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
Friday, April 30, 2010
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
- 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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
