Wednesday / 3 September 2014

MoonBots Winners Headed To Hawai`i

MoonBots0914

Incredibots From Columbus, Ohio Win 2014 MoonBots Challenge; Team Wins Trip To Pacific International Space Center For Exploration Systems (PISCES), Hawaii Island To Test Its Robot On Slopes Of Mauna Kea; Over 300 Teams From 24 Countries Participated In Contest, 25 Finalists Built & Programmed LEGO MINDSTORMS Robot & Tested It In Their Own Lunar Landscape; 1st Runner-Up From Barcelona, Spain, 2nd Runner-Up From Rotterdam, Netherlands; Contest Sponsored By GLXP & GeekDad

Image Credit: GLXP, GeekDad

Tuesday / 2 September 2014

Vision For Space Access May Be Difference In Tight Hawai`i Governor Race

HAwaiiSpaceAcessGov914

Pacific Space Access Could Become A Key Issue As Hawai’i Gubernatorial Race Heats Up; Sen David Ige (D), Duke Aiona (R), Mufi Hannemann (I) All Could Benefit From Supporting Pioneering Initiative To Develop Hawaii-Based Sea Launching Enterprise, Which Would Bring Economic And Scientific Opportunities To Islands; With NASA Missions LRO & Mars Opportunity Rover Receiving Funding For Extended Missions, Hawaii Island Role As Analog Test Site For Robotic / Human Planetary Missions Should Continue To Advance

Image Credit: PISCES, Sea Launch, KHON2

Tuesday / 29 July 2014

Hawai`i To Host Lunar Conference In November

WaikoloaPISCES2014

State Of Hawai`i, PISCES & Aerospace States Association Hosting ‘The Next Giant Leap: Leveraging Lunar Assets For Sustainable Pathways To Space’ In Waikoloa, Hawaii Island, 9-13 November; Conference Will Focus On Benefits / Opportunities For Making Use Of Cislunar Environment, Cost Effective Scenarios To Accelerate Development Of Technologies / Missions To Extend Humanity Through Solar System; Establish Multinational / Public-Private Partnerships To Link Space / Lunar Development Visions & Goals With The Resources To Enable Them

Pictured: PISCES Executive Director Rob Kelso

Image Credit: Aerospace Hawaii

Tuesday / 3 June 2014

PISCES Extending Hawai`i Apollo Moon Mission Contributions To 21st Century

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Hawaii Island Moon-Like Environments Being Utilized By PISCES To Test Moon / Mars-Bound Vehicles & Technologies; New State Resolution Initiating Project To Develop Basaltic ‘Lunar Concrete’, Installation Of A Test ‘Lunar Sidewalk’ Set For Aug; 2nd Initiative Involves Construction-Scale 3D Printing Using Basalt, PISCES & NASA Plan To 3D Print A Landing Pad, Curved Wall, Dome Shelter; Aloha State Was Important Contributor To Apollo Moon Missions – As Depicted In Recently Released Photos – Astronaut Training, Communication Relays, Recovery Of Returning Moonworkers  

Image Credit: PISCES, NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 4-7 April 2014

PISCES Advancing Lunar Base Analog Development In Hawai`i

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340-kg Rover Unveiled By PISCES; Vehicle Will Be Integral Feature Of Robotic Village The Group Is Developing On Hawaii Island To Pave Way For Human Moon / Mars Bases; Companies From Around World Invited To Send Their Technology To Be Tested On Canada-Manufactured Rover; PISCES Will Utilize Rover & Analog Facilities To Promote STEM Education In Hawaii; Hawaii Aerospace Caucus & Groups Such As ILOA Also Helping To Advance Aerospace Technology & Development Opportunities In Hawaii; Pictured: PISCES Robotic Village Project Manager Rodrigo Romo

Image Credit: PISCES

Friday / 21 March 2014

Hawai`i Student Lander Experiment Aims To Fly To Moon On 2015 GLXP Mission

Hawaii Student Moon GLXP

Hawaii STEM Initiative Headed By Rob Kelso Of PISCES (Hilo HI) To Send High School-Built Laser-Based Imaging System To Moon On Undisclosed GLXP Team And / Or Moon Express Lander In 2015; Instrument To Collect Data On Engine & Regolith Interaction; NASA KSC To Provide Mentoring, Engineering Assistance, Equipment Testing; Hawaii Schools Raising ~US$300K To Develop Hardware / Software, Conduct Analog Field Testing; NanoRacks Providing Final Flight Fabrication, Testing & Certification Of Flight Hardware

Image Credit: NASA, PISCES, ME, NanoRacks

Friday / 14 June 2013

From Hawai`i To The Moon To Deep Space

Buzz Aldrin, PISCES

Moonwalker Buzz Aldrin (L) Says Geography / Geology Of Big Island, Hawaii Is Excellent Analog / Testing Ground For Permanent Moon Base; He Encourages Learning In Hawaii, Settlement Of Moon, Then Mars & Beyond; Also Supports PISCES Technology Development For Robotic & Human Missions Beyond LEO – Rob Kelso (R) Exec Director Featured On The Space Show 21 June; ISDAC-USIS Workshop On 22 June In Colorado Continues Discussion Of ‘Moon Permanent Base Headed By Buzz Aldrin’

Image Credit: Getty Images, IAF, ESA/Foster, WHT/A.Pacheco

Tuesday / 7 May 2013

Lunar Concrete Example Of Technology Match “Spin Up” Concept

SpinUp

Peter Kokh, In April 2013 Edition Of Moon Miners’ Manifesto, Notes PISCES Efforts To Develop Sustainable Basalt Concrete On Hawai`i Island As Example Of “Spin Up” Technology Development: Identifying Profitable Terrestrial Applications For Technologies Needed In Space / Moon To Spur Advancement Of Human Off-World Capabilities; MMM Seeking Ideas For Similar Technology Matches That Could Be Advanced By Private Enterprise

Image Credit: NASA, Moon Society, PISCES

Wednesday / 14 November 2012

PISCES Program Advancing On Hawai`i Island

Annual PISCES Conference Underway In Waikoloa HI; Program Expanding With Recent US$2.34M Investment From State; New Director Rob Kelso Says New Vision For PISCES Includes Research Of: Basalt-Based ‘Lunar Concrete’, Lava Tube Exploration, Testing Habitation Modules & GLXP Lunar Rovers; Goal Is To Become ‘Aerospace Enterprise Zone’ Supporting Planetary Surface Exploration

Image Credit: PISCES, NASA, White Label Space

Tuesday / 13 November 2012

From Hawai`i To The Moon: Pacific Space Access

Initiatives Ahead To Enable Hawaii Aloha Central Pacific Offshore Location To Rise As Portal To Space, Moon, Solar System, Galaxy, Stars, Beyond; Hawaii Enterprise And State Catalyzing New Pacific Space Access Constellation Of Independent Private Commercial Ventures Such As InterOrbital Systems, SpaceX, XCOR, Virgin Galactic, Space Age Publishing Co. And National Space Programs From Japan, Korea, Russia, Australia, Canada, USA, Mexico, Chile, Others; Honolulu, Oahu or Hilo, Hawaii May Emerge As Inviting Home Port For New Pacific Space Access Sea Launching Constellation

Image Credit: NASA, SpaceX