Ken Murphy / 6:32 pm July 11th, 2010

Howdy everyone! Things are finally starting to gel for Moon Day, and we finally have the splash and the event details up at the Frontiers of Flight Museum website.

As with any sophomore effort, it has been rough, and there have been some big fails along the way, but it looks like things are going to turn out just fine.

My biggest fail was Richard Garriott, who had to drop out because something else came up. Coupled with not being able to get someone from UT Southwestern to speak about space medicine, that means that the ISS is basically out as a major theme of the event this year. We’re definitely going to have to start earlier on lining up speakers for next year.

That’s not to say that we don’t have a spectacular lineup for everyone.

The event itself is Sunday, July 18th, from 1-5pm at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field in Dallas (just north of Mockingbird on Lemmon), home of the Apollo 7 capsule and a genuine Moon rock.

In the main auditorium, we’re going to start out with Neil Milburn from Armadillo Aerospace, who’s going to talk about rockets and has promised some volumific videos of tests. Neil is at 2pm, and then at 3:30 we’re going to have local Solar System Ambassador Ron DiIulio talk about the formation of asteroids and our Moon, and give away a meteorite as a door prize. We’ve got lots of other door prizes as well, but they’re a surprise.

[Auditorium Update: To help fill in the first hour of time in the auditorium we’re going to be screening the independent movie “Postcards from the Future“. Very cool]

In the upstairs classroom we’ve got the young’uns. McCartney Taylor from the Texas Meteorite Lab is going to give a talk on meteorite hunting, including thumbnails on how to pick them out from their surroundings. Again, that’s at 2pm, which allows folks whose curiosity was piqued by the after story of asteroids (like, after they hit our atmosphere and tumble to Earth) can then head into the auditorium to hear the before story, about where scientists believe they came from and how they formed. So we’ve got asteroids covered.

I’m up next in the classroom, at 3:30, to talk about “The 21st Century Moon: America’s Next Industrial Frontier” Basically, take the last couple of years worth of posts here at OotC, and digest them down to a 1 to 1.5 hour (with Q&A) session. Unfortunately, I don’t have a meteorite to give away, as I use what few I have for hands-on outreach and education purposes, and my pallasite is just too darn pretty to give away, but I do have a small yin of chaos in my big yang of order.

In the kids classroom downstairs, local Solar System Ambassador Cynthia Whisennand will be running a Toys in Space class (twice, at 2 and 3:30 to keep the balance). I’m guessing the 2pm is going to be seeing a bigger turnout, as I don’t think she has a meteorite to give away either.

So that’s the talky-talky classes. Downstairs in the Workshop DARS is going to be running a makey-makey rocket-building class, which was supposed to end in time for a 3:30 talk by Mr. Milburn from Armadillo in the upstairs classroom, but we ended up having to move Neil into the auditorium to take advantage of its awesome audio abilities, and Ron was already slotted for the later slot so that the meteorite would be given away basically at the end of the event (for effect). So that’s a tough rocket dilemma right there - build a model rocket, or go see videos about Armadillo making real rockets.

Almost forgot, upstairs in the hallway leading to the auditorium we finally have the art show up. These are various pieces I’ve accumulated over the years for the Lunar Library, many of them very nicely framed. The museum likes it so much they want to keep it up till Labor Day in September. The first piece, Earthrise, is from a private collection, and exhibited by virtue of a deal struck on a smile and a handshake at this year’s ISDC, but everything else is mine. Including all of the toys in the display case. Unlike the display of Apollo-era toys downstairs, these are all relatively recent toys that can be found in stores or on the internet. Unless you live in the U.S., in which case you can’t have the LEGO game Lunar Command (nyah nyah).

Yet. I’m sure it will be out eventually here stateside, but I wanted it for the Lunar Library, and made sure to pick up a copy while I was in France for this year’s ISU Symposium. I’m still waiting on a LEGO Lunar Electric Rover, which is what I really want. And for the next space playsets to be Moon-themed ones, but not frikkin’ Apollo-retreads, again, rather Moon Base and LER and Lunar mining playsets. And a LEGO video game, where you build stuff and solve puzzles on the Moon. C’mon LEGO Techs, it can’t be that hard! Oh, and we’ve also got the new Shuttle Adventure playset on display as well, and a plush astronaut Snoopy, and three different space Barbies (I understand there’s a fourth one I need to get to complete the collection, but do you know how stupid it feels for an early fortysomething to be buying Barbie dolls? I usually just say it’s for my goddaughter (Shout Out to Xiomara in P-town!)).

[Art Update: The Museum Director is starting to get ambitious. Now that most everything is off my walls and in the museum, he wants me to consider letting ‘Glimpses from the Future: Art from the Lunar Library’ go for a tour around the country. Buh..wha? He’s serious, though. He’s already done the catalog, and his team of educators can come up with an educator guide to accompany the exhibit. The toys won’t go, but the art will. Wow, dude, that’s heavy man. Gonna have to cogitate on that one for a bit…]

Speaking of family-friendly fun, let’s wander out to the main floor of the museum, officially the Richard W. Cree Main Exhibit Gallery. Here we have the museum’s long-term display of the Apollo 7 capsule thanks to the efforts of Walt & Dot Cunningham, as well as a Moon walk display that houses the museum’s piece of the Moon. They have some assorted other goodies as well, including the aforementioned display case of Apollo-era toys.

The main floor will be lined with tables for the various exhibitors, as well as some themed handout tables, including one I’m setting aside specifically for space commercialization efforts. The exhibitors lined up so far are:

-Armadillo Aerospace (from Caddo Mills)
-Astronaut Training Center (in North Richland Hills)
-Dallas Area Rocket Society (which launches in Frisco)
-Dallas Mars Society (meets in Plano)
-NSS of North Texas (meets in Irving)
-Solar System Ambassadors
-Spaceminers.org (from Hurst)
-Texas Astronomical Society (meets at UT Dallas)
-Texas Meteorite Lab (from Austin)
-UNT Planetarium (up in Denton, home of the excellent Recycled Books)
-UTA Planetarium (from Arlington)

We’re also going to have a vendor for math and science t-shirts, and we’re trying to get Half-Price Books to have a booth to sell their awesome selection of space books, way better than any of the bookboxes. Texas Meteorite Lab is also going to be selling meteorites.

My major exhibitor fail was SpaceX. I’d love to have them come up from McGregor for the day and show off their stuff for everyone. Never did hear back from my inquiry. I may have been a bit too pushy, and that probably ticked them off. This may have to be the kind of thing where I have to put some effort into leveraging off of my NSS and NewSpace contacts to get introduced to Elon and get to know him and see if I can get some impetus from the top for having a SpaceX display at this quirky space event each July in North Texas he’s heard about called Moon Day. Or maybe just a couple bundles of handouts.

A minor fail was Paragon SDC, which has an office down in Houston. I’d met a young gentleman at the Space Economy Leadership Summit down in Austin who thought it would be a good thing for his company to have a presence at the kind of educational outreach event we’re putting together. He did his best but it was just too short of a notice to put something together, but maybe next year. I did make sure to cc: Grant and Taber on my thank you to him. They’re both SGF and ISU, so I know that they ‘get’ it, and maybe we’ll have better luck next year. Crap, and I should have gotten in touch with Stone Aerospace down in Austin.

Most all of the exhibitors are going to have handouts, and we have boxes pouring into the museum with handouts from folks like Space Camp, Google Lunar X Prize, FAA, NASA IPP, LPI, NSS, and more.

Yours truly decided to take a chance and pre-spend my (maybe) annual bonus [Update: I did get one this year, and it was enough to cover it. Double plus good!] and I ordered up some ‘Lunar Sample Bags’ for the kids. We’ve got 250 bags, and right before the event a whole bunch of volunteers at the museum are going to stuff the bags with all of the kid-oriented materials like stickers, puzzles, posters, pins, and miscellaneous other goodies. Each kid will get one at the door, and they can add stuff as they wander through the event. It’s basically a pouch with large flap that has the printing on it. Officially, the flap says:

“Moon Day
Lunar Sample Bag

Supplied by the Lunar Library
www.outofthecradle.net”

Note that I didn’t date it, so if any are left over they can be used next year. And since I paid for them, I can put my web address on there. Such is the power of the purse.

[Update: Just saw the bags. 4All Promos did a fine job, and I think they’re going to go over well. Alert readers may have noticed that their ads seem to be popping up on space-related websites. I can’t help but wonder if there is a connection. I did get some flack at the NSS-NT chapter meeting for not offering the chapter the opportunity to underwrite the bags, which is a valid point and one I hadn’t considered, but once I’d told them how much I’d paid the consensus seemed to swing to maybe next year]

All of the rest of the handouts are going to be put out in the display area on the main floor. I want at least one commercially-themed table, but I’m thinking we’re going to have at least two or three tables worth of stuff.

Most of the exhibitors seem to be going for two tables, though TAS and DARS each want three (and DARS is maybe thinking of bringing a couple of their own). NSS of North Texas, as co-sponsor of the event, gets to have six tables and they’re all going to be packed with stuff, two each on the themes of ISS, Moon, and Asteroids. We’re going to be running our chapter raffle to raise money for our Science Fair Scholarship, so be sure to bring lots of dollar bills. Next year, three NSS-NT chapter members will be amongst the many judges at the Dallas Regional Science and Engineering Fair,and will award whatever monies we’ve gathered (plus a $35 administrative fee to pay for the winner’s meal at the awards luncheon) to the project that best exemplifies NSS’s goals of people living and working in space. Since it’s our money we’re giving away, we get to decide the criteria for winning, and it’s hashed out amongst the three judges as they see what kind of projects generally fit the overall theme. Even though the chapter has a very small cushion in its bank account, I insist that the project raise its own funds. This way, it’s not something we do until the chapter runs out of money.

Right now the publicity blitz is on. The museum has the splash up on their website, leading to further details, and I’m in the process of going around to libraries, bookstores, comic shops, teacher supply stores, and anyplace else I can think of that has a community bulletin board. I used to like Borders because they had a bulletin board in most of their stores, but it looks like they’ve gone the uber-corporate B&N route and yanked all of them. I’m generally finding that the smaller and locally owned businesses are much more receptive to putting up a flyer announcing the event. Also, the libraries in less-well-off neighborhoods are much more receptive than those in wealthier neighborhoods, who tend to have more of a “we have to run it through channels to get approval” mindset.

Having posted some 50 flyers around town at this point, I think the thing that most annoys me is the question “Is it free?”. No, it’s regular museum admission, but you’re getting all of this extra space goodness for one day only. Gee, it would be nice if we could find an underwriter to cover the ticket costs, but in case folks haven’t noticed the economy is a bit rough at the moment, and finding underwriting is never easy. That’s why I ended up springing for the Lunar Sample Bags, because even though we shopped it around no one grabbed at the opportunity to get their logo or website on the bags.

Sigh, everyone wants something for nothing. Seems to be pathological in this society.

I just sent around the e-mail to all of the exhibitors where we get their requirements for tables, power, special needs, &c. I also asked them to ask their members to put Moon Day into the social networking realm if they can. Next step is to put the event on all of the online event calendars, and since we’ve got an art show associated with the event I have to hit up all of the online art calendars as well. The usual methodology is to google for Dallas online event calendars and pick through the first three to five pages for the best links. Luckily I already went through that exercise last year and already have a list.

[Update: Uh, oh…publicity fail. I just got word from Space.com that my attempt to post an announcement to the ‘User Announcements’ section of their Message Boards (which was set up specifically for that purpose) like I did last year has been denied, as:

“The reported post has the only purpose to advertise for a website or another product.”

Alrighty then. FWIW, I registered my user name, ‘kadetken’ in 1998, and have kept it through 4 or 5 crash and burns of their comments database, that being the reason I post there only infrequently. I also have old articles from Ad Astra Online, which was supposed to be an online version of NSS’s member magazine (which is darn good) that NSS members would contribute to, which they didn’t, in droves. I have, IIRC, three articles up over there, which Space.com doesn’t provide you any means of accessing except through the Search function. Do I feel spurned? Oh, just a wee bit, but I’m used to it]

[Further Update: Publicity success. I’ve got the event on local online event calendars at the Dallas Morning News ‘GuideLive‘, KERA’s ‘Art & Seek‘, the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau Event Calendar, and I’m playing phone tag with the blogger at the weekly Dallas Observer. Bruce at the museum spent half an hour with a talk show guy out of Phoenix, AZ where he was able to mention the event numerous times. That’s where the social networking comes in, as everyone knows someone in or from Texas. The museum is starting to get calls from people wanting to know what’s in the Sample Bags. I’m getting one of those feelings that we may have good media coverage this year.]

So it’s all coming together nicely. I do credit the experience of co-chairing an ISDC for helping with the overall ’systems engineering’ of putting the event together, as well as developing a lot of contacts in the space community. I’d have to credit my early years back in the 90s as a ‘community organizer’ of sorts for knowing how to work with disparate non-profit groups and serve in my community. My year at ISU certainly gave me a much deeper understanding of the space field than most, enough to get a cum laude. My work here at OotC and with the Lunar Library have certainly had their benefit, but it has taken years of work.

And now to toot my own horn, I’m going to be giving one of the talks in the upstairs classroom, at 3:30pm, on the topic of “The 21st Century Moon: America’s Next Industrial Frontier“. I’m still gestating the final structure of the talk, which is going to have to delve extensively into EML-1, but it’ll be good, trust me.

So if you can make it out to the Frontiers of Flight Museum on Sunday, July 18th from 1-5 pm, then we’d love to see you. If you can’t make it, be sure to tell your friends and colleagues. This is going to be the biggest space event in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex this year, so you don’t want to miss it!

EVA / 3:49 pm November 15th, 2009

Welcome to the third in this series of Lunar Editions of EVA Interviews: The Business of the new Space Age™. To start this series, EVA went directly to the source and interviewed the Moon about its expectations for future lunar commercial activities. Coming back down to Earth, the second interview focused on the organization whose actions and incentives are most helping to make business on the Moon a reality and talked to William Pomerantz Senior Director of Space Prizes for the X PRIZE Foundation about the exciting Google Lunar X Prize competition. Now we will talk to the teams themselves who are hard at work, taking the first steps necessary towards expanding commerce beyond Earth, and to the Moon.

The first team to reply is Next Giant Leap and its founder, Michael Joyce. I met Mike this summer at the Space Frontier Foundation NewSpace Conference and the NLSI (NASA Lunar Science Institute) 2nd Annual Lunar Science Forum, both at NASA Ames in July, and again at the Space Investment Summit 7 in Boston where Mike, along with other impressive members of his team, was one of the Business Plan presenters. I’m delighted to have Next Giant Leap and Michael Joyce as our first Team guest!

 

EVA:    Thank you so much, Mike, for participating in the Lunar Editions of EVA Interviews: The Business of the new Space Age™! I am very interested to hear more about the formation of your team. How was your decision made to compete and what do you (and your team) hope to get out of your involvement? How is it going so far?

READ MORE…

Ken Murphy / 4:35 am November 3rd, 2009

Ah, your Lunar Librarian can well recall his student years, hitting the books and starving more often than not in the pursuit of knowledge. Ramen noodles, rice & beans, ravioli. I seemed to have a very R-rich diet.

So that you won’t have to suffer as I did in my space studies, I’ve gathered together a number of different scholarship and competition opportunities for all different fields.

There’s a lot of money out there for space studies, and one thing you should realize from the following list is that you need to be creative in seeking out funding and learning opportunities. The real question is how much scholarship fundage can be brought into the space field through creative application. That’s for y’all to find out.

And treat yourself to a nice dinner at least once per semester.

Nininger Meteorite Award

The 2009 application deadline is November 13, 2009.
http://meteorites.asu.edu/nininger

Recognizes outstanding student achievement in the meteoritical sciences as embodied by an original research paper. Papers must cover original research conducted by the student and must have been written, submitted or published between November 15, 2008 and November 13, 2009. Applicants must be the first, but not sole, author of the paper and must be studying at an educational institution in the United States. The Nininger Award recipient receives $1000 and an engraved plaque commemorating the honor.

Amelia Earhart Fellowship Program

All applications for 2010 Amelia Earhart Fellowships, recommendations, transcripts, and letter of current standing must be received or post-marked by 15 November 2009.
http://www.zonta.org/site/PageServer?pagename=zi_issues_programs_amelia_earhart_application

Women of any nationality pursuing a PhD/doctoral degree who demonstrate a superior academic record in the field of aerospace-related sciences and aerospace-related engineering are eligible. Please note that post-doctoral research programs are not eligible for this Fellowship.
The Fellowship of US $10,000 may be used at any university or college offering accredited graduate courses and degrees.

Conrad Foundation
Spirit of Innovation Awards

Team Nutrition Bar Submissions Due: November 20, 2009
http://www.conradawards.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=152&Itemid=183

Space Nutrition
Design and formulate a nutrition bar for use in space flight.

Finalists – top teams invited to participate in the final competition (selected January 8, 2010)

* $1000 travel stipend for Mattson Inc. manufacturing program.
* $1000 Matching Grant for Innovation Summit program.

Pete Conrad Scholars – winning teams chosen from finalists (selected April 12, 2010)

* 10,000 of the team’s Nutrition Bars
* Recognition medallions
* Promotional media opportunities
* Consideration for selection into the Conrad Portal to support the commercialization of their product.
* Sigma Xi Associate membership.

8C Business Plan Competition 2010

http://www.8cproject.com/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=20

Coming November 2009 - The 8th Continent Project will be accepting entries from around the globe for its 2010 Business Plan Competition for university students.

$50,000 in prizes will be awarded including cash and in-kind services, and an unforgettable ride on the Zero Gravity Corporation aircraft. Final Rounds will be held April 9-10, 2010, on the campus of the Colorado School of Mines in Golden.

The 8C Business Plan Competition (formerly Lunar Ventures) challenges students in business, engineering and science to collaborate in creating business plans that employ space-derived technology in products and services with immediate commercial application here on Earth.

2010 CanSat Competition

Application forms due November 30, 2009.
http://www.cansatcompetition.com/Main.html

The mission is to launch an autonomous cansat carrying one large hen’s egg intact for the
entire duration from launch to landing. The descent control system must not use a parachute,
para-foil, or any similar device. During the flight and descent, data shall be transmitted once
every five seconds to a relay balloon station. The cansat must land without damaging the egg.

Launch Location for 2010 is Amarillo, Texas June 11 - 13

Society of Women Engineers

http://societyofwomenengineers.swe.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=222&Itemid=111

Scholarship information for the 2010-2011 school year will be available starting in December for undergradate/graduate students, and February for incoming freshman.

The SWE Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to women admitted to accredited baccalaureate or graduate programs, in preparation for careers in engineering, engineering technology and computer science.

Geological Society of America

Deadline of December 10, 2009
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2010/documents/lpsc2010.studentapp.pdf

Each year the Planetary Geology Division of the Geological Society of America (GSA) gives the Stephen E. Dwornik Planetary Student Paper Awards for the best student research presentations, one for an oral presentation and one for a poster presentation. The purpose of these awards is to provide encouragement, motivation, and recognition to outstanding future planetary scientists who are U.S. citizens. Winners will be introduced and awarded a plaque and a cash prize of $500.00 at the following years’ LPSC.

To apply for the award, students MUST complete the student award application form and MUST send the original application, with an original signature by their advisor, to LPI on or before the deadline of December 10, 2009.

SPACE CAMP/AVIATION CHALLENGE
Scholarship Program

The 2010 scholarship applications are due December 11, 2009.
http://www.spacecamp.com/details.php?cat=Scholarships&program=Scholarships

The scholarship program is managed by the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Foundation. Full Scholarships cover tuition, room & board for any weeklong, age-appropriate camp and are good for one year. Transportation and incidentals are the responsibility of the scholarship recipient.

Applicants may apply in one of four categories - Financial Need/Disadvantaged, Special Needs, Academic Achievement, or General. Each applicant must answer an essay question, design a mission patch, describe a science project using the scientific method, and provide three letters of recommendation.

Moon Tasks

Notice of Intent is requested as soon as possible, or no later than December 15, 2009
http://moontasks.larc.nasa.gov/

The NASA Exploration Systems Mission Directorate and the Exploration Technology Development Program encourage college students to design tools and instruments needed for future human and robotic exploration of the moon. Student projects will tackle real problems required for successful lunar missions.
All awards are subject to available funds. We expect to award prizes in the form of travel stipends to the NASA lunar rover analog testing in the fall of 2010.

Conrad Foundation
Spirit of Innovation Awards

Team Product Submissions Due: December 15, 2009
http://www.conradawards.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=87&Itemid=182

Aerospace Exploration Category
The Aerospace Exploration category encompasses a wide variety of topics ranging from vehicles to spacesuits to planetary exploration to satellites, and many other related subjects including space medicine.

Finalists
* $1000 matching grant (pending matching funds raised by the team)
* Recognition certificates
* Promotional media opportunities
* Invitation to the Innovation Summit and final awards competition
Laureates
* $5000 Next Step grant.
* Access to online fundraising tools
* Recognition medallions
* Promotional media opportunities
* Conrad Portal selection consideration.
* AIAA student membership.
* Sigma Xi Associate membership.
$5,000 National Space Biomedical Research Institute Prize for Innovation in Space Exploration Health Care will be awarded to one team for the best aerospace-related human health product.

Each of the winning student-up to 30- will receive a 1 year student membership to AIAA.

IAU/Peter & Patricia Gruber Foundation
Gruber Cosmology Prize

Nominations for the Gruber Cosmology Prize 2010 will close on 15 December 2009
http://www.iau.org/grants_prizes/gruber_foundation/

The Cosmology Prize honors a leading cosmologist, astronomer, astrophysicist or scientific philosopher for theoretical, analytical, conceptual or observational discoveries leading to fundamental advances in our understanding of the Universe.

The Cosmology Prize of the Gruber Foundation is awarded annually to one or more scientists of any nationality working in the fields of astronomy, physics, mathematics, and philosophy of science, for scientific advances in our understanding of the Universe and how we perceive it.

The Cosmology Prize consists of a gold medal and a cash prize of, as of 2008, US$ 500,000.

NASA Great Moonbuggy Race

INTERNATIONAL REGISTRATION ENDS JANUARY 1, 2010
US REGISTRATION ENDS FEBRUARY 1, 2010
http://moonbuggy.msfc.nasa.gov/compete.html

Students are required to design a vehicle that addresses a series of engineering problems that are similar to problems faced by the original Moonbuggy team.

Each Moonbuggy will be human powered and carry two students, one female and one male, over a half-mile simulated lunar terrain course including “craters”, rocks, “lava” ridges, inclines and “lunar” soil.

National Society of Black Physicists

Applications are due by January 8, 2010
http://www.nsbp.org/scholarships/

The organization seeks to develop and support efforts to increase opportunities for African Americans in physics and to increase their numbers and visibility of their scientific work. It also seeks to develop activities and programs that highlight and enhance the benefits of the scientific contributions that African American physicists provide for the international community. The society seeks to raise the general knowledge and appreciation of physics in the African American community.

EntryPoint 2010

Deadline for NASA applications is January 15, 2010
http://ehrweb.aaas.org/entrypoint/index.htm

ENTRY POINT! is a program of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) offering outstanding internship opportunities for students with apparent and non-apparent disabilities in science, engineering, mathematics, computer science, and some fields of business.

ACCESS (Achieving Competence in Computing, Engineering, and Space Science) is a summer internship program for students with disabilities sponsored by AAAS and NASA.

NASA Academy

Application Deadline: January 18, 2010
https://academyapp.com/

The NASA Academies are an immersive summer programs for highly motivated and successful undergraduate and graduate students. These summer NASA internships are intensive. Their purpose is to bring together the likely future leaders in space activity and train them in research, leadership, team building and networking. The program’s structure is set so that the work day is spent on an individual research project specifically working with a NASA Principle Investigator, the evenings are filled with work on the group project and weekends are devoted to traveling to different NASA centers, research institutes, and commercial space-related businesses so that the students learn at an early stage how NASA operates from the inside-out.

Lunar Exploration Summer Intern Program

Deadline for Application: January 22, 2010
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar_intern/

The Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) is hosting a special summer intern program to evaluate possible landing sites for robotic and human exploration missions. Four to six interns will work with LPI science staff and other collaborators to evaluate the best landing sites to address each of the NRC’s science priorities. This will be a unique team activity that should foster extensive discussions among students and senior science team members. This Lunar Exploration Summer Intern Program will operate parallel with LPI’s regular summer intern program.

This program is open to graduate students in geology, planetary science, and related programs. It is also open to undergraduates with at least 50 semester hours of credit so that they, too, can participate in lunar exploration activities.

The 10-week program runs from June 1, 2010 through August 9, 2010. Selected interns will receive $5,000.00 and a $1000.00 travel expense reimbursement.

Lunar and Planetary Institute
Summer Intern Program in Planetary Science

Deadline for Application: Friday, January 22, 2010
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lpiintern/

The Lunar and Planetary Institute invites undergraduates with at least 50 semester hours of credit to experience cutting-edge research in the lunar and planetary sciences. As a Summer Intern, you will work one-on-one with a scientist at the LPI or at the NASA Johnson Space Center on a research project of current interest in lunar and planetary science. Furthermore, you will participate in peer-reviewed research, learn from top-notch planetary scientists, and preview various careers in science.

The 10-week program runs from June 7, 2010–August 13, 2010. You will receive a $5,000.00 stipend plus $1000.00 U.S. travel stipend, or $1,500 foreign travel reimbursement for foreign interns.

The National Society of Black Engineers

Applications Due January 22, 2010
http://national.nsbe.org/Programs/Scholarships/tabid/84/Default.aspx

NSBE’s mission is ” to increase the number of culturally responsible Black Engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community. ”

The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) with more than 30,000 members, is one of the largest student-managed organization in the country. NSBE is comprised of more than 233 chapters on college and university campuses, 65 Alumni Extension chapters nationwide and 89 Pre-College chapters.

NASA ESMD
Research Paper Competition

The deadline is midnight EST January 25, 2010.
http://education.ksc.nasa.gov/esmdspacegrant/ResearchPaper.htm

Join NASA’s mission to bring us to the moon, Mars and beyond by submitting a research paper on one of the four ESMD topics listed below. Your research may be used as the solution to current NASA challenges.

1. Spacecraft Landing and Recovery Architecture: Historical Approaches and Ideas for the Future
2. Synergistic degradation effects of materials exposed to radiation, micrometeors, thermal sinks and lunar dust
3. Loading of Cryogenic Propellant in Space Launch Vehicle
4. Determination of the Optimum Internal Cockpit Layout

Four 1st place prizes of $3500 cash scholarships–one for each research topic and VIP seating to an upcoming launch

AIAA

Deadline for applications: 31 January 2010
http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=211

The AIAA Foundation’s undergraduate scholarship program offers 30 scholarships of $2000 - $2500 to college sophomores, juniors, and seniors each year. All recipients can apply to renew their scholarship annually until they graduate. And through the annual graduate scholarship program, the AIAA Foundation presents ten graduate awards worth $5000 each and four graduate awards of $10,000 each.

NSBRI Summer Internship Program

Application deadline for the 2010 summer program is January 31, 2010.
http://www.nsbri.org/Education/SummerInternship.html

NSBRI has a summer program that provides the opportunity for undergraduate, graduate or medical students to join ongoing projects in laboratories at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Applicants must have completed their second year of undergraduate studies by the start of the internship. The program is open to U.S. citizens. Interns receive an hourly wage, but the program does not cover housing or travel.

ISU Space Studies Program

SSP10 applicants who are requesting financial aid must apply before the deadline of 31 January 2010.
http://www.isunet.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=61&Itemid=204

SSP 2010 lands in Strasbourg, France - 28 June to 27 August 2010

The SSP’s interdisciplinary curriculum emphasizes international cooperation and provides students with varied perspectives on the world’s space activities—perspectives normally reserved for those with years of diverse professional experience. The program includes a wide variety of activities, including lectures by renowned experts, hands-on activities and projects, team work exercises and professional visits, and each year it evolves to better meet the needs of its students and their employers.

American Astronautical Society

http://astronautical.org/awards/scholarships/

The American Astronautical Society (AAS) is pleased to offer the $10,000 Lady Mamie Ngan Memorial Scholarship for students to attend the International Space University’s 2010 Space Studies Program in Strasbourg, France and Stuttgart, Germany, or the 2010-2011 Masters of Science (Space Studies or Space Management) programs conducted at the ISU Central Campus in Strasbourg.
Scholarship available for any progam (SSP, MSM, MSS)

National Space Society ISU Scholarship

http://www.nss.org/education/ISU_scholarship.html

For the 2010 scholarship, we are excited to support the Space Studies Program (SSP) to be hosted at the ISU University in Strasbourg France next summer (26 June - 28 August 2010.).

The 2010 scholarship will be available only for those applying to the Space Studies Program. The scholarship is worth up to $12,000, and may be allocated by the scholarship committee to meet the needs of one or more worthy students.

Applications for the 2010 scholarship will be coming soon.

Society of Manufacturing Engineers

SME Education Foundation online scholarship applications must be submitted by February 1, 2010.
http://www.sme.org/cgi-bin/smeefhtml.pl?/foundation/scholarships/fsfstudp.htm&&&SEF&
Since 1998, the SME Foundation has provided over $3.5 million dollars in financial aid through its various scholarship programs. The Foundation awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors, current undergraduates and masters or doctoral degree students pursuing degrees in manufacturing and related fields at two-year and four-year colleges.

Mars Society
University Rover Challenge

Indication of Participation Deadline: February 1, 2010
http://www.marssociety.org/portal/c/urc

The Mars Society’s University Rover Challenge (URC) is a competition for college students to design and build the next generation of Mars rovers that will work alongside astronauts in the field. Teams square off every June at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) near Hanksville, Utah.

RASC-AL
REVOLUTIONARY AEROSPACE SYSTEMS CONCEPTS ACADEMIC LINKAGE

Deadline for Abstract submission: February 5, 2010
http://www.nianet.org/rascal/index.html

LUNAR OUTPOST TO SETTLEMENT
NASA’s goal for a lunar outpost is to gain experience that will reduce risk for future human missions to Mars and establish core infrastructure from which economic development and permanent settlement could occur.
* Utilizing lunar, space, and other planetary resources for infrastructure development, power, and consumables to minimize the logistics supply chain needed from Earth
* Converting lunar oxygen, hydrogen, and water ice into propellants and transfer to a propellant depot in lunar orbit or at a libration point
* Lunar transportation system(s) for routine access to the settlement and for exploration of remote regions for discovery of new resources.
* Durable lunar settlement designs and settlement layouts, including all required utilities and infrastructure
* Dramatically improved Earth-to-orbit and in-space transportation systems that can significantly reduce cost and improve safety.
* A business plan on how to develop a self-sufficient lunar economy with unique utilization of lunar resources

TECHNOLOGY-ENABLED HUMAN MARS MISSION
NASA is interested in eventual human mission to the Martian surface. Current Mars design reference architectures that use chemical or nuclear thermal propulsion require several years to complete, a large number of heavy lift launches and over 500 days on the surface the first time humans visit the planet. Approaches that lead to sustainable human Mars exploration leading up to the establishment of an outpost are encouraged.

BRINGING THE WORLD ALONG WITH PARTICIPATORY EXPLORATION
An important element of NASA’s exploration program is engaging the general public in human exploration missions. To capture the attention of a large cross section of the general population, NASA must use a variety of innovative and diverse approaches. The approach should yield a cultural shift in and outside of NASA that results in awareness and excitement about what NASA is doing at the moment, not what it did in the past.

COMMON LUNAR SORTIE / NEAR-EARTH OBJECT (NEO) MISSION DESIGN
NASA is interested in architecture approaches that provide cost-effective Earth neighborhood exploration with minimal infrastructure. Assuming that commonality with currently planned Constellation architecture elements is not required, what low-cost options are available to accomplish such a mission?

Teams presenting at the 2010 RASC-AL Forum June 7-9th will receive $5,875.00 for travel expenses and registration fees.

Rice University
Business Plan Competition

Intent to Compete: Friday, February 5, 2010
http://www.alliance.rice.edu/alliance/RBPC.asp?SnID=1375247303

The Rice University Business Plan Competition (RBPC) has become the premier intercollegiate business plan competition in the world. The three-day event is intended to simulate the real-world process of entrepreneurs soliciting start-up funds from early-stage investors and venture capital firms. The Competition is hosted by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University.

Forty-two teams from top MBA programs will be selected to compete at Rice University, in Houston Texas, for more than $800,000 in prizes; including an investment opportunity of $125,000 for the grand prize winner

NASA ESMD
Lunabotics Mining Competition

Competition registration deadline: February 28, 2010
http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/centers/kennedy/technology/lunabotics.html

The purpose of the Lunabotics Mining Competition is to engage and retain students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, in a competitive environment that may result in innovative ideas and solutions, which could be applied to actual lunar excavation for NASA.

Undergraduate and graduate student teams enrolled in a U.S. college or university are eligible to enter the inaugural Lunabotics Mining Competition.

1st place: $5,000 and VIP Kennedy launch tickets.

Space Medicine Association

Application Deadline: Postmarked by March 1, 2010.
http://www.asma.org/Organization/smb/scholar.htm

The Space Medicine Association of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA) is pleased to announce an opportunity to apply for a scholarship award for 2010. The purpose of the SMA Scholarship is to encourage students, who have demonstrated academic achievement and shown an interest in Space Biology and Space Medical Operations to further pursue a career in Space Medicine.
A scholarship of $500 will be awarded.
Scholarship sponsored by Dr. Jeffrey R. Davis.

Society of Exploration Geophysicists Foundation
Scholarship Program

Applications and supporting documents must be received by 1 March.
http://www.seg.org/SEGportalWEBproject/portals/SEG_Online.portal;jsessionid=wvyLKzKBpRvl2TSZwWWBB2gcfTSPkb367Wv57NS2FlKVRgRvGvpR!1252845693?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pg_gen_content&Doc_Url=prod/SEG-Foundation/Foundation-Scholarship-Program/scholarship.htm

In 1956 the Society of Exploration Geophysicists began a program of encouraging the establishment of scholarship funds by companies and individuals engaged or interested in the field of geophysics. SEG saw the need for a more appropriate organization and caused the SEG Foundation to be organized.

The awards to recipients range from US$500 to US$14,000 per academic year, with average awards being approximately US$2,700 per academic year.

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Applications for each academic year are accepted online each year only from February 1 through March 15, when our online application is closed.
http://www.asme.org/Education/College/FinancialAid/Scholarships.cfm

Over $100,000 in academic scholarships are awarded annually to ASME Student Members worldwide. You must be a current undergraduate ASME Student Member

AIAA Undergraduate Team Space Design Competition
L2 Space Weather Monitoring Constellation

Letter of Intent — 19 March 2010
http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=221

Future observatories such as NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and the ESA/NASA Hershel/Planck telescopes, are being placed away from Earth orbit, into heliocentric orbits at locations such as the second Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth system, L2 (see Figure 1). The advantages of L2 include a stable thermal environment, and low light pollution from Moon, Earth, or the Sun. However, these spacecraft must be placed into orbits around L2, since it is a quasi-stable gravitational point. Significant propulsion is needed to arrive at L2 and perform an orbit insertion maneuver. While a family of Lissajous orbits exists around L2, most observatories are scheduled to enter a long baseline halo orbit, some 100,000’s of km in semi-major axis. This means that the spacecraft may be entering and exiting the Earth’s magnetotail and magnetosheath.

It is of great interest and need to characterize the radiation environment at L2, not only to understand the strength and extent, but more importantly, to understand the time variability of magnetotail. With no less than 5 major observatories scheduled to be at L2 in the coming decade, concerns about its radiation and space weather environment will only increase. In addition, there is also intrinsic scientific value in monitoring activities on the magnetotail. Interactions at the magnetotail causes charged plasmoids to travel back up the tail and interact with the Earth’s magnetosphere.

First place-$2,500;
Second place-$1,500;
Third place-$1,000 (USD)

AIAA Undergraduate Team Space Transportation Design Competition
Design of a Human Asteroid Exploration System

Letter of Intent — 19 March 2010
http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=301

The goal of this project is to design a Human Asteroid Exploration System (HAES). The HAES should consist of a transportation system capable of sending two or more astronauts from Earth to a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) and returning them safely to the Earth. The transportation system should be designed for a mission opportunity to a specific asteroid during the 2018-2030 timeframe.

First place-$2,500;
Second place-$1,500;
Third place-$1,000 (USD)

NASA Ames/National Space Society
Space Settlement Design Competition

All submissions must be received by March 31, 2010.
http://www.nss.org/settlement/nasa/Contest/index.html

This annual contest, co-sponsored by NASA Ames and the National Space Society (NSS), is for 6-12th graders (11-18 years old) from anywhere in the world.

The best submission wins the grand prize, consisting of the space colony submission being placed on the NASA Ames World Wide Web site.

Fabricators and Manufacturers Association

Applications available after Jan 1, due April 1.
http://www.nutsandboltsfoundation.org/Scholarships.cfm

Since 1990, FMA’s foundation has awarded scholarships annually to students in courses of study that may lead to careers in manufacturing.

College scholarships for non-members are $2,500 per school year and college scholarships for members are $5,000 per school year. Trade school and two-year college scholarships up to $2,000 require membership.

Moon Art 2009 -2010 Contest

Entries are due no later than April 15, 2010.
http://artcontest.larc.nasa.gov/

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration invites high school and college students from all areas of study to enter, including the arts, industrial design, architecture, computer design, and the fine arts. Students are asked to submit their work on the theme: Life and Work on the Moon. Artists are encouraged to collaborate with science and engineering students. Such collaboration is not required, but would help to ensure that the art is valid for the Moon’s harsh environment. Any full time student can enter, regardless of major or area of study. Entries will be accepted in three categories: two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and digital, including music and video.

For the first time, we will also accept entries in literature (poetry and short stories). Entries will be evaluated on creativity, artistic qualities, but also on whether they depict a valid scenario for the moon’s harsh conditions. Prizes include awards and exhibit opportunities. Cash prizes, certificates of achievement, and exhibit opportunities are planned.

The Barringer Family Fund
for Meteorite Impact Research

April 2010
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/science/kring/Awards/Barringer_Fund/index.html

The Barringer Crater Company has established a special fund to support field work by eligible students interested in the study of impact cratering processes. The Barringer Family Fund for Meteorite Impact Research will provide a small number (3 to 5) of competitive grants each year in the range of $2,500 to $5,000 USD for support of field research at known or suspected impact sites worldwide. Grant funds may be used to assist with travel and subsistence costs, as well as laboratory and computer analysis of research samples and findings. Masters, doctoral, and post-doctoral students enrolled in formal university programs are eligible.

Mineralogical Society of America

Completed applications must be returned to the MSA Business Office by June 1, 2010.
http://www.minsocam.org/MSA/Awards/Min_Pet_Award.html

2011 MSA Grant For Student Research In Mineralogy And Petrology from an endowment created by contributions from the MSA membership. The grant comprises two awards of up to $5000 each for research in mineralogy and petrology. Graduate and undergraduate students, are encouraged to apply. However, all proposals are considered together. The award selection will be based on the qualifications of the applicant, the quality, innovativeness, and scientific significance of the research, and the likelihood of success of the project.
The grant is for research-related expenses only.

Starfleet - The International Star Trek Fan Association

The application period runs from January 1st through July 1st.
http://www.sfi.org/portal/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=122&Itemid=117

Ever since 1990, our organization has presented monetary scholarships to special active STARFLEET members who are attending community colleges, four-year colleges, most technical schools, junior colleges and universities or graduate school.

Scholarships are awarded in amounts of up to $500 based on number of applicants and availability of funds.

Eugene M. Shoemaker
Impact Cratering Award

Proposals for the 2010 research award will probably be due in early September 2010
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/science/kring/Awards/Shoemaker_Award/index.html

The Eugene M. Shoemaker Impact Cratering Award is for undergraduate or graduate students, of any nationality, working in any country, in the disciplines of geology, geophysics, geochemistry, astronomy, or biology. The award, which will include $2500, is to be applied for the study of impact craters, either on Earth or on the other solid bodies in the solar system, which areas of study may include but shall not necessarily be limited to impact cratering processes, the bodies (asteroidal or cometary) that make the impacts, or the geological, chemical or biological results of impact cratering.

American Astronomical Society

Deadline is October 1st 2010
http://aas.org/grants/awards.php

Has a number of Grants and Awards
includes
Annie J. Cannon Award in Astronomy

The Annie Jump Cannon Award is given to a North American female astronomer within five years of receiving her PhD in the year designated for the award. The Cannon Prize is for outstanding research and promise for future research by a postdoctoral woman researcher. The prize will amount to $1500 and the winner will give an invited talk at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society and travel expenses will be paid. Self nominations will be allowed.

L. RON HUBBARD’S ILLUSTRATORS OF THE FUTURE CONTEST

http://www.writersofthefuture.com/17/rules/ilofrules.html

All themes of science fiction and fantasy illustrations are welcome: every entry is judged on its own merits only. No entry fee is required and all rights in the entries remain the property of their artists.
There will be three co-winners in each quarter. Each winner will receive an outright cash grant of U.S. $500.00, and a certificate of merit. Such winners also receive eligibility to compete for the annual Grand Prize of an additional outright cash grant of $4,000, together with the annual Grand Prize trophy.

State Space Grant Consortium

http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/national/spacegrant/home/Space_Grant_Consortium_Websites.html#VI

The 52 consortia fund fellowships and scholarships for students pursuing careers in science, mathematics, engineering and technology, or STEM, as well as curriculum enhancement and faculty development. Member colleges and universities also administer pre-college and public service education projects in their states.

Texas, e.g. has the Columbia Crew Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship Program with a $1,000 Stipend and a Graduate Fellowship Program with a $5,000 Stipend.

Each NASA Space Center typically runs a number of its own program opportunities

KSC
http://education.ksc.nasa.gov/students/undergrad.htm
GSFC
http://university.gsfc.nasa.gov/
JSC
http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/centers/johnson/classroom/index.html
GRC
http://newbusiness.grc.nasa.gov/university-affairs/
JPL
http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/higher_ed/index.html
SSC
http://education.ssc.nasa.gov/highered.asp
ARC
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/postsecondary/index.html

Full list of NASA programs at:
http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/descriptions/Students-rd.html

If you’re looking for some European travel, there are a couple of newer European programs:

EuMAS

European Masters Course in Aeronautics and Space Technology
http://www.aerospacemasters.org/

EuMAS is a two-year MSc programme jointly offered by five European aerospace schools: Università di Pisa (Italy), Technische Universität München (Germany), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Spain), Institut Supérieure de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace (ISAE-Supaero) of Toulouse (France), and Cranfield University (United Kingdom).

SpaceMaster

Joint European Master in Space Science and Technology
http://www.spacemaster.se/

The main objective of the Course is to combine the great diversity of space expertise at six European universities and two Third-Country universities to a common platform of competence within the guidelines of the Bologna process. The educational cooperation is supported by scientific and industrial organisations, thus providing direct contacts with professional research and industry.

Another objective is to give the students cross-disciplinary extension from laboratory and computer simulation environments to hands-on work with stratospheric balloons, rockets, satellite and radar control, robotics, sensor data fusion, automatic control and multi-body dynamics.

SUCCESS

A competition for European university students* from all disciplines to propose an experiment that could fly on board the International Space Station (ISS).
http://www.esa.int/esaHS/SEMU9TGHZTD_education_0.html

The goal of the competition is to make today’s students the International Space Station users of tomorrow. The first prize of the competition is a one-year internship at ESA’s space research and technology centre, ESTEC, in the Netherlands. At ESTEC, the winner of the contest can work on his/her experiment with the possibility of qualifying it for flight to the International Space Station.

A new SUCCESS Student Contest is currently foreseen for 2010.

FIRST Robotics Competition

http://www.usfirst.org/aboutus/content.aspx?id=508

Our mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.

Association for Women in Science

http://www.awis.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=69

AWIS is a vibrant, highly charged organization committed to helping women in STEM at every stage of their career achieve their greatest potential. We work on multiple levels to lower the barriers and create opportunties for success.

American Radio Relay League

http://www.arrlf.org/programs/scholarships

The American Radio Relay League Foundation offers a number of college scholarships to students who plan to study engineering and hold a valid ham radio license.

American Society for Metals
ASM International

http://asmcommunity.asminternational.org/portal/site/www/Foundation/Students/Scholarships/

Since 1953, the ASM Materials Education Foundation and leading ASM Chapters nationwide have awarded scholarships totaling over $1 million. Currently 37 scholarships are awarded annually through the ASM International Foundation.

Astronaut Scholarship Foundation

(for select schools)
http://www.astronautscholarship.org/scholarship.html

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation was created to ensure that the United States would maintain its leadership in science and technology by supporting promising students in science and engineering.

USRA

http://www.usra.edu/cs/usra_scholarship_program

The USRA Scholarship Program provides college scholarships to students who have shown a career interest in the physical sciences or engineering with an emphasis on space research or space science education.

An undetermined number of undergraduate scholarships are available in amounts up to $1,000. The McLucas Research Prize is $400.

National Space Club

http://www.spaceclub.org/goddard.html

Awards a $10,000 scholarship each year, in memory of Dr. Robert H. Goddard, America’s rocket pioneer. The scholarship is presented at the Goddard Memorial Dinner each spring, for the following academic year. The award is given to stimulate the interest of talented students in the opportunity to advance scientific knowledge through space research and exploration.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

http://www.ieee.org/web/membership/students/scholarshipsawardscontests/SAG_homepage.html

IEEE offers a variety of awards, competitions, contests, scholarships and fellowships

International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine
Aviation Medicine Scholarship

http://www.iaasm.org/scholarship.cfm

The International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine has a well-established Scholarship Programme, the aims of which are to enable young physicians commencing a career in aerospace medicine to undertake training in the specialty. The Scholarship can be used to facilitate attendance at a formal training course, or participation in a work programme (one year or more, structured towards educational goals) in a recognized aerospace medicine institute. The scholarship is for US $15,000.

Aerospace Medical Association

http://www.asma.org/aboutasma/careers.php#AerospaceMedecine

Careers in Aerospace Medicine with information on scholarships and programs

American Institute
of Chemical Engineers

http://www.aiche.org/Students/Scholarships/index.aspx

Each year, students are awarded scholarships based on outstanding academic achievement and their involvement in AIChE programs and activities.

EVA / 7:33 pm July 7th, 2009

Welcome to this next, unique edition of EVA Interviews: The Business of the New Space Age™. This conversation started on a cold winter day in January over 2 years ago. A friend of mine at NASA asked me to look over a matrix he was creating on commercial lunar opportunities. Could I think of any other potential businesses that might become economically viable within his planning time horizons, any other ideas that he might be missing? After giving my own feedback, I suggested to him that I talk to “the source” to see what more I could learn. This interview starts with those questions. 

 

In the FAQs for EVA Interviews: The Business of the new Space Age™, remembering this conversation and thinking about a few other unusual ideas I had for interviewees, I included this disclaimer * While the main focus will be economic, we reserve the right to present the occasional fictitious, frivolous or marginally related interview. With that in mind (and with the risk of looking foolish), on a clear night recently, I went back to continue the conversation and expand it into an interview.  

 

I hope you will enjoy this conversation with one of my favourite evening (and very occasionally, daytime) companions – our Moon. 

 

***** January 2007 ***** 

 

EVA:       So, my beautiful Moon, what will we be doing on you in @ 15-25 years from now?  

The Moon:       You’re coming to visit me? 

 

READ MORE…

Ken Murphy / 1:46 am July 2nd, 2009

EVA / 11:11 pm May 21st, 2009

Welcome to the next edition of EVA Interviews: The Business of the New Space Age™ with our guest Paul Eckert Ph.D. - Coordinator of the Space Investment Summit Coalition, and International & Commercial Strategist for the Space Exploration division of The Boeing Company. Paul and his colleagues at the Space Investment Summit coalition have created an exceptional series of events focused exclusively on Space and business (my favourite subjects!). Starting in 2005 as Roundtables which explored the potential for Lunar Commerce, they now bring Space entrepreneurs together with investment capital of many sorts – seed, venture capital, Angel investors and corporate finance – and with those who are interested in developments within the emerging new commercial Space industry. Space Investment Summit 6 (SIS-6), the next event, is happening soon! It will be held on Wednesday May 27th, 2009, just prior to, and in conjunction with, the International Space Development Conference (ISDC2009) in Orlando, Florida.

 

EVA:     Hi Paul! Thank you very much for joining us at EVA Interviews and Out of the Cradle. I’m delighted to have you here to talk about the Space Investment Summits. Since 2005, you have created a unique series of events, designed to promote Space commerce and bring together investors and Space entrepreneurs.

Before we discuss the next event, SIS-6, which is quickly approaching, can you tell us how the idea for the Roundtables and Summits came about and how they have evolved since the first Lunar Commerce Roundtable in 2005?

READ MORE…

EVA / 11:05 pm April 16th, 2009

Business Stripped Bare: Adventures of a Global Entrepreneur

Richard Branson, as you might guess, is on my list of people who I would love to interview for EVA Interviews: The Business of the new Space Age™. I haven’t yet asked him to be my guest as I have a few glitches in the process of conducting these interviews that I need to work out. Until then, I thought you might be interested in a taste of what such an interview might be like with a review of his latest book Business Stripped Bare: Adventures of a Global Entrepreneur.

READ MORE…

EVA / 2:51 am March 1st, 2009

Welcome to the second edition of EVA Interviews: The Business of the new Space Age!

Our next guest is Guillermo Söhnlein, founder of both the International Association of Space Entrepreneurs and Space Angels Network. One of the major challenges facing Space entrepreneurs and startups is finding adequate investment seed capital, the early-stage funds needed to start and grow their businesses. Angels and sometimes VCs (Venture Capital firms) are the usual investors if you can’t self-fund, but they have rarely focused on the new Space industry. Guillermo is actively involved in bringing investors’ attention, funds and expertise to often ignored Space startups. With IASE, he encourages and provides an environment to build entrepreneurship in the new Space industry.

 

EVA:     Hi Guillermo! Thank you very much for joining us at EVA Interviews and Out of the Cradle. Welcome! I am very much looking forward to our conversation about all the interesting projects you have created to address the challenges facing Space entrepreneurs! 

Since these interviews are about Space, as well as the economic aspects of our exodus Out of the Cradle, I’d like to begin by asking about Space. I know you do have a personal interest in Space.  Can you tell us how your interest started and how it has evolved? 

READ MORE…

EVA / 1:29 am February 13th, 2009

What about the format? Why do you ask some of the same questions each time? 

In all cases, we are very interested in the answers and opinions that our guest provides and hope you, the reader, are too. In the future, we plan to examine some of these regularly asked questions and discuss the answers – the commonalities, the differences and especially the implications.  These interviews are in-depth. They are not the usual short blog post. Some answers are entertaining and/or enlightening and all are informative. We plan to add a PDF version of each interview at its end, in case you’d prefer to print it and read it offline.  Stay tuned - the first interview will be posted with a few days!

EVA / 1:19 am February 12th, 2009

What are the links in the interviews for?

When there is additional information that we believe you might find interesting or useful, we will provide an appropriate link. Visit it if you are curious, ignore them otherwise.

We understand there is some controversy about how links should open - redirect from the current page or open a new browser window. We prefer to have a new browser window opened when we click on a link. That is what we will try to offer - but EVA is new at writing code so you may be redirected until she figures it all out.

All jargon, acronyms, terms and their definitions will not be linked to in the interviews but will be defined, sometimes using links, on the special JAT&D page. 

(Some links may take you to Amazon or other sites which have products for sale. In the vein of full disclosure, some of these may pay us a very small commission or fee should you choose to buy something while you are there.)

EVA / 6:16 pm February 10th, 2009

What’s with all the jargon?

Just as the Space industry uses acronyms and jargon with high frequency, so does the financial sector.  To bridge this language gap, when EVA or her guests introduce terms in the interviews that readers might be unfamiliar with (and even some most ARE familiar with), we will add these terms to the JAT&D (Jargon, Acronyms, Terms and their Definitions) page or provide a direct link to the definition. We hope this will help clarify financial acronyms for Space people and Space jargon for financial types.  Please let us know if we miss something and there is a term you would like explained!

 

EVA / 6:14 pm February 10th, 2009

JARGON, ACRONYMS, TERMS and their DEFINITIONS

 

As EVA or her guests use these in our conversations, we will add them to our list here:

FINANCIAL:

EVA = Economic Value Added = After-tax profit that exceeds the required minimum return on capital. Computed by deducting the cost of capital (both debt and equity) from the after-tax profit, it is said to be the best measure of the true profitability of an enterprise, and is tied to cash flow and not to earnings per share (EPS). EVA is a registered trademark of the US firm, Stern Stewart & Company.

Angel or Angel Investor =  An individual who provides capital to one or more startup companies. The individual is usually affluent or has a personal stake in the success of the venture. Such investments are characterized by high levels of risk and a potentially large return on investment.

VC = Venture Capital - Venture Capital. Funds made available for startup firms and small businesses with exceptional growth potential. Managerial and technical expertise are often also provided.

IPO = Initial Public Offering - The first sale of stock by a company to the public.

Pro Forma (statement)  = Description of financial statements that have one or more assumptions or hypothetical conditions built into the data. Often used with balance sheets and income statements.

Accredited Investors - Refers to an individual whose net worth, or joint net worth with a spouse, exceeds $1,000,000; or whose individual income exceeded $200,000 or whose joint income with a spouse exceeded $300,000 in each of the 2 most recent years and can be expected to meet that income in the current year. More details of the definitions for investors other than individuals are found in Regulation D of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

LP = Limited Partner - is a member of a partnership whose only financial risk is the amount he or she has invested. In contrast, all the assets of the general partner or partners, including those held outside the partnership, could be vulnerable to claims brought by the partnership’s creditors.

SEC = Securities and Exchange Commission - The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is an independent federal agency that oversees and regulates the securities industry in the United States and enforces securities laws.

ROI = return on investment -  a measure of the net income a firm’s management is able to earn with its total assets. Return on investment is calculated by dividing net profits after taxes by total assets. Also called rate of return, return on assets.

Bootstrapping = building a business out of nothing or with minimal outside capital. The term derives its meaning from the expression “lifting oneself up by one’s own bootstraps”, referring to raising oneself up by one’s own means.

M&A = Merger and Acquisitions

More financial definitions can also be found at :

www.investorwords.com

www.businessdictionary.com

http://financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com

 

SPACE:

EVA = Extra Vehicular Activity = is work done by an astronaut away from the Earth, and outside of a spacecraft. The term most commonly applies to an EVA made outside a craft orbiting Earth (a spacewalk), but also applies to an EVA made on the surface of the Moon (a moonwalk).

NASA  = National Aeronautics and Space Administration = the national Space agency of the United States

ISS = International Space Station - International Space Station

Mir = Russian Space station - Mir

OST = Outer Space Treaty

ITAR = International Traffic in Arms Regulations

SBIR = Small Business Innovation Research

ISRU = In-Situ Resource Utilization

FSS = Fixed Satellite Services

More Space acronyms are expanded at http://tla.surly.org/

 

OTHER:

EULA  = End User Licensing Agreements

IP = Intellectual Property - Intellectual Property

FCC = Federal Communications Commission (USA)

FAA = Federal Aviation Administration (USA)

DoD = Department Of Defense (USA)

FTP = File Transfer Protocol - A communications protocol used to transmit files without loss of data. A file transfer protocol can handle all types of files including binary files and ASCII text files.

IGO = Inter Governmental Organization

M2M = Machine to Machine

UAV = Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

IR&D = Internal Research and Development

Please contact EVA at evainterviews (at) gmail (dot) com if there are terms you would like added to this list. Thanks!

Ken Murphy / 2:58 am January 1st, 2009

January

7th - Passed

Final Entry Due for NASA’s 50th Anniversary Essay Competition

Part of NASA’s mission is to inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists and explorers. Our hope is that the essay competition will inspire and encourage middle school students to continue with science and engineering in high school, college and beyond.

9th - Passed

Initial Submissions due for Pete Conrad Spirit of Innovation Award

Award Topics:
• Personal Spaceflight,
• Lunar Exploration, and
• Renewable Energy

15th - Passed

International Space Settlement Design Competition (ISSDC) Registration Deadline

This contest puts high school students in the shoes of aerospace industry engineers designing a city in space that will be a home for over 10,000 people. Student engineers demonstrate creativity, technical competence, management skills, environmental knowledge, space, teamwork, and presentation techniques to conquer the problems inherent in siting and designing a Space Settlement (aka Space Colony).

25th - Passed

Deadline for “Name NASA’s Next Mars Rover” Contest

The Contest provides kindergarten through high-school students with the opportunity to suggest names for the Mars Science Laboratory Rover, scheduled to launch in 2011 for a landing on Mars in 2012. Entrants will compete in three (3) grade-level categories: a) K-3; b) 4-7; and c) 8-12 grade

NASA has no obligation to use the winning name.

26th - Passed

2009 NASA Academy Application Deadline

NASA Academy represents an immersive and integrated multidisciplinary exposure and training, for students with various backgrounds and career aspirations of critical importance to the National aerospace program. The academic curriculum balances opportunities for direct contact with advanced science and engineering R&D and an awareness of the complex managerial, political, financial, social, and human issues faced by the current and future aerospace programs. Co-sponsorship of the Academy assures recruitment of meritorious students from previously under-represented areas of the country, into leadership positions for the aerospace programs of the future.

31st - Passed

2nd Rolling ISU Masters Program in Space Studies/Space Management Application Deadline

The ISU Master of Science (M.Sc.) programs are designed for students looking for the competitive edge that will help them obtain a career in the space sector, professionals interested in making a career move into or within the space sector, and researchers wishing to broaden their knowledge or make the move from academic life into the space industry.

For this ISU offers two post-graduate Master of Science (M. Sc.) degrees:
• M.Sc. in Space Studies (MSS)
• M.Sc. in Space Management (MSM)

1st ISU Summer Session Program Application Deadline

SSP09 will be hosted by the NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) which stands in the heart of Silicon Valley . NASA Ames is partnering to support SSP09 with Google, Carnegie Mellon West, Santa Clara University , San Jose State University , and the Institute for Human & Machine Cognition.

Application Deadline for AIAA Foundation undergraduate scholarship or graduate award

Through an expanding scholarship program, AIAA awards 30 scholarships annually to undergraduate students and 14 to graduate students in science or engineering programs related to AIAA’s aerospace mission. The AIAA Foundation’s undergraduate scholarship program offers 30 scholarships of $2000 - $2500 to college sophomores, juniors, and seniors each year. All recipients can apply to renew their scholarship annually until they graduate. And through the annual graduate scholarship program, the AIAA Foundation presents ten graduate awards worth $5000 each and four graduate awards of $10,000 each.

Application Deadline for NSS Scholarship to International Space University (ISU) Summer Session Program

Since 2001, this scholarship has been offered by the National Space Society, SEDS and the Space Generation Foundation to benefit exceptional members of the space community. It is our hope that recipients will develop the leadership skills, personal network, and knowledge base needed to contribute to the future of space exploration, development, and advocacy.

Indication of Interest Deadline for the 2009 PISCES Lunar Outpost Student Design Competition

Contributions from student teams are invited in the following areas:

• overall habitat design (architecture).
• lunar resource utilization.
• supporting subsystems (life support systems, communications, robotics, energy conversion and power, surface transportation, etc.) that may be simulated in the PISCES environment.
• issues of operations in space and on planetary surfaces, such as the conduct of field geology, remote exploration from a planetary base, or problems of human performance and health.
• Analog field demonstrations of planetary surface exploration systems.

February

1st - Passed

Registration Deadline for NASA’s Great Moonbuggy Race

The 16th Annual Great Moonbuggy Race will be held April 3-4, 2009 in Huntsville, Alabama, at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Students are required to design a vehicle that addresses a series of engineering problems that are similar to problems faced by the original Moonbuggy team.

Each Moonbuggy will be human powered and carry two students, one female and one male, over a half-mile simulated lunar terrain course including “craters”, rocks, “lava” ridges, inclines and “lunar” soil. Moonbuggy entries are expected to be of “proof-of-concept” and engineering test model nature, rather than final production models.

Indication of Participation Deadline for the Mars Society’s 2009 University Rover Challenge

For the third year, teams of university students will design and build the next generation of Mars rovers. May 28-30, 2009 the teams and their rovers will face off at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah.

2nd - Passed

Application Deadline for LPI Career Development Award
This award will be given to graduate students who have submitted a first-author abstract for presentation at the 40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC). A travel stipend of $750.00 will be awarded to the top applicants to help cover their travel expenses for attending the LPSC in March.

6th Passed

8th Continent Business Plan Competition Final Entry Deadline

The 8th Continent Project is accepting entries from around the globe for its 2009 Business Plan Competition for university students. The 8C Business Plan Competition (formerly Lunar Ventures) challenges students in business, engineering and science to collaborate in creating business plans that utilize space-derived technology that has immediate commercial application here on Earth. Teams should consist primarily of graduate students, although undergraduate participation is welcome. Teams from anywhere in the world may enter.

Prizes for the winner include a ride for two on the Zero Gravity Corporation aircraft and $50,000 in cash and in-kind services.

RASC-AL Deadline for Abstract submission

RASC-AL, Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts Academic Linkage, is sponsored by NASA and is a design project competition aimed at university-level engineering students. RASC-AL was formed to allow engineering students a chance to integrate their academics into real life learning. The RASC-AL contest challenges university students to think about what sorts of conditions astronauts will face when we return to the moon, then design projects that may become part of actual lunar exploration.

16th - Passed

Letter of Intent Due for ESMD Space Grant Systems Engineering Paper Competition

Show off your senior design project and systems engineering skills by forming a team to compete in the 2009 Exploration System Mission Directorate (ESMD) Space Grant Systems Engineering paper competition. The competition is designed to assist NASA with strengthening the agency and the nation’s future workforce.

Awards
• First Prize: $3500 cash scholarship
• Second Prize: $2500 cash scholarship
• Third Prize: $1500 cash scholarship

In addition to cash scholarships, team winners will also receive VIP seating at an upcoming launch.

March

11th - Passed

International Space Settlement Design Competition (ISSDC) Due Date for Qualifying Competition Proposals from the U.S. and Canada, and eligible Semi-Finalist Teams

13th - Passed

Letter of Intent Due for 2008/2009 AIAA Foundation:
• Undergraduate Team Space Transportation Design Competition: Commercial Lunar Space Transportation System
• Undergraduate Team Space Design Competition: Design of an Integrated Crew Health Care System for Lunar Outpost Missions
(AIAA members)

Commercial Lunar Space Transportation System
The goal of this project is to design a transportation system to provide a COTS solution for servicing the ISS and exploration missions beyond Low-Earth Orbit (LEO).. This transportation system will have the capability to transport both cargo and crew between Earth and the ISS. The specific requirements for this project are adapted from NASA requirements for the COTS program.

The transportation system should be ready for a first flight in 2012. Therefore, current technology readiness levels for new technologies to be integrated into vehicle design should be carefully considered. Design decisions include selection of propulsion system components and propellants and launch vehicle configuration. The overall design solution should consider safety, reliability, affordability, low operability and maintenance time.

Design of an Integrated Crew Health Care System for Lunar Outpost Missions
The goal of this proposal is to design an integrated clinical diagnostic and crew health care system that is small, lightweight and versatile, and requires minimal power and thermal control, and is compatible with the microgravity transit period and functional in reduced-gravity (1/6g) for lunar surface use. The design should be well rationalized in terms of specific functional-ty selected to address concerns and constraints of long term (6 months or more) Lunar Outpost missions, should identify commercially available candidate systems, describe the necessary modifications needed for space flight compatibility, and consider integration of all the devices into an appropriately packaged system design.

The prizes shall be:
First place-USD 2,500;
Second place-USD 1,500;
Third place-USD 1,000.

30th - Apr 24th

UND Summer & Fall Early Registration for Masters Program in Space Studies

This interdisciplinary program is an in-depth study of the implications of humankind’s entry into space: the scientific, technical, political, and legal impacts, on a national and international level, that are associated with the evolutionary development of a new frontier away from Earth. The goal is to integrate, rather than separate, traditional disciplines related to space. While specialized technical training is an essential part of the space community, the all-encompassing nature of space development also requires people who possess a broader background that links policy, business, law, science, and technology. The Space Studies Department seeks to prepare this vital segment of the community. An online curriculum is available.

31

NASA Space Settlement Contest Submission Deadline

This annual contest, co-sponsored by NASA Ames and the National Space Society (NSS) is for 6-12th graders (11-18 years old) from anywhere in the world. Individuals, small teams of two to six, and large teams of seven or more (often whole classrooms with teacher leadership) may enter. Grades 6-9 and 10-12 are judged separately, except for the grand prize. Students develop space settlement designs and related materials.

April

2nd

ThinkQuest Competition Entry Submission Deadline

Assemble a Team: All teams need a Coach (teacher) and 3-6 students. There are 3 age groups: 19 & Under, 15 & Under, and 12 & Under. Extra points will be awarded to teams that have members from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds.

Build a Website: Choose a category and create a website that you will upload to our server. The Evaluation Criteria explains how your site will be scored. Be sure to review the Rules before you begin and submit your entry before April 2, 2009.

Prizes:
Age Division 1st Place
Laptop computer with approximate retail value of $1,500 USD, Trip to ThinkQuest Live, $5000 USD School Award*

Age Division 2nd Place
Laptop computer with approximate retail value of $1,250 USD, Trip to ThinkQuest Live

Age Division 3rd Place
Laptop computer with approximate retail value of $1,000 USD, Trip to ThinkQuest Live

Global Perspectives Award
Digital camera with approximate retail value of $750.00
Trip to ThinkQuest Live

Age Division Honorable Mention Award
Laptop computer with approximate retail value of $750 USD

15th

Entry Due for “Life & Work on the Moon” NASA Art Contest

NASA invites high school and college students from all areas of study to enter, including the arts, industrial design, architecture, computer design, and the fine arts. Students are asked to submit their work on the theme: Life and Work on the Moon. Artists are encouraged to collaborate with science and engineering students. Such collaboration is not required, but would help to ensure that the art is valid for the Moon’s harsh environment. Any full time student can enter, regardless of major or area of study.

Entries will be accepted in three categories: two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and digital, including video. Each category will have pre-determined size limits.

• All entries are due no later than April 15, 2009 for College entries and April 15, 2009 for High School entries.
• Cash prizes, certificates of achievement, and exhibit opportunities are planned.
• We expect that winners will be announced in May of 2009.
• All entries will initially be submitted digitally as 300 dpi jpeg images.
• An on-line gallery is planned for public viewing of the artwork.
• Winners will be asked to ship their work to NASA for exhibit purposes.

Entries will be evaluated not only on their artistic qualities, but also on whether they depict a valid scenario. Prizes include awards and exhibit opportunities. Entries are due no later than April 15, 2009.

Please direct any questions to Dr. Elizabeth Ward at Elizabeth.B.Ward -at- nasa.gov

April 30th

Last ISU Summer Session Program Application Deadline

The University of Alabama at Huntsville offers a 4-page pdf of Summer Internship Opportunities. More Education and Training opportunities can be found here, though it is a bit dated.

h/t to the ever helpful Hobbyspace and Space Prizes

Know of more? Let us know in the comments!

Ken Murphy / 1:30 am December 24th, 2008

The NASA Academy is a phenomenal program created by Dr. Gerald Soffen in 1993 to emulate the ISU model and help train promising up-and-coming scientists for future leadership at NASA. Participants work in the labs side-by-side with NASA PIs on all kinds of wild projects. At Goddard these were usually DDF projects, meaning they were way out on the bleeding edge of research. I worked Program Support and ISU Liaison for the 2002 Goddard Academy, but essentially went through the program myself, except that my project was reviewing a decade’s worth of DDF projects for the Technology Transfer Office. I got to see write-ups of the early days of LIDAR, and expeditions to potential crater locations in South America. Our Academy visited HQ, Wallops, Langley, KSC, & JSC, even Congressional hearings, taking behind-the-scenes tours to find out about the myriad things that NASA does, and the complexity of trying to manage it.

If you are a promising scientist or engineer (about grad school level) make sure to apply for a truly unique summer experience! If you know of any budding young scientists or engineers, let them know about the Academy so they can have the opportunity to try to add it to their resume!

[Full Disclosure: I’m an honorary member of the NASA Academy Alumni Association (since I was technically staff, not RA)]

Ken Murphy / 7:47 pm December 20th, 2008

Once again the NSS of North Texas Santa Space Toy Drive was a great success!

This was our fourth year working on this project, and it’s an idea that I hope will spread. The essence of it is that our NSS chapter collects space-themed toys, and donates them en masse to the local Santa’s Helpers toy drive. This year we collected 80 space toys to donate, with the help of the local Dallas Mars Society this time around.

There were books, there were games, there were craft items, there were puzzles, all kinds of space goodness, even a telescope. I think I’d most want to get the Astronaut Snoopy, so I did get one for the Lunar Library, but went ahead and took the aviator helmet off mine, as I want mine to be a Full Moon Snoopy.

I noted in the Lunar Library entry for the Space Camp Barbies that I would be donating two of the three to the toy drive based on recommendations in comments. There weren’t any comments, and one friend noted that if I kept any one other than Barbie in the Library, then I would have to change the name of the entry to Space Camp Nikki or Space Camp Teresa, which no one would ever Google. So I kept Barbie, and Nikki and Teresa went with their first day issue certificates to find new friends in the metroplex. Another chapter member donated a Space Camp Barbie, so we were able to offer up the full set. I created a special NSS-NT Limited Limited Edition set by adding a copy of the Barbie book “Shooting for the Stars” to each one, and inside each book was an Anousheh Ansari astronaut trading card autographed by Anousheh herself. Now that’s the stuff dreams are made of, and I think I can reasonably expect that at least one of the three recipients of the dolls will be impacted in a not insignificant way. I also gave another half dozen or so copies of the book to the toy drive.

The local Dallas Mars Society contributed in a big way, donating a number of Lego Mars Mission sets, as well as a copy of the Mars 2020 game. I’m glad they’re helping out with this, as it helps to magnify (I hope) the impact. I think it also goes to show that space-related organizations can play just fine with one another, despite what some may think or say in the blogosphere. Maybe next year I can talk the Dallas Area Rocket Society into donating some model rockets…

Since the NSS-NT web server is down, I’ve got to point folks to the Yahoo! Group that we set up, North Texas Space. It has a nice calendar function that we use to send out notices of upcoming space events in the metroplex, from telescope building classes in Fort Worth to rocket launches in Frisco. It also has a nice Links section, covering all kinds of space destinations north and east of Waco. Thing is, you have to be a registered member of the group to get to all of the good stuff, which discourages a lot of folks. Still, if you’re in the D/FW area and interested in space it’s worth signing up for.

So why wasn’t it an Epic Succeed? Because we still haven’t managed to get on TV with our boxes of space goodies. That is one of our goals with the Toy Drive, because it would be big exposure for the chapter, much bigger than random appearances at local museums and planetariums. I try to play it up in hopes of attracting the cameras, driving up to the drop-off point in my VW Beetle and dropping the top so that the volunteers can lift the boxes out of the passenger and back seats. I also do some primitive space-y art on the sides of the boxes noting that these toys are courtesy of the NSS of North Texas (and Dallas Mars Society) Santa Space Toy Drive. Stuff like Santa dropping down the chimney of a Martian greenhouse, or Santa flying to the Moon in his special space sleigh.

I would encourage all space-interested readers to please consider donating a space toy to a local community toy drive, and suggest that all space-themed organizations consider adopting a similar project to help encourage space interest in our communities. This would serve two ends:

1) When people are buying real-space toys, companies will make more real space toys. When more real space toys are available on the market, previously unmet consumer demand will be able to manifest itself in more space toy purchases. This encourages the creation of still more space-related toys, creating even more awareness of real-space (as opposed to fantasy space like Star Trek or Star Wars) activities, and imaginative creation of space adventures.

2) It would make more people aware of the activities of the various citizen space organizations, and show how they’re involved in their communities where NASA can’t be. Even when you game all of the membership numbers to the maximum extent possible, it’s still not terribly impressive vis-a-vis other large civic organizations. Showing that these organizations are concerned about the communities in which they are found is one way to grow those numbers.

Wishing everyone a season of peace, and prosperity in the New Year,

Ken

Ken Murphy / 3:49 am December 8th, 2008

Attention all readers - I have just been informed that my web host will be doing an upgrade on my server box.

This will be Tuesday, December 9th at 11:00 pm MST, for, it is estimated, 1-2 hours.

I’m happy to report that the website will be unavailable at that time and it won’t actually be my fault.

Thank you for your patience

Ken

Ken Murphy / 4:34 am December 2nd, 2008

Wherein your friendly Lunar Librarian looks at the best additions to the Lunar Library for 2008 and chooses the best of the best in each category.

This year the catch phrase is “value”. In a tight economy every ounce of value needs to be squeezed out of each dollar spent. One of the metrics we’ll be using this year is the MSRP compared with the number of pages (with some qualitative fudging for font size, line spacing, margins, &c.) or the number of minutes of video.

There were a lot of additions to the Lunar Library over the course of 2008 as it struggled with its sophomore slump[1], magnified by increased content responsibilities here at the parent OotC website. This was further impacted by your friendly Lunar Librarian taking the keys to the entire website[2] just in time for software upgrades and miscellaneous website issues to make things go kablooie. Still, I’ve soldiered through like I always do, and here we are at our third annual Best of the Moon. Like usual, we’re going to go through some of the miscellaneous categories before arriving at our Moon, so let’s get started.

READ MORE…

Ken Murphy / 6:01 pm November 27th, 2008

I apologize for the light level of posting of late. I’ve got a lot of things in the queue (and a full load at work), but none are quite ready:

1) Best of the Moon 2008, slated for publication on December 1st (or thereabouts). You can always visit Best of the Moon for 2006 and 2007 to get a preview.
2) Review of ‘Solar Sails’ by Vulpetti et al. This one is a thorough, layperson-level review of Solar sails and related variants. I’m about 2/3rds of the way through.
3) Teacher Tools article on Space Biology (this one is going to be hard). I’m shooting for mid-Dec.
4) Fiction reviews of ‘Space:1999 - Planets of Peril’, ‘Waters of the Moon - Tranquility’s Child’, and ‘Return to Luna’
5) Movie review of ‘Moon Zero-Two’

I, for one, am thankful that I live in a society that can envision, and realize, a space future that offers hope for the betterment of the world and an alternative to the random hate and destruction that seems to so permeate the human condition. It is far more difficult to create than to destroy, so the challenge is in building a better future for the world where we collect our energy directly from the Sun instead of burning it third-hand in coal, and where we harvest resources so that we don’t have to tear up our own planet to get the things we need for a technological society. Let us be thankful for those who work to create in our world, for it is thanks to them that we don’t live in caves and trees and eat raw meat.

Ken Murphy / 12:02 am September 6th, 2008

Librarian’s Note: A very lucky colleague of mine at work got an invite for an up close look at the LHC, and he says it is a really impressive technological achievement. And to think that we could have had a super-conducting super-collider right here in the U.S. of A. Mad propz to the team behind this one, and congrats to CERN for pulling off what looks to be a significant scientific tool for research.

Ken Murphy / 5:51 am September 1st, 2008

Howdy all! Your friendly Lunar Librarian is back, this time to share some of the many educational support materials that are to be found in the Lunar Library. Teachers have a tough job, made more difficult by the fact that many communities chronically underfund and overburden the teachers. Homeschoolers also bear the burden of paying taxes to support a school system in which their child(ren) are not enrolled, which taxes could be used to purchase expensive educational supplies. I’m not kidding when I say that this stuff is not cheap. Some of the children’s reference books in the Lunar Library, ones designed for use in schools, have been shockingly pricey even with any discounts I could scrounge up.

Luckily, the space advocacy community is well-stocked with people who believe in our space future, even if it doesn’t necessarily make a buck today. This means that there are also a lot of reasonably priced and even free resources available for teachers and educators.

READ MORE…

Ken Murphy / 3:47 am July 21st, 2008

Image Credit: Berthold Tiedemann, from Peter and the Moon Trip by Hazel Corson

-The New Moon: relatively newer (and available) titles to directly appeal to today’s youth
-The Old Moon: classics from another time
-The New High Frontier: newer tales of the exploration of the Solar system
-The Old High Frontier: classic names which will never be forgotten

Last week we looked at some summer reading from the last two decades or so. This week we’re going to look even further back, to the 1950s and 1960s. These are the stories from the last time generations were being prepared for the idea of traveling to our Moon, and helped shape the unrealized expectations of innumerable people. In my view these unrealized and seemingly unrealizable expectations are part of what underlies much of the cynicism towards space that can be found amongst voters.

A new generation is awakening to the possibility of the United States as a space-faring civilization, one that not only conducts scientific activities beyond the atmosphere, but also security and commercial activities as well. We can lay the groundwork for future activities that bestows a legacy of prosperity from space resources (energy and material) unto our posterity. Or we can continue to squabble over what we find on this particular planet. There are many good reasons to return to our Moon. New stories of human adventure on that shining beacon in our night sky are but another reason in a long list. These are the stories that have come before.

READ MORE…

Ken Murphy / 2:17 am July 16th, 2008

The New Moon is that time of the month when the Moon is passing close by the Sun in its endless circling of the Earth, making it very difficult to see, and it often goes unnoticed during that particular time of the month. A not inapt metaphor for the topic of the next series of articles here at Out of the Cradle.

The Lunar Library isn’t just about books for grown-ups. There is an extensive section devoted to resources and books for the youngsters. Since it’s summertime, there’s ample opportunity for everyone to read a few books. The Lunar Library is suggesting a summer Space Reading Camp to help develop space and technical interests, looking at a variety of offerings both recent and dated. These will be:

-The New Moon: relatively newer (and available) titles to directly appeal to today’s youth
-The Old Moon: classics from another time
-The New High Frontier: newer tales of the exploration of the Solar system
-The Old High Frontier: classic names which will never be forgotten

This week we’re going to look at some of the more recent Lunar books for youngsters, the New Moon that is waxing in our culture. If one pays attention, one can see that there are more inquiries popping up about science fiction, and books that are appropriate for children. The usual classic names get dredged up, which we’ll be looking at next week, but I wanted to highlight some of the newer fiction that is available.

I’m going to start out with the youngest readers, and then work up to around the early teens. It becomes harder when you get to high school students, because the brighter students are well into adult novels by that time, while a book they put away at 12 is perfect for the average young high schooler. So I’m just going to try to work it up to relatively more complex titles that might be considered ‘lite’ reading by adults. Here we go.

READ MORE…

Ken Murphy / 2:36 am July 12th, 2008

“Lunar Challenge“, published by EdNovations in 2004, it weighs in at several pounds of resources.

I’ve got to admit, this is probably the most challenging review I’ve done to date, as there was a lot to cover.

“Lunar Challenge” was developed in response to the President’s Vision for Space Exploration (VSE), which has generally been well received in the space-interested communities. The VSE was well-researched, well-structured, and laid out a reasonable path to explore and even pioneer the High Frontier of our Solar system in the interest of commerce, security, and science. So long as NASA didn’t decide to build a new launch vehicle. Which they decided to do anyway, and consequently it’s sucking all of the budget out of everything else at the agency. But that’s for another post…

The folks at EdNovations saw the opportunity to create an informal education tool-kit that used a Lunar theme to develop an understanding of systems and how they fit together, as well as to encourage youngsters into more technical fields. The foundation was laid years earlier as the result of a National Science Foundation grant and work with the Challenger Center for Space Science Education (locations). They developed the “Lunar Challenge“, and proceeded to win recognition from the National Science Teachers Association and NASA, as well as others. I’ve got a fair amount of curricular materials in the Lunar Library, but nothing quite like this box of goodies.

READ MORE…

Ken Murphy / 11:38 am July 3rd, 2008

Mang’s Bat page hosts a special Tunguska edition in honor of the 100th anniversary of the event.

Another great round-up of space stories for this week’s Carnival of Space.

Ken Murphy / 7:18 pm June 29th, 2008

Regular readers know that I’m something of a fan of Japanese comics, called manga in comic form and anime in cartoon form, but only of the stuff that deals with quasi-realistic near-Earth, near-future stories. They are few and far between in DVD and book releases, but they are out there.

READ MORE…