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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Launch Pad

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Launch Pad. In the Beginning. William P Baird Current professional incarnation: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center Previous Incarnations White Sands Missile Range

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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Launch Pad

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  1. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Launch Pad

  2. In the Beginning • William P Baird • Current professional incarnation: • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory • National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center • Previous Incarnations • White Sands Missile Range • High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility • Technical Solutions • NeuNet • Los Alamos National Laboratory • In 1989, the Columbus 500 Solar Sail Cup… • It…failed…to get backing • That (and a movie a long time ago, in a theater far far away) captured my imagination • In 2007, the Google Lunar X Prize was announced… …And I knew the GLXP had ‘me’ written all over it…

  3. Pursuing the GLXP Land rover on moon Roll it 500m Send back live HD video Composed of 13 dedicated individuals Varied skill sets Experts in their fields Primarily sponsor funded Excellent at getting in-kind sponsorships Who We Are &Where We Are Going

  4. Sponsorship to Date

  5. that is nowWay Back When…Reality Struck Back! • Quoted Price from machinists for the Wind at Dawn Rocket: $150,000 • Initially thought that this would be an open-shut case of raising money… • And then…erm… • monetary sponsorship extremely hard to come by • “in-kind” sponsorship was a lot easier. • Began to think that the project might die

  6. Along Came • Coworker recommended Techshop • Skeptical • Showed up and started bending metal • Made a lot of mistakes • Annoyed dream coaches to no end • Not taken terribly seriously • Then the hemispheres showed up • Techshop’s communitarian outlook changed everything

  7. GLXP Revolution • All started with trying to figure out how to weld 20” ID hemispheres to make pressure tanks • Dream coaches (Dharma, Abe and Noah) and myself • Went on to become a shop collaboration with people joining: • Dr Alan Fang: “What do you think you are doing there?” • Free lance machinist and experimental physicist • Logan Hedin: “You are going to win!” • Polythermic Innovations (lead techie and partner) • James Erd: “Can you make that bigger?” • Became team’s lead machinist • Earl Powell: “You have to send off to Canada for that?” • Former lead machinist on the EUVE, now metal spinning lead for Team Phoenicia • Sam Waldbaum: “This will never fly!” • Lockmart engineer, Team Waldbaum, GLXP rover manufacturer • Michael Pinneo: “That’s incredibe!” • Former AmRoc scientist, power source for GLXP rover

  8. GLXP Revolution Technologies & Capabilities Coming out of Team Phoenicia’s GLXP Bid • New Composite • New composite • -200 C to 300 C w/ no delaminations for 80 cycles • Corrosive compatible • Moldless composite manufacturing techniques • New composite continuous fiber symmetrical part manufacturing • Asymmetrical composite part manufacture • New Rocket Engine • New low cost manufacturing for aerospace parts • Potential rocket space tourism market as well

  9. Nanosatellite Launcher Challenge Announced Jul 13 2010 Largely ignored by team Too much to do Approached by others to team up Declined What part of too much to do… Counter Offered …and then… Lobbed at us From The Right Coast

  10. Under Contract with Three Teams for Nanosat Launchers Vog Rockets http://vogrockets.org Seraphim Aerospace Soneplanar Space Systems (Can handle up to 7 more) Hint hint hint NSLC Contracts: Phased Approach. 1st: control 2nd speed 3rd / 4th orbit shots Potential other clients An established NewSpace firm wants our tanks Lightness, cryo compatible, LOX “friendly” A major beverage company has expressed interest in composite Cryo compatible pressure vessels Electric motorcycle company strength, lightness, corrosion resistance Two Aerospace composite manufacturers To license composite for their own use Commercial PotentialBlossoming

  11. A Republic of Ideas • Helpful Community • Innovative Commentary • Extensive collective experience • Very little IP theft threat • Outstanding prototyping capability • Potential for seminars to give back (Nanosat Launcher Seminar) …if this is what we can do in this environment…

  12. Going Forward • Finish raising money for GLXP entry • See that tin cup? • Hint hint…hint hint HINT HINT!!! (#$%@! They took away my blink tag) • Find more sponsors • Testing • Compete in GLXP • Commercialize $GLXPDerivedTech[n+] • Found BAERA • Bay Area Experimental Rocketry Authority • A NewSpace TechShop testing ground • Lower barrier to entry 10x • Hope to Foster a Bay Area NewSpace Revolution • do not use the word “boom” with rockets! • Again…if this is what we could do…

  13. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Launch Pad

  14. Thank you!

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