csM co-edits book on drilling in extreme environments

CSM faculty members Chris Dreyer, Bill Eustes, William Fleckenstein, and Ning Lu have co-authored a comprehensive book entitled, "Drilling in Extreme Environments," which investigates drilling and excavation on Earth, in ice, under water and on other planets and moons. It also addresses principles of drilling, contamination, and sample processing. The book was published by Wiley-VCH on September 15, 2009 and it is available at Amazon.

csr and lunar excavator on discovery channel

The Center for Space Resources and the lunar excavator built by the CSM LunOrediggers student team are featured on the Sci-Trek: Mining the Moon documentary of the Discovery Channel. For a preview of the show check the Moon Prospecting video.

From Sci-Trek: Mining the Moon series:
"When Humankind returns to the Moon, this time the plan is to mine its surface for hidden resources. Elements like hydrogen and oxygen, trapped in the lunar soil, are the keys to a permanent colony and for future missions to Mars and beyond."

NASA SBIR phase i proposal selected for funding
(november 24, 2008)

The NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program announced the 2008 awards on November 24, 2008. A proposal from ADA Technologies, Inc., in collaboration with CSR, was selected for negotiation of contract to fund the following SBIR Phase I project on the area of spacecraft fire protection:

ADA Technologies, Inc.
Proposal Title: Test of Advanced Fine Water Mist Nozzles in a Representative Spacecraft Atmosphere
ADA Technologies Principal Investigator:James Butz
CSR Investigator: Angel Abbud-Madrid

apollo 17 lunar dust samples arrive at csm (september 5, 2008)

Several samples of lunar soil particles collected during the Apollo 17 mission were brought to CSM's Advanced Mineralogy Research Center (AMRC) for a quantification analysis looking at proportions of various glass types. The AMRC is currently conducting mineral characterization studies of lunar samples from the Apollo missions, as well as of most of the available lunar regolith simulants.

csm lunorediggers compete at nasa regolith excavation challenge (august 2, 2008)

LunOrediggers, a team of 17 CSM students participated on the NASA Lunar Regolith Excavation Challenge held on the California Polytechnic State University campus on August 2, 2008. Out of the 25 registered teams, the LunOrediggers became one of the 9 finalists and one of only two universities left at the end of the competition. Although none of the final teams claimed the $500,000 first prize, the LunOrediggers rover moved one step closer to achieving the extremely challenging task of excavating 150 Kg of lunar regolith in 30 minutes on a totally autonomous operation.

For more information consult the NASA 2008 Regolith Challenge link

mou signed between univ. of hawaii at hilo and csm
(april 4, 2008)

A research and educational partnership between CSM and the University of Hawaii, Hilo (UHH) was established on April 4, 2008 through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Center for Space Resources at CSM and the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES) at UH Hilo.

For more information consult this Space-Travel.com link

NASA SBIR proposals selected for funding
(january 14, 2008)

The NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program announced the 2007 awards on November 16, 2007. Proposals from New York and Colorado companies, in collaboration with CSR, were selected for negotiation of contracts to fund the following SBIR Phase I and Phase II projects, respectively.

Honeybee Robotics
Proposal Title: Surface System Dust Mitigation
TAI Principal Investigator:Jason Herman
CSR Investigator: Masami Nakagawa

SysRAND Corporation
Proposal Title: MPED: An ISRU Bucket Ladder Excavator Demonstrator System
SysRAND Principal Investigator: Donald Arbuckle
CSR Investigators: Paul Van Susante and Angel Abbud-Madrid

DR. Robert King's lunar soil excavation trade study renewed by nASA KSC
(January 14, 2008)

Dr. Robert King's research project entitled "Evaluation of Lunar Soil Excavation and Handling Concepts," was renewed by the NASA KSC team responsible for evaluating excavation and material transport equipment on the lunar surface.

NEW COURSE FOR SPRING 2008!

Planetary Geology and Natural Resources of the Moon and Mars
(GEOL 498B)

New course on planetary geology and resources offered in spring 2008 semester at the colorado school of mines

A new course entitled "Planetary Geology and Natural Resources of the Moon and Mars " (GEOL 498B) will be offered in the Spring 2008 semester at the Colorado School of Mines on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 to 2:50 PM. This course will be taught by Dr. Joel Duncan, lecturer at the Geology Department and EPICS program.
This course will provide the student a thorough exposure to the most up-to-date information on the geological evolution of the Moon and Mars, as well as their potential natural resources which may be utilized by future robotic and human missions to these planetary bodies.

For more information please contact Dr. Joel Duncan at: joduncan@mines.edu

SPACE RESOURCES ROUNDtaBLE IX MEETING
(October 25 - 27, 2007)

The Space Resources Roundtable Inc. held the IX Space Resources Roundtable on October 25-27, 2007, at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. For more information please consult the following website:

http://www.isruinfo.com

lunar geomechatronics workshop (LGW II)
(October 24, 2007)

In conjunction with the SRR IX meeting, the Mining Department and the Center for Space Resources at the Colorado School of Mines, along with the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), the University of Colorado at Boulder, and ORBITEC sponsored the second Lunar Geomechatronics Workshop (LGW II) on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at the Colorado School of Mines. The meeting focused on the latest analytical, geotechnical, and modeling studies conducted with lunar simulants from Orbitec, NASA, USGS, and Shimizu.

EIGHTH CONTINENT PROJECT LAUNCHED

The world’s most comprehensive effort to integrate space into the global economy was launched on August 24th, 2007. Based at the Center for Space Resources in CSM, Eighth Continent brings space down to Earth with the industry’s first trade association, business incubator, venture fund, and research hub, all working together to develop “Space 2.0” – the emerging generation of space business ventures with real profit potential – here and now.

Launch of 8C project in Denver Business Journal article

For more information consult the Eighth Continent Project website

LUNAR
VENTURES 2007

FIRST PRIZE

Omega Sensors
(San Diego State Univ)

RUNNERS UP

AIMSense
(MIT)

KRONOS
(Colorado School of Mines & College of William and Mary)

ViraTag
(Georgia Inst. of Tech
& Emory Univ.)

OMEGA SENSORS WINS LUNAR VENTURES
STUDENT BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION

Team Garners $25,000 Prize to Develop Space Commerce Idea

Out of ten national finalist teams, students from San Diego State University with Omega Sensors, Inc. (OSI) were declared winners in the first Lunar Ventures Student Business Plan Competition held at the Colorado School of Mines Center for Space Resources on May 19-21.

A national panel of judges from the aerospace, venture capital, and academic communities, reviewed business plans from 47 college students from around the country representing Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Colorado at Boulder, San Diego State University, Colorado School of Mines, Emory University, and the College of William and Mary. All are vying to develop the next big ideas for new start-up companies using space technology.

San Diego State University entry OSI , offers improved accelerometer technology with applications from increasing oil production to improving space vehicle navigation systems. OSI is comprised of team members Brian Bjorndal, Craig Braun, Brad Chisum, Tom Jones, Nick Rhea and Richard Waters.

The three runners up in the 2007 Lunar Ventures competition are:

1) Automated Integrated Mission Systems (AIMSense)
from Massachusetts Institute of Technology

2) Kronos from Colorado School of Mines and the College of William and Mary

3) ViraTag, LLC from Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University

For more information please consult the following website:

http://www.8clunarventures.com

Payload Specialist Astronaut
Dr. Gregory Linteris

Monday, April 2nd
6:00 PM, Metals Hall, CSM Green Center

Science experiments in space:
a personal account

DR. GREGORY LINTERIS
Payload Specialist Astronaut
STS-83 and STS-94 MISSIONS (SPACE SHUTTLE Columbia)
Mechanical Engineer, Fire Science Division, NIST

monday, april 2, 6:00 pm
metals hall, csm green center

Dr. Greg Linteris will share his experiences on the Spacelab Microgravity Sciences Mission (MSL-1), a Space Shuttle mission devoted exclusively to science experiments, with investigations on materials science, combustion, fluid dynamics, and biotechnology. Although the STS-83 mission was cut short to 4 days due to concerns over one of the three power-generating fuel cells, NASA successfully re-flew the mission just three months later as STS-94, the first mission in the history of manned space flight in which the same crew flew together again in space.

NEW COURSE!

Introduction to Space Exploration
(MNGN 498-A)

New course on space exploration offered this spring 2007 semester at the colorado school of mines

A new course entitled "Introduction to Space Exploration" (MNGN 498A) is being offered this Spring 2007 semester at the Colorado School of Mines on Mondays from 6:00 to 6:50 PM in Alderson Hall 151. This course will be taught by several members of the Center, as well as by visiting representatives from NASA, international space agencies (ESA, JAXA), industry partners (Ball Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Pioneer Astronautics, Aerospace Exchange), NASA astronauts, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and from representatives of the space-commerce community.
The purpose of the course (which will be the first in a multi-departmental series of courses focused on space resources) is to give the student a panoramic view of the current state of space exploration activities around the world and to expose him/her to the potential opportunities in the scientific, engineering, business, policy, and commercial areas of this field.

DR. Robert King's lunar soil excavation trade study selected for NASA funding
(January 23, 2007)

Dr. Robert King's proposal entitled "Evaluation of Lunar Soil Excavation and Handling Concepts," was selected for funding by the NASA team responsible for evaluating excavation and material transport equipment on the lunar surface.

NASA SBIR and STTR proposals selected for funding
(November 17, 2006)

The NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs announced the 2006 awards on Friday, November 17, 2006. Proposals from two Colorado companies, in collaboration with CSR, were selected for negotiation of contracts to fund the following SBIR Phase II and STTR Phase I projects, respectively.

ADA Technologies, Inc.
Proposal Title: Fine Water Mist Fire Extinguisher for Spacecraft
ADA Principal Investigator: Amanda Kimball
CSR Investigators: Tom McKinnon and Angel Abbud-Madrid

Technology Applications, Inc. (TAI)
Proposal Title: Advanced Granular System Modeling
TAI Principal Investigator: Rolf Baumgartner
CSR Investigator: Masami Nakagawa

SysRAND Corporation
Proposal Title: An ISRU Bucket Ladder Excavator Demonstrator System
SysRAND Principal Investigator: Bradley R. Blair
CSR Investigators: Paul Van Susante and Angel Abbud-Madrid

commercial space isru roadmap released
(November 2, 2006)

The Commercial Space ISRU Roadmap was publicly presented by the Eighth Continent™ Steering Group based at CSR during the VIII Space Resources Roundtable Meeting on November 2, 2006. This document presents a roadmap for integrating space resources into the global economy for Bringing Space Down to Earth.

Commercial Space ISRU Roadmap (pdf file)

SPACE RESOURCES ROUNDtaBLE MEETING
(October 31- November 2, 2006)

The Space Resources Roundtable Inc. held the VIII Space Resources Roundtable on October 31 to November 2, 2006, at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. For more information please consult the following website:

http://www.isruinfo.com

Check also the news articles released after the VIII SRR meeting at space.com and foxnews

lunar ventures student competition 2007

Sponsored by the Center for Space Resources at the Colorado School of Mines, the Lunar Ventures Student Business Plan Competition will be held May 19-21, 2007 on the campus of the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. The Competition challenges students in business, engineering and science to collaborate in creating business ventures related to space. Prizes for the winner include a cash award of $25,000, in-kind services, and potentially a $100,000 investment.
For more information please consult the following website:

http://www.lunarventures.org

Dr. Christopher Dreyer's planetary instrument proposal selected by NASA's roses program

Dr. Christopher Dreyer's proposal entitled, "Automated Rock Thin Section Device for Space Exploration," was selected in September as one of only two proposals led by an academic institution under the NASA ROSES 2005 program. This research effort will develop an instrument to analyze thin sections of rocks, which may be utilized to understand the origin and evolution of rocks on Earth.
The proposal was written in collaboration with Professors John Steele, Masami Nakagawa, and Mike Duke from the Colorado School of Mines and with Honeybee Robotics as the industrial partner.