Friday, April 30, 2010

Space Weather App for iPhone

Utah State University's Space Weather Center is scheduled to release v1.4.0 of “SpaceWx,” an iPhone app upgrade that includes real-time effects from the four major space weather domains: sun, solar wind, magnetosphere and neutral atmosphere/ionosphere.
A product for improved global radio communications will also be released.

We'll probably see more weather, mapping and imaging apps for the iPhone and Android from NASA and other space researchers.

https://economicdevelopment.usu.edu/htm/in-the-news/articleID=9464?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

NASA Blasts Jatropha Into Space

NASA’s “Alternative Energy Crops in Space” program is studying if microgravity can help Jatropha Curcas plant cells grow faster. Researchers hope to accelerate its growth for commercial use.

http://www.cmtevents.com/aboutevent.aspx?ev=101040&
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/jatropha.html

Texas Emerging Tech Fund

The Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF) is becoming one of the leading space tech commercialization funding sources, which will give it an advantage in Obama's NASA commercialization plans.

http://www.rdmag.com/News/2010/03/Policy-and-industry-1-8-Million-Investment-for-Commercialization-of-Chemical-Detector/

http://members.texasone.us/site/PageServer?pagename=tetf_homepage

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Can Florida Become "Silicon Valley of Space"?

Florida is seeking to leverage Obama's space commercialization policies to generate interest in turning the I-4 corridor into the "Silicon Valley of Space."

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100429/OPINION/100428021/1006/NEWS01/Our+views++Space%E2%80%99s+%E2%80%98Silicon+Valley%E2%80%99

As one who has participated in the rise of Silicon Valley and advised a dozen other regions worldwide, here's what I think Florida should do:

- Organize annual conferences focused on commercializing space technologies for space travel as well as sustainable products and products on earth. Invite all space agencies, aerospace and space systems vendors, and companies interested in space technologies. JIBS.se, which is launching a "Down-to-Earth" project for sustainable earth applications, could help organize it through its 170 partner universities.

- Invite investors, both U.S. and foreign, to meet companies opening shop in Florida.

- Involve U.S. and foreign university researchers and students to explore ways to commercialize space technologies. Set up a Space Tech Commercialization business program with the top aerospace and business schools.

- Organize contests to award excellence in space tech commercialization and give out awards. Showcase the winners at the Space Museum in Washington D.C. and other science museums worldwide.

- Partner with other regions worldwide that are developing space industries.

- Organize a Space Technology Commercialization Consortium (STCC) to promote research, investments, and job creation

- Work with venture capital (VC), sovereign funds and other private equity groups to develop Space Technology Funds.

There are many other things that Florida could do to jumpstart its initiative. The key is to partner with investors, universities, industry organizations, and other regions to build a critical mass.

In the mid-1980s, I advised the Indian Consul General and an Indian software group (www.sipa.org) in Silicon Valley to help plan an Indian software industry in Bangalore, which wanted to be another Silicon Valley. I thought it would enjoy modest success, not the boom that resulted. So the morale is to aim high, collaborate and work hard.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Studying Alien Life for Biomimetic Design

Stephen Hawkings recently posted a commentary saying that alien life might threaten earth. One could argue that any adventurous, advanced civilization has its share of aggressive traits, along with its curiosity or need to find new places to live. What if it wants to cohabitate? Would our defensive instincts lead to war just as it did with Native Americans?

http://www.lockergnome.com/cellphones/2010/04/26/hawkings-warns-of-extraterestrial-life-contact/

Beyond this pure speculation, studying alien life forms is a topic for NASA's Astrobiology Center, for which I helped plan the public-private partnership approach. For the mission to Mars, NASA is asking "What is life?" and "Will recognize it when we get there?" Perhaps Martian life will be totally unlike that on earth. It could come in different shapes, sizes and materials; it could be an electrical pulse.

Marine biologists studying life in deep thermal vents give us a look at other unfamiliar forms of life on earth. These studies, combined with astrobiology, could open totally new fields of study.

What is the usefulness of astrobiology for sustainable earth applications? Today, many designers look at biomimetics -- the study of life forms and functions -- for new product design concepts. Just as airplane designers looked to birds for wing design, perhaps astrobiology will lead to new biomimetic design concepts. Perhaps a future ET and its spaceship will help us design next-generation space vehicles and communications systems.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Europe's Down-to-Earth Commercialization

NASA has always been a political football from the days of President Kennedy's speech to the siting of the Houston command center and the Alabama site for the Ares I vehicle.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/23/science/23nasa.html?hpw

Space commercialization for space exploration as well as sustainable earth applications will be no different, but this time companies and venture funds will be tussling with NASA officials for funding.

The European Space Agency (ESA) recently announced plans to commercialize its technologies for sustainable earth applications, which puts it ahead of NASA in working with investors and entrepreneurs.
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2010/03/30/esa-investment-forum-2010-aims-generate-business-opportunities/

NASA needs more entrepreneurs and investors, not more gravy-train politicians, to pioneer the next breakthroughs.

Hubble's Commercial Spinoffs

The Hubble telescope celebrates its 20th anniversary. Besides opening our eyes to the wonders of space, it has spawned new technologies with major benefits for earth. Among them:

- Sharper CCDs for detecting breast cancer:
http://ipp.nasa.gov/innovation/Innovation35/Hubble.html

- The Globalstar worldwide, satellite-based phone system
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/01/990118075743.htm

- Hubble IMAX CD cinema at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex:
http://nssflorida.org/2010/03/23/hubble-imax-3d-comes-to-ksc/

- Early specifications issued to lithium battery manufacturers:
www.battcon.com/PapersFinal2007/ScuillaPaper2007.pdf

- New composite materials for lightweight equipment carriers made in Virginia:
Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier (SLIC)

- New theories about time, matter and space from our discovery of new phenomena in the universe, which will influence the direction of future scientific and technological research on earth.

There are many more technology spinoffs from the Hubble project, both potential and already commercialized, which indicates the value of this project.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Space Commercialization Event in San Francisco

Space commercialization, mostly for launch vehicles and space exploration, is heating up. Intelius CEO and Founder Naveen Jain joined a distinguished panel of speakers to discuss the future of space commercialization at The Churchill Club, which focused primarily on NASA's plan to outsource launch vehicles to companies.

Highlights from the panel from the perspective of sustainable earth applications:

- "Real commercialization will be solving problems on earth." Commercializing space will introduce innovations that will provide solutions for earth. Moreover, it will raise our awareness. Carl Sagan noted that by studying other planets, we will appreciate our earth more, such as studying Mars' dusty, CO2-laden atmosphere has raised awareness about global warming.

- A recent survey found that the U.S. public supports earth-focused NASA programs for protection from asteroids (52%) and protection of the environment (48%), but only 22% knew about the new NASA policies. A July 2009 Gallup poll found 60% of the public suppports NASA space programs: http://www.gallup.com/poll/121736/majority-americans-say-space-program-costs-justified.aspx. In short, the American public supports, but doesn't care about space exploration, except for its benefits for earth.

- New vaccines and materials produced in space may benefit medicine and other fields. UCSF is using space technologies in its intensive-care unit.

- Singularity University studied nanosats (tiny satellites), which could cost 1/1000 of the price of current satellites and have major terrestrial benefits.

- Tele-presence technologies developed for space flight will enable people on earth to immerse themselves, experience space virtually, and leave messages for posterity.

- The X-Prize offers prizes for ocean exploration (deep submarines, mapping, biodegradable plastics), environment, life sciences and education.

- To get the American public excited again about space, we need to get Oprah and other celebrities beyond NASA's new policies. Peter Diamandis, President/CEO of X Prize Foundation, said: "Potentially, it's a new day for space."

NASA's new commercialization policies are positive since they will untap the ingenuity, energy and investments of American entrepreneurs and investors. Although focused on space vehicles, these policies will accelerate investments on sustainable earth applications, especially since the American public is so adamant about benefits for the earth.

For details:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/04/prweb3900034.htm

Sustainable Earth Applications

President Obama's new NASA policies could could stimulate the "next new thing" -- space tech commercialization on a massive scale for sustainable earth uses, not just space travel.

A European Space Agency (ESA) technology broker estimates that ESA generates about 15X to 20X for each Euro of space spending. The world's space agencies spend about $250 billion annually, which could generate up to $5 trillion in new economic growth if the agencies worked more closely with venture capitalists and companies to commercialize space technologies. At US$100,000 per job, they could create up to 50 million new jobs per year, which would have an enormous impact on the global economy.

ESA just set up a venture fund with a European VC. Last year, NASA Ames partnered with a NY City fund to invest in nanotechnologies, so space tech is emerging as a new area of venture capital (VC) funding.

The major challenge is overcoming bureaucratic obstacles and regulations. The mission of space agencies is space exploration, but taxpayers want to see more tangible down-to-earth benefits from their tax dollars -- new jobs, products and services.

Inspiration from space is the key. The Apollo Project inspired Apple Computer and others to develop personal computers, which stimulated the chip industry, which led to the rise of Silicon Valley -- not a bad investment for going to the moon. These Silicon Valley companies did not have to license NASA technologies, but were inspired to develop their own versions. It was NASA's vision and thinking that influenced them.

Given the global recession, I'd like to see space agencies take a stronger leadership role in inspiring young people, creating new jobs, and stimulating sustainable products and services. Then taxpayers would finally see the benefits of their hard-won money. We went to the moon. Obama now wants to go to Mars. I want our Mars mission to create the next Silicon Valleys on earth.

I'm partnering with JIBS.se, a Swedish international business school, on space tech commercialization projects where we're helping Swedish companies, municipalities and schools apply space technologies and thinking to develop new down-to-earth, sustainable products and services. We invite you to join us!

Contact me at: sheridan at dreamscapeglobal.com