:00

Nov 12th:

8 AM to 9:00 AM: Sign in and continental breakfast

9:00 AM to 9:15 AM: Welcome by William Baird of Team Phoenicia

9:15 AM t0 9:45 AM: NASA Presentation

9:45 AM to 10:15 AM: The Size of the Nanosat Market

10:15 AM to 10:30 AM: break

10:30 AM to 12:30 PM: Draft Rules presented by the allied organization

12:30 AM to 1:30: Lunch

1:30 PM to 2:30 PM: FAA AST presentation

2:30 PM to 3:15 PM: First Launch Site

3:15 PM to 3:30 PM: Break

3:30 PM to 4:15 PM: Second Launch Site

4:15 PM to 5:00 PM: Third Launch Site

5:00 PM to 5:45 PM: Fourth Launch Site

6:00 PM: Dinner at Techshop

10:00 PM: close out.

November 13th:

8 AM to 9 AM: check-in.

9:00 AM to 9:10 AM: Welcome remarks

9:10 AM to 10:30 AM: Additional feedback to the Allied Org

10:30 AM to 10:45 AM: break

10:45 AM to 10:55 AM: Team Phoenicia's Offerings

10:55 AM to 11:05 AM: Second Supplier Presentation

11:05 AM to 11:15 AM: Third Supplier Presentation

11:15 AM to 11:25 AM: Fourth Supplier Presentation

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

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

11:45 PM to 1:00 PM: Lunch

1:00 PM to 1:10 PM: First Team Presentation

1:10 PM to 1:20 PM: Second Team Presentation

1:20 PM to 1:30 PM: Third Team Presentation

1:40 PM to 1:50 PM: Fourth Team Presentation

1:50 PM to 2:00 PM: Fifth Team Presentation

2:00 PM to 2:10 PM: Sixth Team Presentation

2:10 PM to 2:20 PM: Seventh Team Presentation

2:20 PM to 2:30 PM: Eighth Team Presentation

2:30 PM to 2:40 PM: Ninth Team Presentation

2:40 PM to 2:50 PM: Tenth Team Presentation

2:50 PM to 3:15 PM: BREAK

3:15 PM to 4:00 PM: Panel on Funding the NLC bids

4:00 PM to 4:45 PM: Open Discussion Panel with Allied Org, NASA and FAA

4:45 PM to 5:00 PM: closing 'remarks' by William Baird Team Phoenicia

5:00 PM to 8:00 PM: informal dinner and networking session

Feedback is always welcome. Registration begins September 1st.

2nd Nanosatellite Launcher Seminar

2011-08-19T07:40:00.000-07:00

Team Phoenicia is proud to announce our second Nanosatellite Launcher Challenge seminar. We conducted the first one at Techshop - Menlo Park on November 7th, 2010. The second one will take place at both TechShop and our new facility next door on November 12th, 2011.

The first seminar was a great success, but could be improved upon. This will be upgraded to a two day event based on the feedback that we have received. Food and drink will be provided. There will be speakers in the vein of last time, but additionally all potential teams that wish to present will be able to do so on a first come, first serve basis until the slots are filled. Potential suppliers for the teams will also be given time to present as well.

More details soon.

We will be announcing the agenda soon, but

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [84]: Gimbal Cross Piece Progression

2011-08-19T05:28:00.000-07:00

A Video Thought Experiment Turned Grenade

2011-08-17T23:15:00.000-07:00

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [83]: Another Family Photo - Z150s and Z550s

2011-08-12T12:30:00.001-07:00

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [82]: A Family Photo - Z150s and Z550s

2011-08-12T05:29:00.000-07:00

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [81]: Two Z550s Again

2011-08-11T17:13:00.000-07:00

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [80]: Two Z550s

2011-08-11T13:12:00.000-07:00

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [79]: Two Bigger Billy Goats Gruff

2011-08-11T09:09:00.000-07:00

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [78]: A Bigger Bill Goat Gruff Gets a Flange

2011-08-11T05:06:00.000-07:00

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [77]: A Bigger Bill Goat Gruff Gets a Taper!

2011-08-10T19:39:00.000-07:00

What and Where 4: Announcing the Shipyard

2011-08-08T10:48:00.000-07:00

Team Phoenicia is proud to announce that we have moved into our new facility. We are the sole occupants of a 31,000 sq ft facility in Menlo Park, CA. The facility is divided roughly in thirds for office, manufacturing and warehouse space.

The facility, which we have affectionately nicknamed 'The Shipyard,' will allow the team to manufacture several scales of rockets, host seminars and fundraisers, and consolidate our efforts. We are extremely excited about this opportunity and hope to allow our first tours some time in September.

We are planning on hosting a nanosat launcher challenge seminar again, but this time in the new facility on or around Nov 12. A formal announcement will be made later this week.

(yes, the logos were photoshopped on. We'll be putting up our RL logos some time in the near future)

What and Where 3

2011-08-07T05:41:00.000-07:00

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [76]: Dust Control During Machining With Graphite

2011-08-06T13:41:00.000-07:00

What and Where 2

2011-08-06T05:39:00.000-07:00

Menlo Park, CA 94025

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [75]: Another View

2011-08-05T15:17:00.000-07:00

Avionics Testbed Lab

2011-08-05T13:30:00.000-07:00

What and Where?

2011-08-05T07:36:00.000-07:00

SOLD! (again)

2011-08-05T05:18:00.000-07:00

Team Phoenicia is proud to announce the sale of its second engine to Seraphim Aerospace. They will be looking to go out and test at FAR at some point in the relatively near future, so those of you out that way...KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF! ahem. Seriously though, please, give them a warm welcome when they come out.

This is the second Z150 engine sold. This is the Z150-1106-002 pictured here.

Second Generation Avionics Testbed Design Discussion

2011-08-04T15:07:00.000-07:00

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [74]: Internal Chambering Done

2011-08-04T05:12:00.000-07:00

First Generation Avionics Testbed Discussion Video

2011-08-03T15:03:00.000-07:00

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [73]: Comparing the Finished Thrust Chamber with the Unstarted

2011-08-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

1st Gen Avionics Testbed Fly Around

2011-08-02T14:58:00.000-07:00

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [72]: A Bigger Bill Goat Gruff...In Motion!

2011-08-02T04:57:00.000-07:00

1st Gen Avionics Testbed Flyover Video

2011-08-01T14:55:00.000-07:00

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [71]: A Bigger Bill Goat Gruff

2011-08-01T04:56:00.000-07:00

What in the World?

2011-07-31T14:44:00.000-07:00

Lunar Mining [Part Three]: Lunar Considerations

2011-07-26T12:41:00.000-07:00

This post originally appeared on our official GLXP blog.

Introduction:

This is our third post about whether or not it makes sense, economic especially, to mine the Moon for resources. We already tackled the He-3/Helium-3 meme in an earlier post. Now we are considering whether or not it makes sense to extract Platinum Group Metals or Rare Earth Elements from the Moon for terrestrial use. Ie does it make sense to go mine the Moon? Should Team Phoenicia be outfitting our rover, Victory on Pangaea, as part of an effort to boot strap this nascent industry?

This post will deal with working on the Moon and the specific issues that must be taken into consideration. This is as much meant to be a contrast with what is done here on Earth and a consideration of what must be adapted and changed to make it work for the Moon. Where there are problems with working on the Moon or regulatory issues, this will also be covered.

However, the main economics thrust (and conclusion) will await another post, probably next week or the week after since the GLXP Team Summit will be preoccupying the Team: since we're largely local, we are sooooooo going to smack down the XPF and PTS on the burger munching.

The Obvious Differences:

The lunar environment is like nowhere on earth, not even in the most extreme locales where mining takes place, or even could take place just as a demonstration come close to matching the extremes of even the most benign locations of the Moon. These differences are worth touching on if we are go examine what would be needed to produce lunar mines. The some of the environmental factors that are radically different than on Earth include the fact the Moon lacks an atmosphere, radically different day/night cycle, and the ever present regolith. We will be lightly discussing each of these.

Working in a vacuum

Working in an atmosphere is something that we all take for granted. It has been said that nature abhors a vacuum. In reality, it seems that nature actually abhors an atmosphere. If the Moon had anything close to an atmosphere, it has been lost in the eons long since past. Technically, the Moon does have an atmosphere, but its something that's so tenuous that for all intents and purposes any operations on the Moon must be treated as working in the hardest of vacuums. At least until we finally terraform the Moon...

Since we are only now reaching out to the Moon once more to traverse its surface, its just mildly premature to discuss shirtsleeve mining techniques, nevermind terraforming Luna herself. Besides the lack of breathable atmosphere on the Moon meaning that any human miners would need to be spacesuits and an extraordinary logistics train for supplies, there are other considerations that even anaerobic robots would need to take into account. Since we are participating in a prize to land uninhabited rovers on the Moon, we'll focus on robotic concerns.

The foremost of those considerations is heat. Computers these days generate a fantastic amount of heat. In fact supercomputing centers spend as much money on the power to cool the computers that everyone assume aspire to Skynet-hood as it does to just run them. Even your PC probably uses over 800 watts of power...and that is converted into heat. Heat that must go somewhere. In an atmosphere, that's an easy thing to take care of. It gets cooled by running air over it. Convention is the fastest way to cool something as its heat is imparted into the vast heat sink that is the air we breath. However, lacking this, the Moon forces something operating on it to radiate away the heat. This is orders of magnitude slower and as the some of the experts in the field have put it, even 50 watts of power can be your bane over time in a vacuum.

Any lunar excavator would need to have a carefully and extensively planned system of radiator fins or a massive heat sink that it would need to offload the heat from after a period of time to another system that might have that labyrinthine peacock tail of radiator fins. Either you are trading physical complexity and limitations on mining behavior in order to protect the cooling apparatus or you are adding significant complexity to the control side of the mining robot. Dumping heat in a vacuum has been dealt with and is a known problem. However, it has not been dealt with while also designing a mining vehicle. To do so will be most definitely nontrivial.

The Lunar Light Cycle

The Moon does not have the terrestrial night cycle. On Earth, we have a 24 hour light cycle where we shift from day to night and back again. This relatively short cycle combined with the atmosphere keep the Earth's surface within certain temperature ranges. As brutal as many of the terrestrial environments are, the day-night cycle on the Moon alone easily outruns the competing equivalents on Earth.

Lunar nights last 354 hours. This is more than 14 days long. Any system of solar power will need to have energy storage or a backup that will last two weeks. To do this would require a solution that is either massive (or heavy in common terms, like extensive batteries) and/or a political hot potato (nuclear power).

The heating and cooling cycle from the lunar light cycle is very difficult to deal with, too. The surface temperatures at the equator swing 300 C from its lows around -180 C to 123 C. Any materials that the equipment is made form must be able to handle those temperature swings. That thermal loading from the sun is significantly higher than on Earth. Getting rid of that heat is something that must be taken into consideration for all mining operations.

In the permanently shaded regions, while, the temperature does not fluctuate, it is an estimated -233 C.

Regolith

Lunar regolith is truly nasty stuff. It is one of the most abrasive substances known to man. In any operation equipment that is developed is going to need to deal with this fact. Machines wear out from grit getting into them here on earth. When it is far more hostile than any sand on earth, the results could be catastrophic. There are lunar regolith simulants that can be tested against, but the basic design consideration is still present.

Location, Location, Location:

The final consideration is a doozie: the moon is far away. On the cosmic scale, the Moon is sitting in our laps. On the scale of working on active mines, it could not be further away. In all probability, there will be no one there to fix things for several years. Troubleshooting remotely is quite the challenge: just as the MER team and what happened with Spirit. And! What may be acceptable for an explorer would almost certainly not be for a production mine: days, even weeks of being stuck could be disastrous financially.

A lunar mine truck stuck on the ramp could permanently shutdown the mine. Planned for such events - the stuff that we take for granted on our own rock, like being able to kick the tires or manually and easily hook up a winch or whatnot - is not so easy roboticly, nevermind on the Moon.

Furthermore, just getting to and from the Moon is nontrivial. The more equipment you take up, the more expensive it is. The more material you bring down, the more expensive it is. If you askew more for more complex equipment, it increases the likelihood of breakdown and of greater cost. Cost, money, profits, and some analysis however, are the next post's subjects as we use it to wrap up our lunar mining posts.

Until then, ad astra per luna.

Lunar Mining [Part Two]: The Standard Terrestrial Process

2011-07-25T15:30:00.000-07:00

This post originally appeared over at our official GLXP blog.

This is our second post in the series on lunar mining and whether or not it makes sense to help bootstrap a new potential resource extraction industry. After all, if there is a new lucrative source of vital materials that would help improve our quality of life, then we, as lunar explorers, ought to help, if not try to found this industry ourselves. Should our rover’s instrument kit be geared towards ore discovery?

Before we can answer that, we need to know what are the normal steps for a terrestrial mine to be opened and generating revenue. There will be significant differences between a terrestrial and lunar mine, but knowing what steps are present, what obstacles need to be overcome, and what hoops must be hopped through here will help us outline the costs for a mine up there.

For the remainder of this post, we will be talking about terrestrial mines and the process therein. The subsequent posts will be about talking about the specifics for refining for platinum group metals and rare earth elements. Then we will discuss what needs to be done for differently for lunar mining and extraction. Finally, we’ll wrap up with whether or not this makes sense to do.

The Terrestrial Methodology

The exploitation of new resources generally has a very standardized methodology. Mining and mineral resource extraction is a very well understood process. People have been doing this for millennia and modern techniques while having undergone evolution have their roots deep in the past. The steps haven’t really changed from the times of the Roman Empire, albeit they have been systematized and thde tails have changed (sometimes radically). Those steps are surveying, proving, extracting, smelting/refining and delivery. Whether those resources are terrestrial, lunar, or otherwise, those steps will remain the same.

Discovery

Geological surveys are the first step. These often involve geologists trolling all over the areas of interest. They are time consuming and incredibly man-hour intensive. In the past they were complete done on the ground. These days, remote sensing does the general sweep, sometimes from satellite for mineral content, or even aerial. This was recently done in Afghanistan which found a trove of rare earth elements, for example. However, sources that are found must be examined close up and proven to be worthwhile for exploitation.

Proving

The next step in finding and exploiting resources is proving that resource. That is that once you have found a site that has a mineralogical content that shows promise to exploit, it has to be examined in detail to verify that the resource is truly worth exploiting. What-if that promising sample you brought back is a single rock with that particular ore combination? You will have to dig a little deeper and provide enough sufficient samples to be sure.

Interestingly, the SEC – Security and Exchange Commission – has established guidelines for all publicly traded companies to prove those resources. One of the SEC's reasons to do this is to prevent some company to pop up, claim to have a site, salted that site, and then disappear after taking investor's money.

The standard for proving a source, as advised by the mining companies that we consulted, is to extract 50 ft to 75 ft (15 m to 22.5m) deep cores for study. Each of these are 22 lbs for every 5 ft (10 kg for every 1.5m) making a single core 220 to 330 lbs (100 kg to 150 kg).

Extracting

The physical mining part of the process seems relatively straight forward. Once a source has been proven, the ore is removed, often via a surface mine, to a crusher where the ore is smashed into usable and refinable sized pieces. The exact details are dependent on whether or not this is a surface mine or a shaft. Furthermore, this is also somewhat different between the different sorts of metals being extracted as well.

Refining

The exact refining process is 100% dependent on the metal being extracted. Since the metals we are discussing here are the Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Platinum Group Elements (PGMs), we''ll lightly touch on their processes.

Those for Rare Earth Elements are extremely complicated and highly dependent on the source. This is so much the case that it is not possible to take ore from a different mine and use the same processing facilities from an existing mine to refine that ore. This is because of the chemistry of the samples are very, very important. The reason being the extraction process is almost purely a chemical process rather than merely applying a lot of heat to ore. We have been informed that it takes ten to twenty tons of ore to work through the entire process of refining and get the kinks worked out...if there are few problems.

Platinum Group Metals are often extracted as part of a "bundle" of multiple metals that are being pulled out. Nickel, copper, cobalt, gold and iron are often extracted as part of the process. This process is just as complicated as the REE extraction, but not for same reasons. The ore goes through a flotation processes, smelting in an electrical furnace, and then multiple chemical processes. It ought to be noted that there is 1/10 to one kilogram per ton of ore in a good source of PGMs.

Delivery

Finally, of course, delivery takes place. On earth, the metals are shipped off to customers via truck and train. While the prices are high, Molycorp has publicly stated that the "generic REE" oxide delivered to customer costs $2.77/kg from the Mountain Pass mine.

To Be Continued

Next up we will talk about working this on the Moon. What can be done there? What can be done here? What must be and can be? The process for extracting on the Moon is very similar, yet has serious and interesting limitations. Just what IS doable on the Moon?

Lunar Mining Part One.

2011-07-22T15:21:00.000-07:00

This post originally appeared on our GLXP blog.

One of the reasons that often gets thrown around for going to the Moon is lunar resource extraction. The different resources thrown around are myriad, but there are generally two that are given special attention. The first is Helium-3. The second resource are metals - platinum group metals and rare earth elements - for terrestrial use.

We tackled Helium-3 chimera in a past guest posting by the team friend, James Nicoll. It turns out that He-3 is actually a bad bet for a resource to mine on the Moon. Subsequently, at least one post has appeared since that has backed our position. We hope that we can lay that tired chimera to rest.

That said, there is a second potential resource class, if you will, that is often touted for lunar extraction. These are industrially useful metals. Ones that have high prices and are likely to have an increasing market often attract interest. There are two sets of metals that fit the current vogue for lunar extraction: Platinum Group Metals (PGM) and Rare Earth Elements (REE). Platinum has a current market price in excess of $56,000/kg as of the time of this writing. Europium has a current market price in excess of $3,200/kg and seems likely to rise.

With those market prices in mind, Team Phoenicia set out to investigate whether or not it was worthwhile to attempt to help jump start a lunar mining industry. We interviewed those involved in the mining industry, both in PGMs and REEs. We dug into the technical, regulatory, and financial requirements for mining and what more would be needed to start a lunar equivalent.

Could it be made profitable? Would it be profitable? Should this guide our instrument package on our final rover, Victory on Pangaea? The subsequent posts in this series will explore the topic. We invite you to follow along and see what we found out for ourselves and how it impacts any potential Moon Miner.

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [70]: ...Ready!

2011-07-13T05:20:00.000-07:00

Team Phoenicia

Progress on a Contract[3]

Progress on a Contract[2]

Progress on a Contract

Lander Simulation

Rover Test Drive

Phoenicians in Zeit Wissen

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

The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar Video: Team Phoenicia as a Supplier and On Sponsorships

The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar Video: CADTrak Engineering

The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar Video: Business Panel

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

Third Engine Sold!

A Sixth Snapshot: The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar

A Fifth Snapshot: The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar

A Fourth Snapshot: The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar

A Third Snapshot: The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar

A Second Snapshot: The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar

A Snapshot: The Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Seminar

2nd Nanosat Launcher Challenge Launcher Agenda

Parallel Seminar DELAY

Flight of the Second Generation Avionics Testbed

Reminder: AAIA/SVSC Team Phoenicia Techtalk

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

NASA Announces Allied Org for Nanosat Launcher Challenge

Team Phoenicia/Techshop Centennial Challenge Seminar

Regarding the Team Phoenicia/Techshop Nanosat Launcher Challenge Seminar

Rover: Suspension Iteration One (part two)

Rover: Suspension Iteration One

More Video of the Zephyr Test Stand Assembly

Team Phoenicia's Seminars on Evadot! "So you want to launch your own space hardware eh? Psst. you can!"

Welding Up a Test Stand: Hyperkinetic Version

New Sponsor: Fingertech Robotics

Special Thanks to Professional Plastics

Lunar Mining [Part 4]: Eclipse by Reality of the Economics of Lunar Mining

AAIA-SF/SVSC Techtalk at Hackerdojo 11/3/11

Rover: Finishing the Hinges (test install on the legs 2)

Rover: Finishing the Hinges (test install on the legs)

A Parallel Public Seminar

Rover: Finishing the Hinges (awaiting bushings)

...And Another

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [85]: Starting the Client Test Stands

Rover: Finishing the Hinges (further along)

Making One Kind of Mischief

Team Phoenicia Members Personal Race to the Moon

Rover: Finishing the Hinges (up close)

Rover: Finishing the Hinges

Rover Hinges on the Waterjet at Techshop - San Francisco

Rover: The Move From Conceptualization To Actualization (working the waterjet 2)

rover: The Move From Conceptualization To Actualization (working a waterjet)

An Appearance at Space Exploration: Not Just for Billionaires Anymore

2nd Nanosat Launcher Challenge Seminar Draft Agenda Updated 9/16/2011

Teasing and Taunting

Rover: The Move From Conceptualization To Actualization (Final Early View)

Second Generation Avionics Testbed Progress [3]

Rover: The Move From Conceptualization To Actualization (Another View)

Second Generation Avionics Testbed Explanations

Second Generation Avionics Testbed Progress [2]

Rover: The Move From Conceptualization To Actualization

A Word From A Sponsor

Second Generation Avionics Testbed Progress [1]

2nd Nanosat Launcher Challenge Seminar Draft Agenda Updated 9/2/2011

2nd Nanosat Launcher Challenge Seminar Registration

The New GLXP Site is Live

2nd Nanosat Launcher Challenge Seminar Draft Agenda

2nd Nanosatellite Launcher Seminar

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [84]: Gimbal Cross Piece Progression

A Video Thought Experiment Turned Grenade

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [83]: Another Family Photo - Z150s and Z550s

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [82]: A Family Photo - Z150s and Z550s

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [81]: Two Z550s Again

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [80]: Two Z550s

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [79]: Two Bigger Billy Goats Gruff

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [78]: A Bigger Bill Goat Gruff Gets a Flange

Zephyr Aurora: Taking Shape [77]: A Bigger Bill Goat Gruff Gets a Taper!