{"id":19742,"date":"2012-04-24T21:18:58","date_gmt":"2012-04-24T13:18:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/robots-in-space-live-from-the-planetary-resources-news-conference\/"},"modified":"2012-04-24T21:18:58","modified_gmt":"2012-04-24T13:18:58","slug":"robots-in-space-live-from-the-planetary-resources-news-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/robots-in-space-live-from-the-planetary-resources-news-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"Robots in Space: Live from the Planetary Resources news conference"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"620\" height=\"380\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ustream.tv\/embed\/114136?v=3&amp;wmode=direct\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border: 0px none transparent;\">    <\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>UPDATE<\/strong>: The news conference is over, but you can read our live notes below. Stay tuned for more later today on GeekWire.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Coming up at Seattle\u2019s Museum of Flight this morning is the highly anticipated news conference by Planetary Resources, the space robot venture that plans to formally unveil and explain its plans to mine near-earth asteroids.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-36388\" title=\"planetaryresources\" src=\"https:\/\/www.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/planetaryresources.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"198\" height=\"51\">The company is backed by big names such as Google\u2019s Larry Page and Eric Schmidt, filmmaker James Cameron, plus veterans of NASA and the commercial spaceflight industry.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m at the news conference right now, where executives including Peter Diamandis (X Prize Foundation) and Eric Anderson (Space Adventures) are getting ready.&nbsp;We\u2019ll have details from the scene as they unfold, and you can tune in above to the live stream from Planetary Resources.<\/p>\n<p>The news conference is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m.<\/p>\n<p>Also check out the news release and videos that came out in advance of the event.&nbsp;Live notes below:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_37347\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-37347\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-37347\" title=\"diamandis\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/diamandis-300x168.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/diamandis-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/diamandis-200x112.jpg 200w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/diamandis.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\"><figcaption data-nosnippet=\"\" id=\"caption-attachment-37347\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Peter Diamandis at the news conference.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Museum of Flight CEO Doug King starts off, comparing the beginnings of commercial space exploration to the early days of the personal computer industry. A video plays outlining the plans.<\/p>\n<p>Anderson says in the video that the idea is to first identify near-Earth asteroids, then develop technologies to transform them into valuable resources and retrieve them.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are going to change the way the world thinks about natural resources,\u201d the video concludes.<\/p>\n<p>First speaker from the company is Diamandis, the company\u2019s co-founder. Talks about the origins of the X Prize Foundation, how they were skeptics, but the X Prize helped pave the way to the space tourism industry.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cToday I am very proud to be announcing Planetary Resources. The vision is to make the resources of space available to humanity both in space and here on Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Scarcity is contextual. Technology provides access to the abundant resources of space. Solar system is full of resources that can be brought back to Earth.<\/p>\n<p>Forces enabling this new venture.&nbsp;Exponential growth in technology lets small teams and individuals do what only governments could do in the past. Low-cost, low-powered spacecraft.<\/p>\n<p>Availability of commercial space launch has finally arrived. Jeff Bezos, Paul Allen projects are examples.<\/p>\n<p>New generation of risk-tolerant investors. &nbsp;This is smart money investing in one of the largest commercial ventures ever.<\/p>\n<p>Aligned with NASA\u2019s goal of working with private companies.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_37350\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-37350\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-37350\" title=\"anderson\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/anderson-300x168.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/anderson-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/anderson-200x112.jpg 200w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/anderson.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\"><figcaption data-nosnippet=\"\" id=\"caption-attachment-37350\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Eric Anderson at the news conference.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Can it really be done? It can be done and yes, it\u2019s very difficult. Extraordinarily difficult. But returns and benefits to humanity are extraordinary.<\/p>\n<p>Anderson takes the stage to talk about economics. &nbsp;This is seminal event in the future of entrepreneurial space, will be many who follow, he says. This will now create a new industry that\u2019s even bigger than current resources and energy. Idea is to bring the solar system within our economic sphere of influence.<\/p>\n<p>Will focus on near-Earth asteroids. Two types of resources.<\/p>\n<p>1) Water. Hydrogen and oxygen are most efficient forms of rocket propellant. It is the best rocket fuel out there. Provides not only with the ability to support life \u2014 drinking water, food \u2014 but also propellant.<\/p>\n<p>2) Precious metals. Platinum group metals. People have been been mining asteroids on Earth based on asteroids that have hit surface for a long time.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_37358\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-37358\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-37358\" title=\"lewicki\" src=\"https:\/\/www.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/lewicki-300x168.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\"><figcaption data-nosnippet=\"\" id=\"caption-attachment-37358\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chris Lewicki, president and chief engineer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The line of spacecraft is called the Arkyd line. This will be used first for prospecting, and then for extracting. Phase 1 is to start with initial line of spacecraft, telescopes, which will be launching within 24 months. This company is not about paper studies, he says. This company is about creating a space economy. \u201cThere\u2019s plenty of talking, we\u2019re about doing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Telescope spacecraft will be followed by swarms of robotic spacecraft to get closer to asteroids.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re still at the very beginning of what we\u2019re doing here, he says.&nbsp;If it\u2019s successful, we hope to make a lot of money, but it\u2019s not going to happen overnight.<\/p>\n<p>Anderson says, \u201cI\u2019ve been blown away by the fever pitch of the media the last few days. It\u2019s been amazing to watch the blogs, the commentary.\u201d All except for 5 to 10 percent of reaction is super-positive. People are excited about even the idea of asteroid-mining.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_37360\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-37360\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-37360\" title=\"arkyd\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/arkyd1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"142\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/arkyd1.jpg 5100w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/arkyd1-300x143.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/arkyd1-620x295.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\"><figcaption data-nosnippet=\"\" id=\"caption-attachment-37360\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Arkyd Series 100 space telescope. (Planetary Resources)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cIf we\u2019re able to successfully deploy and mine for water, we\u2019re going to be able to create a network of propellant depots, of gas stations, that will be a roadway to the rest of the universe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Next up is Chris Lewicki, the company\u2019s chief engineer, and a veteran of the NASA Mars Rover missions.<\/p>\n<p>He says, \u201cGood morning, everyone. I\u2019m Chris Lewicki, and I\u2019m an asteroid miner.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Idea is to create a simple design that can be executed by a small team.<\/p>\n<p>Arkyd 100 prospecting telescope operates in low-Earth orbit. Has one of them on stage next to him.&nbsp;Arkyd 200 will follow to leave Earth orbit.&nbsp;Then Arkyd 300 will follow to swarm asteroid.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen failure is not an option, success is really expensive. \u2026 We will live with and learn from our failures.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re building a new kind of company, a new type of spacecraft team. Engineers who are implementing Arkyd have the highest level of experience in landing a spacecraft on another planet. Many of our team came from that effort, he says. Applying that knowledge from NASA to new applications in the private sector.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_37371\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-37371\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-37371\" title=\"tomjones\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/tomjones-300x168.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/tomjones-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/tomjones-200x112.jpg 200w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/tomjones.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\"><figcaption data-nosnippet=\"\" id=\"caption-attachment-37371\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Former astronaut Tom Jones, an adviser to the company.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Filmmaker James Cameron is listed as an adviser. (Google\u2019s Larry Page and Eric Schmidt are investors.) Other advisers include David Vaskevitch, a former Microsoft CTO.<\/p>\n<p>Next up is Tom Jones, a former astronaut who is also an adviser to the company. Important to find out what the near-Earth&nbsp;asteroids contain. Shows pictures of the surface of one of the prospects, with loose rubble making mining easier.<\/p>\n<p>Says Planetary Resources can be faster than government and accept failure more readily, learn from it and move ahead.<\/p>\n<p>To have permanent presence in space beyond Space Station this century, have to reduce the cost. Mining natural resources in a cost-effective way to support life.<\/p>\n<p>Ross Perot Jr., one of the investors in the asteroid-mining company, now patches in to the news conference via audio. Says he believes in the team and believes more private capital move into these types of areas. Calls it a great American story. Shows that courage and talent can take you a long way.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_37377\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-37377\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-37377\" title=\"arkyd\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/arkyd2-300x168.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/arkyd2-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/arkyd2-620x348.jpg 620w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/arkyd2.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\"><figcaption data-nosnippet=\"\" id=\"caption-attachment-37377\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lewicki with the company&#8217;s Arkyd Series-100 spacecraft.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Now up is Charles Simonyi, the former Microsoft engineer and space tourist, who talks about the risk of the investment, says it\u2019s where private investment can take a risk and try different business models, unlike NASA and others. Echoes the notion that it\u2019s similar to the early days of the PC industry.<\/p>\n<p>First question is about scope of business. Company is in Bellevue, has a couple dozen engineers.<\/p>\n<p>Next question is about plan over next two years. Arkyd-100. Doesn\u2019t work alone, works in teams. Space telescope. Swiss Army knife. Idea is to make many of them, not have this one precious spacecraft that they have to worry about.<\/p>\n<p>Anderson say the idea of adding trillions to the economy through asteroid mining is over decades. We clearly will go after the highest-value materials first.<\/p>\n<p>Why Bellevue? Lewicki says they looked at Silicon Valley, other areas, but decided on Seattle because some of investors and partners are here, beautiful place, and industry infrastructure is here.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re starting the Silicon Valley of space up here in Seattle,\u201d Lewicki says.<\/p>\n<p>Diamandis says the company doesn\u2019t plan to send humans into space. \u201cSorry Tom,\u201d he says to former astronaut Jones.<\/p>\n<p>Company is cash-flow positive, Diamandis says. They have development contracts with companies and government organizations aligned with mission, including NASA contract for optical communications.<\/p>\n<p>Why announce now? Fundraising is done. (They\u2019re not disclosing numbers.) They\u2019re hiring. Want to get the community excited. Diamandis: Capital has always been the scarcest part of opening the space frontier.<\/p>\n<p>Hiring? \u201cWe\u2019re looking for people who are willing to dedicate their lives to this task,\u201d says Lewicki.<\/p>\n<p>Answering next question, yes, Arkyd 100 can be used for Earth observations &nbsp;One of the most powerful, super low-cost personal space telescopes.<\/p>\n<p>Last question: Did science fiction play a role in planning for event? Anderson quotes Lewicki saying science fiction is science fiction right up to the point that it\u2019s science fact.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s a wrap. More to come.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream UPDATE: The news conference is over, but you can read our live notes below. Stay tuned for more later today on GeekWire. Coming up at Seattle\u2019s Museum of Flight this morning is the highly anticipated news conference by Planetary Resources, the space robot venture that plans to formally unveil [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[5670,4820],"class_list":["post-19742","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-live-stream","tag-planetary-resources"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19742"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19742"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19742\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19742"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19742"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19742"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}