[SpaceProgram] DARPA-RA-11-70 100YSS Notification

Mon Jan 2 03:25:46 CET 2012

just my 0.02

I truly believe the way forward is having a 'worthy' goal that is easily
achievable w/in say the next year or two -- you would use this as a
catalyst to move the greater goals forward

what would such a project be?

well it definitely should not be another pictures/video thing -- I think
we have that covered -- something achievable like sending a mini
greenhouse to the moon to generate some oxygen

this would have a very tangible result, is easily achievable (compared
to the 'lets goto the stars' goals) and could actually be done VERY soon
(w/in a year or two)

we are looking for something that would be considered 'useful' to
someone who doesn't care at all -- that's when we can gain real momentum

for the past so many years it's been hip to send cameras to the
stratosphere but launching rockets from said platforms (at +100k ft)
allows us to do even more -- why stop at a pretty picture? why not go
the extra step? it's clearly up to us

- Ian

On 10:12 Mon 02 Jan     , Alex wrote:
> On point 3 I think a good way to move forwards is to put in place a big sexy goal. 100 year starship is one of these, in that it gets people's attention and makes them yearn for something. Putting a man on the moon was a big sexy goal that got people moving, and I think we should learn from that. Perhaps something say but still reachable in our lifetimes, e.g. Mars in 20 years or a small space colony. This is something the coordinating organization can focus on, while other projects focus on the real stuff needed to get us there (which may not be so 'sexy' to the average joe)
> 
> Real, concrete steps can be laid out by building a tech tree and milestones, then setting up projects accordingly which can find their own funding and get funding from the coordinating agency too (if it can get more money than it needs). I believe Xinchejian is already working on this. I'll check and find out more.
> 
> Even those with a marginal interest in space can be swayed by a big sexy goal, and that means more participants, better marketing, more donations/sponsorships, etc for all of us
> 
> On 1 Jan 2012, at 10:54 PM, Huei Ming Tan <tanhueiming at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > I've mailed someone who I thought might know what's going on in the proposer's side, and it seems that they're still 'negotiating' with DARPA. Will update accordingly as I hear more.
> > 
> > Now, if I may suggest my two cents worth, I'd like to highlight a few additional points for consideration:
> > 1) Based on the Icarus announcement (see cached hyperlink), the lead organization would be the Dorothy Jemison Foundation. How this would affect the focus of their proposal is something that needs to be taken into account before sketching a partnership model.
> > 2) Icarus is fundamentally an exercise in designing an unmanned interstellar mission (see http://www.icarusinterstellar.org/icarusppd.pdf). So, in a manner of speaking, they haven't completed their horizon mission methodology process and identified the kind of capabilities they want to R&D. Till this stage is reached, stuff won't get made.
> > 3) I'll agree Jerry on the open ended state of things now. One way is to start planning for the day they want people to enable an Icarus mission capability (e.g. mining deuterium fuel on the Moon for propulsion in pg 53, Project 6, Option B), or build something dual use (e.g. build a lunar orbiter that can serve as a communications node in the future).
> > 4) How to obtain access to space quickly. Go down the path of Copenhagen Suborbitals DIY style, or piggyback off commercial launch systems?
> > 
> > Warmest regards,
> > Huei Ming
> > 
> > 
> > On Sun, Jan 1, 2012 at 4:23 PM, Jerry Isdale <jerry at mauimakers.com> wrote:
> > There are a LOT of aspects to this large, complex project. 
> > We can and should pursue several development paths and funding vehicles.
> > It would be a very good idea to talk with the Project Icarus folks. 
> > It would also be a good idea to talk to the DARPA PM for a debriefing on our project.
> > 
> > Our part of the proposal included several agricultural research efforts. 
> > There are some options for supporting this we are looking into.
> > 
> > The one area of our proposal that would be harder to find funding for is the coordination between spaces, and yearly gathering.  That would however, be a great thing to do --- not just for Starship things but for general hackerspace project sharing. 
> > 
> > Ideas?
> > 
> > Jerry Isdale
> > http://MauiMakers.com
> > http://www.mauimakers.com/blog/thursday-public-meeting/
> > 
> > On Dec 31, 2011, at 9:03 PM, Paul Szymkowiak wrote:
> > 
> >> Hi All,
> >> 
> >> Thanks for posting the link Huei Ming.
> >> 
> >> Something encouraging here: note that Kelvin F. Long, Vice President (Europe) Icarus Interstellar says
> >> 
> >> "We believe we are deserving winners. The decision is not ours of course and whoever wins we will work co-operatively with them and together build a better future for us all. Similarly, if we win we intend to embrace the entire interstellar community in the spirit of inclusiveness, openness, transparency and participation for all."
> >> 
> >> So, taking Kelvin at his word, perhaps a logical first step is to contact the Project Icarus folks, and discuss ways in which the global Hackerspace network could contribute to the project?
> >> 
> >> Any thoughts about how best to approach that?
> >> 
> >> Cheers,
> >> 
> >> Paul 
> >>  
> >> Paul (Zee) Szymkowiak 
> >> HackMelbourne.org
> >> 
> >> gplus.to/paulzee
> >> twitter.com/paulzee
> >> twitter.com/hackmelbourne
> >> TimeZone: GMT +10 hours
> >> 
> >> 
> >> On 1 January 2012 01:27, Huei Ming Tan <tanhueiming at gmail.com> wrote:
> >> Hello all,
> >> 
> >> Ricky, could you write back and get some feedback on why our proposal did not make the final cut? It's be helpful to know where's the weak points to address in moving forward from here.
> >> 
> >> As I understand it off the Internet, Project Icarus, in partnership with former astronaut and 100 YSS Track Chair for Education, Social, Economic and Legal Considerations Mae Jemison and the Foundation for Enterprise Development (of which Mary Ann Beyster is President and 100 YSS Organizations Panel member) is DARPA's grant awardee. The direct link to the announcement on Icarus Interstellar is down, but a post on their RFP submission is available here at http://www.icarusinterstellar.org/blog/icarus-interstellar-moving/.
> >> 
> >> To be fair, Project Icarus is practically the only game in town right now that is anywhere remotely able to pull off an interstellar mission and they had strong partners joining them in their RFP effort. In recognition of that fact, and that this effort is for humanity's benefit and not just ourselves, I heartily congratulate and wish them well! Nevertheless, it is my own two cents worth, but I still see that the Hackerspace community have a huge potential in leading the effort to create and coordinate an international effort to build and launch projects, so do not lose heart people!
> >> 
> >> Last but not least, all the best for the year ahead. Happy New Year 2012!
> >> 
> >> Warmest regards,
> >> Huei Ming
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> On Sat, Dec 31, 2011 at 7:05 PM, Alex Cureton-Griffiths <alexcg at gmail.com> wrote:
> >> I'm working on a google spreadsheet of potential funding sources. Will open it up and post to group in a few days (no google docs access at present since I'm in China). We can all put our thoughts in.
> >> 
> >> Sent from my iPhone
> >> 
> >> On Dec 31, 2011, at 3:16 PM, Sung won Lim <4phlebas at gmail.com> wrote:
> >> 
> >>> Guys, I want to second the opinion that we go through with a hackerspace space program DARPA fund or not.
> >>> 
> >>> I know I'm going to continue to work on it either way and I'm sure lot of people on this list will as well. Funding's an issue but not an insurmountable one; there are plenty of people, projects and initiatives targeted at private space projects and the number's set to increase in the coming years.
> >>> 
> >>> It would be great to see continued collaboration and discussion about hackerspace space programs on this list in the new year.
> >>> 
> >>> -Sung
> >>> 
> >>> Genspace NYC
> >>> 
> >>> On Dec 31, 2011 2:06 AM, "Shyu Lee" <me at shyul.com> wrote:
> >>> Hi Ricky,
> >>> 
> >>> I am always thinking of if I can go to space during my lifetime. Although I am pretty realistic one many things and not so pleasant to some enthusiastic people, however I do know I worked so hard for earning money is not just for earning money that simple, there should be some more advanced goals to fight for… And to me, is all about the space.
> >>> 
> >>> It is not the time to reiterate how important for the space projects to human now. I'd say there are many other approaches for XinCheJian and many other backspaces to get involved into space related projects. I promise I will continue my involvement of it with XinCheJian.  
> >>> 
> >>> Looking forward to the brilliant and happy new year!
> >>> 
> >>> Best Regards,
> >>> 李旭 / Shyu Lee
> >>> 
> >>> From: Ricky NG-Adam <rngadam at xinchejian.com>
> >>> Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:01:02 -0700
> >>> To: spaceprogram <spaceprogram at lists.hackerspaces.org>
> >>> Subject: Fwd: DARPA-RA-11-70 100YSS Notification
> >>> 
> >>> Hello!
> >>> 
> >>> We have sadly NOT been selected for the DARPA 100 Year Starship... Sorry to everyone who put their time into this. I'd like to extend my sincere personal excuses towards everyone who contributed and hoped for this to work out. I obviously should have done a better job at this!
> >>> 
> >>> I haven't been offered more details on why precisely we were rejected but naturally I still think that Hackerspaces, as technical communities that already are in existence and are self-sustainable were the ONLY logical choice for such an organization but apparently DARPA disagreed....
> >>> 
> >>> In any case, I think direct funding from DARPA would have been controversial for many hackerspaces (as witnessed on the hackerspaces.org mailing list recently). I do believe that many efforts are ongoing in Hackerspaces around the world to explore space. Among other things, at XinCheJian, we just had a meeting this evening to discuss building testing equipment for going to space (vibration, thermal gradient, shock, g-forces, vacuum, etc) as the first logical step to building our own space robots.
> >>> 
> >>> Hopefully whatever organization that receives the funds will realize that Hackerspaces are the best physical spaces to conduct projects of benefit to humanity.
> >>> 
> >>> Notification letter extract attached.
> >>> 
> >>> Thanks,
> >>> -- 
> >>> 伍思力 | Ricky Ng-Adam | http://xinchejian.com | (+86) 186-2126-2521
> >>> 
> >>> _______________________________________________
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> >>> SpaceProgram at lists.hackerspaces.org
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> >>> 
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