62 Mile Club

Press Release

Excalibur Almaz to Pioneer Private Orbital Manned Space Flight
- In cooperation with NPOM of Russia –
 

Moscow, 18 August 2009,

Moscow, 18 August 2009, — Excalibur Almaz Limited (EA), an international
space exploration company, today announced plans to open up a new era
of private orbital space flight for commercial customers, using updated
elements of the “Almaz” space system originally developed by JSC MIC NPO
Mashinostroyenia (NPOM) of Russia.
 
Realization of EA’s project with technical assistance from NPOM will allow
regular access to and from space. This project joins Russian space
technology expertise with an international private enterprise to create a
commercial offering of orbital spaceflight services for global customers.
 
EA plans to offer week-long orbital space flights beginning as early as 2013 –
taking a big leap beyond the sub-orbital flight market targeted by most
other private space companies. In addition to NPOM, other leading
aerospace firms in the U.S., Europe and Japan will provide technical support
for EA’s space flight operations
 
The original Almaz space system technology, comprising reusable reentry
vehicle (RRV) and space station, was successfully tested in flight by NPOM.
Working with NPOM and its international contractors, EA is now updating the
spacecraft to conduct crew and cargo space missions for private individuals,
corporations, academic institutions and national governments.
 
EA Founder and CEO Art Dula said, “Through cooperation with NPOM and
with the support of leading space contractors around the world and an
exceptionally strong management and advisory team, EA is in a unique
position to initiate a new era of private orbital space exploration.”
 
Cosmonaut Vladimir Titov, advisor to EA in Russia, said, “With this
announcement, the dream of private orbital space exploration may
become a reality in the very near future.”

EA has ownership of several Almaz spacecraft, including reusable reentry
vehicles (RRVs) and space stations.
 
EA will tailor space missions to accommodate customer objectives including
exploration, cargo transportation and experimentation. On selected missions,
spacecraft and space stations would provide platforms for microgravity
scientific experiments, potentially serving the needs of governments and
academic institutions.
 
EA’s spacecraft will consist of two parts: an RRV and an expendable service
module to provide crewmembers with room to comfortably operate during
spaceflight. EA will update the Almaz RRVs with flight-proven technologies
where appropriate, while retaining tested legacy systems to ensure safety
and economy of operation. A critical feature of the RRVs is their reusability,
which will reduce logistical, overhead and program costs for commercial
access to space.
 
EA plans for its spacecraft to be compatible with a number of launch
vehicles and capable of being launched from worldwide sites.
 
In addition to NPOM, leading aerospace firms contracting with EA include
Space Flight Operations (SFO), a subsidiary of United Space Alliance, of the
U.S.; Paragon Space Development Corporation of the U.S.; Qwaltec of the
U.S.; EADS Astrium Space Transportation of Europe; and Japan Manned
Space Systems (JAMSS) of Japan. EA has also formed strategic alliances with
academic institutions including Rice University of the U.S and the
International Space University of France, and is an Industry Forum member of
the National Space Biomedical Research Institute of the U.S.
 
Established in 2005, EA is incorporated, headquartered and registered on the
Isle of Man in the British Isles. EA’s support contractors are in Russia, Europe,
Japan and the U.S. EA’s founders, executives and advisors include astronauts,
cosmonauts and commercial aerospace business entrepreneurs.
 

About the Almaz program
 
The Almaz program was a military space program of the Soviet Union.
 
The rocket and space complex “Almaz” developed at NPOM comprised
orbital manned space station, transport vehicle, reusable reentry vehicle
(RRV) for 3 persons, a cargo capsule delivering information to the Earth, and
ground support facilities.
 
This space complex was successfully tested both on the ground and in space.
Three crews of Soviet cosmonauts worked on the manned orbital space
stations. The RRVs went through nine flight tests, with two RRVs flown to orbit
several times, demonstrating their reusability.
 
The rich legacy of the Almaz program continues to live in all space stations
built to date. The orbital manned Almaz space station is the origin of the
Salyut and Mir space stations, and the International Space Station (ISS)
inherited from Almaz the configuration of its main service module “Zvezda”.
 
The Almaz transport vehicle provided the basis for the ISS module “Zarya,”
and also for the Salyut-7 space station module Kosmos-1686 and a line of
modules for the Mir space station.
 
 

Press Release:  The Space Foundation

Space Foundation Discovery Institute to Provide Local and National Aerospace-Themed Education

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. (Aug. 24, 2009) – The Space Foundation is solidifying its position as one of the nation’s premier space-focused education providers with the establishment of the new Space Foundation Discovery Institute on the campus of Jack Swigert Aerospace Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The Space Foundation Discovery Institute will provide space- and aerospace-themed professional development, training and support for teachers and students from around the world and will serve as the base location for the Space Foundation’s popular education programs. It will house classrooms, a NASA Educator Resource Center, and eventually include three major laboratories: a simulated space mission operations center to open in early 2010; a simulated Martian terrain laboratory to open in early 2011; and, as funding becomes available, a Science on a Sphere facility in early 2012.

The Space Foundation has already received commitments from a number of organizations for financial and volunteer services to help build the Institute and the onsite laboratories. Significant contributors include:

Analytical Graphics, Inc.
Ball Aerospace & Technologies, Inc.
The Broadmoor
CEAVCO Audio Visual
El Pomar Foundation
Freeman Company
The Larson Group Architects
United Launch Alliance/Lockheed Martin Corp.
The Space Foundation Discovery Institute’s programs and curriculum focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), helping to address serious gaps in U.S. science and math education and proficiency.

Space Foundation education professionals will relocate to the Space Foundation Discovery Institute over the coming months as construction and equipment installation is completed.

In addition, the Space Foundation Discovery Institute will provide targeted professional development, onsite teacher support, and student programs for Jack Swigert Aerospace Academy, a Colorado Springs public middle school that opened Aug. 18 with an aerospace-based curriculum. The Academy has expanded the application of space-related curriculum to include the arts in addition to the traditional STEM subjects, creating a new focus on improving students’ proficiency in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). The Academy, a joint project between Colorado Springs School District 11 and the Space Foundation, is named in honor of Colorado native and Apollo astronaut John L. “Jack” Swigert.

The Space Foundation’s nationally recognized standards-based education programs use space themes and principles to build proficiency in and enthusiasm for STEM subjects among teachers, students, parents and communities. The goal is to strengthen STEM skills so that today’s students can go on to become scientists, engineers, mathematicians, teachers, and supporters of space exploration.

“Education is fundamental to the Space Foundation’s mission to advance space-related endeavors to inspire, enable, and propel humanity,” said Space Foundation Chief Executive Officer Elliot Pulham. “Creating the Space Foundation Discovery Institute underscores how strongly we believe that teaching and learning are the keys to the future.”

The Space Foundation’s education programs include:

NEW HORIZONS, a program that infuses STEM education into a community through student enrichment programs, teacher workshops, field trips, town-hall meetings, and astronaut and space professional visits.
Educator Professional Development Courses, week-long, intensive, graduate-level, in-residence courses that provide PreK-12 educators with space-related STEM education knowledge and content that is instantly transferable to the classroom. Participants can earn continuing education credits, graduate credits, or work toward a master’s degree in multiple related disciplines.
STARS (Science, Technology, and Academic Readiness for Space), a hands-on science enrichment program based on a school’s specific academic needs. STARS includes Space Foundation-provided instruction each week, and follow-up classroom activities on topics such as rocketry principles, astronomy, earth systems science, and principles of flight.
Educators National Science Standards and Lesson Bank, free downloadable PreK-12 national science standards-based lessons (www.ScienceStandardsLessons.org).
Teacher Liaisons, advocates for space science education who: receive Space Foundation training and resources to further integrate space into their classrooms; and participate in workshops and education programs at the Space Foundation’s annual National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. The program is in its sixth year and has 275 active participants. Honorees are selected by a panel comprising experienced Teacher Liaisons and representatives from the space industry and the military.
Space Career Fair, an annual event in conjunction with the National Space Symposium that provides university students and transitioning military personnel opportunities to network with the largest employers in the space industry, to submit resumes, and, potentially, to interview for jobs. Space Career Fair is the leading source of information regarding current and future career opportunities, industry trends, upcoming space-related workforce needs, and it attracts more than 300 attendees from across the country.
Jack Swigert Aerospace Academy, an aerospace-focused public middle school created in conjunction with Colorado Springs School District 11 that drives STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) proficiency through a space-related curriculum, enhanced onsite laboratories and learning opportunities, and involvement with Space Foundation programs.
Participation in advanced degrees for teachers and space professionals. Space Foundation Educator Professional Development Courses form a significant amount of the curriculum for four master’s degrees offered to elementary, middle, and high school teachers through the College of Education at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and one master’s degree through Regis University. The Space Foundation also hosts one of the modules for the International Space University’s space-related Executive MBA.
For more information, go to www.SpaceFoundation.org.

About the Space Foundation
The Space Foundation is an international, nonprofit organization and the foremost advocate for all sectors of the space industry – civil, commercial, and national security. Founded in 1983, the Space Foundation is a leader in space awareness activities, space-related educational programs, and industry events, all in support of its mission “to advance space-related endeavors to inspire, enable, and propel humanity.” An expert in all aspects of the global space industry, the Space Foundation publishes The Space Report 2009: The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity and provides three indices that track daily performance of the space industry. The Space Foundation will sponsor the Strategic Space Symposium with USSTRATCOM Nov. 2-4 in Omaha, Neb., and the 26th National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colo., April 12-15, 2010. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, the Space Foundation conducts research and analysis and government affairs activities from its Washington, D.C., office and has field representatives in Houston, Texas, and Cape Canaveral, Fla. For more information, visit www.SpaceFoundation.org. Follow us on Twitter: SpaceFoundation.
Contacts:
Space Foundation
Janet P. Stevens
Director – Communications/Public Outreach

jstevens AT spacefoundation.org

Carol Hively
Public Affairs Specialist
chively AT spacefoundation.org

# # #

Press Release: Space Frontier Foundation Washington, DC – August 19, 2009

Government Must Buy All Rides to Space Commercially
Ares Needs a Death Panel

In the wake of the Augustine Commission’s declaration that the troubled Ares rocket program is unaffordable under any realistic budget projections, the Space Frontier Foundation renewed its call to immediately cancel the costly dead-end project and replace it with multiple commercial vehicles.
“Three years ago we published Unaffordable and Unsustainable, declaring that government must henceforth ‘buy all crew and cargo services with a destination of low Earth orbit [from] commercial providers using privately-owned and operated spaceships’,” said Foundation co-Founder Bob Werb.

“For over a decade, we’ve said that continuing to try and develop new government rockets costs too much and delays human exploration beyond Earth orbit,” added co-Founder Rick Tumlinson. “Pouring more money into Ares now is the equivalent of giving a taxpayer-funded I.V. to a corpse. Instead, let’s use those funds to give birth to a new and vibrant space transport industry that might actually make money and open the space frontier to everyone.”

“Derivatives of proven commercial launch systems, and new ones under development, could meet any reasonable need for heavy lift,” said Foundation co-Founder, James Muncy. “The barrier is psychological: NASA will have to stop pretending it can design cost-effective launch vehicles and instead focus on exploration systems that fit on the launch vehicles taxpayers can really afford.”

Werb concluded: “The choice is clear. We can continue funding an overpriced, government space limousine, or we can kick-start a whole new industry that will reduce government’s costs and create new jobs. The tools of private sector innovation and competition offer our best and only chance to have affordable and sustainable human space exploration.”

Space Frontier Foundation
William J. Watson
Executive Director
william.watson AT spacefrontier.org

Space Investment Summit 7

Wednesday, September 30, 2009
8:15 am – 6:30 pm
Hynes Convention Center
Boston, Massachusetts
    
Investors – Complimentary Registration for accredited investors based on availability. Register Today!

Entrepreneurs – Submit a business plan application.  (see below)

Executives – Register to attend the Summit.

 
    
Space Investment Summit 7 ((SIS-7) features exclusive educational sessions with prominent investment leaders and a showcase of limited pre-qualified space-related business plans from reputable entrepreneurs. The Summit helps investors gain knowledge that might guide future investment decisions, and helps entrepreneurs gain from an increased investor interest in their efforts and development of new opportunities for partnership.

 
    
Information & Registration - www.spaceinvestmentsummit.com

 
Featured Presenters
Mark Sirangelo, Executive Vice-President, Sierra Nevada Corporation; Chairman of the Board, SNCSpace Systems; former Chairman and CEO, SpaceDev Inc

Jeff Greason, Co-Founder, President and CEO, XCOR Aerospace; Vice-Chair, Commercial Spaceflight Federation; Member, White House Augustine Commission

Miles O’Brien, 26-Year Broadcast News Veteran; Former CNN Science, Aerospace, Technology and Environment Correspondent

Lon Levin, Executive and Entrepreneur; President, SkySevenVentures

Per Wimmer, Global Financier and Entrepreneur; Founder and CEO, Wimmer Space and Wimmer Financial

Hoyt Davidson, Founder and Managing Partner, Near Earth LLC

Anita Antenucci, Managing Director, Houlihan Locky

Scott Tibbitts, Executive Director, eSpace – The Center for Space Entrepreneurship

Amaresh Kollipara, Managing Partner, Earth2Orbit

Michael Leventhal, Attorney/Consultant, mc2 The Law Firm

Max Grimard, Vice President/Deputy Head, Strategy and Business Development, EADS Astrium

Brent Britton, Attorney/Chair of the Emerging Business Technology Practice Group, GrayRobinson

Rosanna Sattler, Partner, Posternak Blankstein & Lund LLP

Paul Eckert, PhD, International & Commercial Strategist, The Boeing Company

      
    
Entrepreneurial Business Plan Submission.  Companies interested in presenting their business plans at the Summit are welcome to submit an application for judging. Applications are accepted and screened on a “first-come-first-screened” basis and selections to present are made now through the end of August, 2009.  Early submissions are encouraged.  http://www.formspring.com/forms/?645537-mhiLyyvqNR.

Entrepreneurial Reception and Exhibition.  The Summit will also include an exhibition of selected business plans and featured entrepreneurs.  Entrepreneurs may be invited to 1) present a plan during the Summit and display the plan at the exhibition or 2) provide a display only at the exhibition.  Exhibits will be limited to 6’ table top displays.

Registration - http://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=746715

 
Summit Hosts

Space Investment Summit Coalition

Sponsors
The Boeing Company
Posternak, Blankstein & Lund LLP
EADS Astrium

Ecliptic Enterprises Corporation
62 Mile Club
The Kennedy Group

      
Supporting Organizations
Space Commerce Roundtable
National Space Society
Space Frontier Foundation
Space Foundation
California Space Authority
Space Enterprise Council
International Association of Space Entrepreneurs
Personal Spaceflight Federation
eSpace – The Center for Space Entrepreneurship
Entretech
X PRIZE

Los Angeles Venture Association
Larta Institute
VC Private Equity Roundtable
MIT Club of Southern California
USC Marshall School of Business
USC Space Engineering Research Center
8th Continent
Space Tourism Society
Alliance for Commercial Enterprises and Education in Space
Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies
Canadian Space Commerce Association

Press Release:

ORBITEC commenced a strategic planning process over one year ago and has concluded important steps toward a capital infusion from several institutional and strategic investors.

Madison, WI (PRWEB) July 15, 2009 — Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC) announced today that it is poised for commercial expansion and rapid growth after completing major commitments for both equity and debt capital. A combination of committed equity sales and a debt agreement from Johnson Bank of Madison, WI provides a significant portion of the $11MM capital base planned for ORBITEC to expand new products to markets with only $2MM in equity offering remaining.

“Our mission is to extract the value from the best of our more than 20 years of technology development,” said ORBITEC President Thomas Crabb. “We have selected 5 distinct business units with solutions that improve functionality and performance while reducing costs. Our approach is to commercialize, partner, and spin-off products and services to realize the value of these solutions in very specific markets. We recognize that partnering is a fantastic mechanism to accelerate the commercialization and value creation process for all parties involved. Our ability to sustain growth and attract capital in this economy also validates the high quality of our business prospects.”

Our mission is to extract the value from the best of our more than 20 years of technology development

ORBITEC offers the risk return platform that Rocklove is looking for

They have grown revenues through this tough economic cycle, paying careful attention to strategic planning and customer satisfaction. Their business portfolio also offers tremendous risk reduction. At Rocklove we look forward to actively following the company’s further progress.

At NORROC Partners, we are more convinced than ever of ORBITEC’s prospects. We foresee even higher level of investor interest in this remarkable company going forward, especially from parties with sector-specific interests within the ORBITEC portfolio.

ORBITEC commenced a strategic planning process over one year ago and has concluded important steps toward a capital infusion from several institutional and strategic investors. The transaction forms part of ORBITEC’s near-term expansion with a continued long-term growth plan. The company is proceeding with multiple growth opportunities including fire suppression systems, bio-product initiatives and competitive aerospace capabilities.

ORBITEC’s product expansions include:

ORBITEC’s strategic planning efforts and capital search were supported by NORROC Partners in San Francisco. The company obtained initial, new, growth capital from investors in Wisconsin, California, and from Rocklove Capital Partners LLC, most of whom have tracked the company’s progress for a lengthy period of time. “ORBITEC offers the risk return platform that Rocklove is looking for,” said Managing Partner of Rocklove Capital Partners LLC, Theo Armour. “They have grown revenues through this tough economic cycle, paying careful attention to strategic planning and customer satisfaction. Their business portfolio also offers tremendous risk reduction. At Rocklove we look forward to actively following the company’s further progress.”

Norroc stands ready to support future capital needs as well. Managing Partners Petter Kleppan and Rune A. Hansen of NORROC are enthusiastic about continuing their relations. “At NORROC Partners, we are more convinced than ever of ORBITEC’s prospects. We foresee even higher level of investor interest in this remarkable company going forward, especially from parties with sector-specific interests within the ORBITEC portfolio.” In addition to NORROC, Quarles & Brady provides legal counsel and Grant Thornton provides audit and tax support. Johnson Bank has been a key partner of ORBITEC for over five years.

About Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC):
ORBITEC is a leading high technology development and subsystem integration company based in Madison, Wisconsin. ORBITEC offers commercially mature solutions and strong capabilities in five distinct areas: Next Generation Fire Suppression; Propulsion, Propellant, and Power Systems; Life Support and Environment Control; Bio-based products and production systems; and Interactive 3D Simulation Software. ORBITEC has won more than $170 million in contracts to develop state-of-the-art technologies and products. The company has been able to convert research and development initiatives into leading technologies and mature the technologies to valuable products in their respective markets that provide significant cost advantages, superior functionality, and high reliability. ORBITEC is led by an experienced management team with over one hundred years of industry experience.

Please contact President Thomas Crabb with any questions at crabbt (at) ORBITEC.com

About Rocklove Capital Partners LLC:
Rocklove Capital Partners LLC is an international private equity investor based in San Francisco, California with investment partners from both Europe and the United States. Rocklove primarily seeks minority equity positions within growth companies with EBITDA between $2MM and $8MM and with specialized assets and solid operating history with consecutive quarters of positive cash flow generation. In most cases, Rocklove seeks investment in private companies that are owned by their founders. Through its investment mandate Rocklove both solves the growth investment thesis and the desire for diversification on part of the founders and their families, thereby aligning its interest with those of the other shareholders.

Please contact Managing Partner Theo Armour for questions at t.armour (at) gmail.com

About NORROC Partners LLC:
NORROC Partners LLC is a specialized private equity boutique and financial advisory firm based in San Francisco. NORROC advises growth companies and their shareholders and also provides a broad spectrum of services through capital sponsorship engagements. NORROC advises companies with proprietary assets and intellectual property in order to secure active capital sponsorship. NORROC typically engages with companies that seek a combination of alternative capital sponsorship, strategic discipline, and aligned institutional capital entrance and exit.

Please contact Managing Partner Rune A. Hansen for questions at rune (at) norroc.com

I was emailed the following pic and a 2007 blog entry from Cesar Millan’s website where he shares that a copy of his book made its way to the International Space Station. I guess having a few personal items keeps the astronauts ‘grounded.’ If you only could bring three items to space, what would they be?

Astronaut Sunita Williams' copy of Cesar's Way is suspended in zero gravity and silhouetted by a view of the Earth.

Press Release:  Space Frontier Foundation

Nyack, NY, August 11, 2009- After a weekend of presentations by several
new companies in the NewSpace field, the judges of the 2009 NewSpace
Business Plan Competition awards the following:
1st Place – Flagsuit, LLC
2nd Place – Syntiant
Honorable Mention – Santa Clara Satellite Solutions

The first place winner, Flagsuit LLC, received a $5,000 cash prize courtesy
of the Heinlein Trust and will have the opportunity to present their vision to
entrepreneurs and investors alike at Space Investment Summit 7 on
September 30th in Boston and attend an upcoming Space Angels Network
event. Courtesy of FundingPost.com, Flagsuit will also receive a three
month membership to the Space Angels Network website, 2 tickets to any
one of their 15 VC conferences held annually nationwide (including
attendance in their workshop), and the FundingPost Developed
publication, “How to Raise Your First Million Dollars.”

Flagsuit, LLC Company Description:
Affordable spacesuits will transform the emerging private
spaceflight industry by making it practical for humans to utilize
cheap access to space. Flagsuit LLC is seeking funding to develop
a hyperbaric (pressurized) suit with excellent mobility at a price that
enables affordable spacesuits. The same product will fill a non-
space consumer need for a mobile chamber for hyperbaric oxygen
therapy, creating a convenient way for people to treat and prevent
disease. By pursuing both markets, risk from low early demand in
the emerging spaceflight market is mitigated, positive cash flow is
reached sooner, and Flagsuit becomes well positioned to deliver
space qualified hyperbaric suits once that market solidifies.
Syntiant, Inc Company Description:

Syntiant will create a unique platform based on:
• SynseVisionTM Virtual Visionware:  a pair of glasses containing
bio-feedback technology, GPS, Bluetooth, and stereo HD
cameras.  Data is captured and transmitted to Syntiant’sTM
virtual world for 3D reconstruction so others can plug-in and
experience the user’s vision and bio-response virtually.

• Syntiant’sTM virtual world will offer 3D gesture-based data
manipulation (as seen in Minority Report) to create an intuitive,
easy-to-use navigation system.  This overlay will permit a user
to organize his or her data in 3D mind maps, navigate social
media sites in a 3D gesture-based environment, and add
immersive virtual reality 3D to gaming environments.
• Base services are free as long as the user donates 5 hours per
day of unused computing time to Syntiant’sTM Global
Supercomputing Grid.  The more computing time users donate,
the more energy credits they earn to buy additional SyntiantsTM
products and services.

The Space Fontier Foundation extends a sincere “Thank You” to all of this
year’s finalists!

Aeronautic Enterprises
Aerospace Technologies
Flagsuit, LLC
Next Giant Leap
NoumeniaCS
PD Aerospace
Santa Clara Satellite
Syntiant
Thunderbird Communications

If you have a business plan that you would like considered for the
NewSpace 2010 Business Plan competition, please watch for updates on
next year’s schedule and submission deadlines at the Space Frontier
Foundation website.
Please note that 62MileClub’s Robert Jacobson was one of the judges for the 2009 business plan competition.

Source: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics will hold the AIAA SPACE 2009 Conference & Exposition September 14-17 2009 at the Pasadena Convention Center, Pasadena, Calif. The conference will explore the theme “Space: New Opportunities for a New Era.”

SPACE 2009 will examine the need for increasing America’s commitment to education in the “STEM” subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; how best to approach the problems posed by global climate change; how to reduce global fossil fuel consumption; and the role that space exploration and space technologies will play in achieving these goals.

The conference is co-chaired by NASA and the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, and is sponsored by Orbital Sciences Corporation and Lockheed Martin Corporation. Additional sponsors include The Boeing Company, SpaceX, United Space Alliance, Stellar Solutions, Ball Aerospace Technologies, Harris Corporation, and The Aerospace Corporation. Aerospace America and Space News are the official media sponsors. Additional support will be provided by the California Space Authority, the American Astronautical Society, and the AIAA Technical Activities Committee Space & Missiles Group.

Guiding the formation of the conference are executive co-chairs: Charles Elachi, director, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Lt. Gen. John T. Sheridan, commander, U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center; David W. Thompson, chairman and CEO, Orbital Sciences Corporation; and Joanne Maguire, executive vice president, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company.

The AIAA SPACE 2009 Conference will kick off with remarks from Robert S. Dickman, AIAA Executive Director, and Jean-Lou A. Chameau, President of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif. Following their remarks an opening panel session on “New Opportunities, New Era” will examine the opportunities for space exploration and technology development for the next fifty years.

Each of the conference’s luncheon keynote addresses and panel sessions will feature a blend of high-level government representatives and business leaders. Confirmed speakers include The Honorable Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and Administrator, NOAA, and Lt. Gen. John T. Sheridan, U.S. Air Force, commander, U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center.

On Wednesday, September 16, the William H. Pickering Lecture, will celebrate the International Year of Astronomy. The lecture will be presented by Christopher Martin, professor of physics, California Institute of Technology; Matt Mountain, director, Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Md.; and Michael Werner, chief scientist, astronomy and physics directorate, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This special event is free and open to the public.

Thousands of Pasadena area school children will participate in the conference’s “Education Alley” program. This program allows students in grades K-12 to take part in exciting hands-on learning activities reinforcing the value of STEM subjects in their daily lives, as well as exposing them to the possibility of future careers in aerospace engineering and science disciplines. “Education Alley” is sponsored by: The Aerospace Corporation, The Boeing Company, Raytheon, Space Exploration Technologies Company (SpaceX), Wyle, and the X-Prize Foundation.

Space Investment Summit 7 is just around the corner and 62MileClub is a proud sponsor of this event. We are still accepting business plans which will be pre-screened for presentation at the Summit in Boston.

Space Investment Summit 7

Wednesday, September 30, 2009
8:15 am – 6:30 pm
Hynes Convention Center, Boston, Massachusetts

This event is complimentary for accredited investors.

Summit Details

Entrepreneurial Business Plan Submission.  Companies interested in presenting their business plans at the Summit are welcome to submit an application for judging. Applications are accepted and screened on a “first-come-first-screened” basis and selections to present are made now through the end of August, 2009.  Early submissions are encouraged.
Applications available at http://www.formspring.com/forms/?645537-mhiLyyvqNR.

Entrepreneurial Reception and Exhibition.  The Summit will also include an exhibition of selected business plans and featured entrepreneurs.  Entrepreneurs may be invited to 1) present a plan during the Summit and display the plan at the exhibition or 2) provide a display only at the exhibition.  Exhibits will be limited to 6’ table top displays.

Pre-Qualified Judging Criteria. A panel of investors and space commerce experts will evaluate applications, select top candidates and invite the entrepreneurs selected to present their business plans and/or a display at the exhibition.  Market areas to be considered include space transportation, satellite services, tourism, media, advertising, biotech, pharmaceuticals, materials and others.  Crucial selection criteria are business plan quality and evidence of existing seed/angel investor interest.  Of special interest are innovative business plans for enterprises that address markets: (1) in space; (2) enabled by space; (3) now commercially productive but which include an incremental plan for activities extending into space; and (4) that present the space experience.

Summit Location.  SIS-7 will be held at the Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115.  http://www.massconvention.com/jhcc_dir.html

Registration Fee.  $250 for all non-investor attendees.  Investors receive complimentary registration.  Includes admission to all panel sessions, business plan presentations, networking lunch and networking reception/exhibit.  http://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=746715.

Business Plan Entrepreneur Registration and Presentation Fee.  $750 for each business plan selected for presentation to the Summit display at the exhibition (includes one complimentary attendee registration, business plan presentation and table display at the networking reception and exhibit).  http://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=746715.

Update from Flometrics President, Dr. Steve Harrington
We launched a rocket on a renewable JP-8 developed for DARPA by the EERC. The fuel has been tested at the AFRL, and it worked well in turbine engines, so we tried it in a rocket.  It worked much better thane expected and it made an awesome sound when it went up. We observed less coking than usual on the injector plate. The web page is at.
www.flometrics.com/rockets/BioFuel_Launch/

We finished up our NASA SBIR on the Rocket Pump,  meeting the key objectives:
Designing a pump that could work in space  to pump liquid oxygen or methane and testing it under zero gee and simulated vacuum conditions.
Demonstrating a pump pumping Liquid  Nitrogen at 400 psi and 2 gpm with less than 3% pressure variations
Calculating that it could increase the payload mass up to 28% for missions like Cassini.
We are proposing that we test the pump with a LOX/Methane RCS thruster for a phase two contract.
We updated the web page:

www.rocketfuelpump.com

At UCSD, we launched another 6 rockets and measured various parameters thanks to funding from MSFC and technical assistance from George Story.  The best rocket was a tie this year, There was one that measured the pressure of the nitrous oxide and flew very well and generated a beautiful pressure vs time graph, and there was another that measured the separation rate of the rocket and the nosecone with a string potentiometer.
One of the groups was flying a spinning hybrid wherein the spin rate was controlled via fin angle to prevent early propellant dropout, and this is exactly what George Story from MSFC had worked on. (SOREX-2 booster) so he was able to give the students some tips.  Unfortunately, due to low thrust, it only made one revolution. In the future we will test the engines before flight
I will be at the Joint Propulsion Conference in Denver on Sunday night through Tuesday afternoon. We had hoped to have a booth pumping margaritas, but flaky customers and the economy have conspired to make it too expensive at this time, maybe next year.
We are still looking for more engineering services work, product development, problem solving, aerospace, medical, consumer etc.  Your problem may not need a rocket scientist to solve it, but it can’t hurt.

Steve
Steve Harrington Ph. D
President, Flometrics, Inc.

Related links

www.rocketfuelpump.com
http://maecourses.ucsd.edu/~sharring/mae155b-sp09/