ANNOUNCEMENTS (CONTINUED)
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MORE NEWS
Production of Oxygen and Water Demonstrated at PISCES Test Site
In November 2008, teams of scientists and engineers from NASA (KSC and JSC), Lockheed-Martin, Carnegie Mellon University, The Northern Centre for Advanced Technology (NORCAT), the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) and PISCES successfully demonstrated the production of oxygen and water from the lunar-like soil of the Big Island of Hawai`i and tested robotic drilling, excavation and transport techniques on the lunar-like terrain at the PISCES test site. All of these groups and more plan to continue testing with PISCES in the coming years. PISCES gratefully acknowledges the support of NASA-KSC, NASA-JSC, the NASA Innovative Partnerships Program (IPP) and DLR for making these tests possible.
Tweel Tested at PISCES Test Site
Also in November 2008, teams from NASA-JPL, Michelin Tire Company, Carnegie Mellon University and PISCES tested the Tweel; an airless, integrated tire and wheel combination, at the PISCES Test Site. The Tweel has potential application on future lunar missions, as well as terrestrial uses. PISCES gratefully acknowledges the support of NASA-JPL and NASA-IPP for making these tests possible.
2008 DESIGN COMPETITION WINNERS
The 2008 PISCES Habitat Design Competition came to an exciting climax at Waikoloa, Hawai’i, at the Second Annual PISCES/JUSTSAP Conference. Teams from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Virginia Polytechnic Institute won trips to Hawai'i to present their submissions. Two outstanding presentations were given to a filled audience of university, industry and government attendees. The teams’ presentation materials can be found below, and the details of next year's competition can be accessed by clicking on the COMPETITIONS tab above.
MIT Final Report
Development of the PISCES Analog Site to Support Planetary Exploration Architecting and Operations
Virginia Tech Final Report
Lunar Construction and Resource Extraction Utilizing Lunar Regolith
Information on the 2008 JUSTSAP/PISCES CONFERENCE is available at the following link:
JUSTSAP/PISCES CONFERENCE
Please click to see the the conference AGENDA.
Information on the recently completed 2008 JUSTSAP/PISCES CONFERENCE is now available at the following link:
JUSTSAP/PISCES CONFERENCE
Please click to see the conference AGENDA.
THE FIRST ANNUAL (INAUGURAL) PISCES CONFERENCE was held in Hilo, Hawai'i on November 7-10, 2007.
For a REPORT on the conference and PHOTOS go to these highlighted links. Additional photos show the similarities of terrain near Mauna Kea, Hawai'i, to some images of Mars taken by the two robotic rovers.
2008 DESIGN COMPETITION GUIDELINES and
2007 DESIGN COMPETITION WINNER AND RUNNERS-UP
The 2007 PISCES Habitat Design Competition came to an exciting climax in Hilo, Hawaii at the First Annual PISCES Conference. Teams from University of Colorado-Boulder, Honolulu Community College and Colorado School of Mines all won trips to Hawai'i to present their submissions. After listening to all three presentations, a panel of judges awarded first prize to the Team from Honolulu Community College. Full texts of each of the three submissions as well as the details of next year's expanded competition can accessed by clicking on the COMPETITIONS tab, above.
From its inception, PISCES was designed to bring together persons and programs dedicated to helping mankind to return to the Moon; this time to stay. The State of Hawai'i's financial support for PISCES demonstrates its belief that many others will come to share their confidence in this undertaking. Indeed, after being in existence for little more than two months, PISCES was notified on November 2nd, 2007 that it has been selected for two partnership awards from NASA’s Innovative Partnerships Program. The awards are for the following projects:
1) “Lunar Analog Field Demonstrations of In-Situ Resource Utilization & Human Robotic Systems” with Johnson Space Center and Kennedy Space Center ($400K total)
2) “Low-Temperature, Long-Life, Compliant Wheels for the Lunar Surface and Beyond” with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory ($200K total). These projects will involve personnel from PISCES, the NASA field centers and several participating commercial partners in the development of technologies that can be used at a lunar outpost. Students, faculty members, outside experts from the science and engineering community and local residents will all contribute to the research and education which will result from these activities. The funding from these awards, together with the $400K received from the State of Hawai’i for fiscal year 2007-2008, represents a $1 million investment in the development and utilization of PISCES in its first year and bodes well for its future in terms of interest from NASA and commercial partners.
NEWS RELEASE
Governor Linda Lingle signs into law a bill establishing the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems, or PISCES.
On June 7th, 2007, Governor Linda Lingle of Hawai’i signed into law a bill establishing the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems, or PISCES. By taking this bold step, along with establishing a new Office of Aerospace Development, the State of Hawai’i has positioned itself to become a leader in the new space exploration era.
By taking this bold step, along with establishing a new Office of Aerospace Development, the State of Hawai’i has positioned itself to become a leader in the new space exploration era. PISCES is an international research and education center dedicated to the development of new technologies needed to sustain life on the Moon and beyond. It is being built on partnerships between industry, academia and the governments of space-faring nations. PISCES was conceived by the Japan-U.S. Science, Technology & Space Applications Program (JUSTSAP) under the auspices of the Hawai’i State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT). It is based at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo.
PISCES will feature a simulated lunar outpost on the Big Island of Hawai’i, where research will be conducted, new technologies will be developed, students will be educated, astronauts will be trained and the public will be invited to experience first-hand what it will be like to live and work on the Moon and, eventually, on Mars.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) invites college students from the arts, including industrial design, architecture, computer design, and the fine arts, to submit their work on the theme: LIFE AND WORK ON THE MOON. Go to the link for more information. Please direct any questions to Dr. Elizabeth Ward at e.b.ward@larc.nasa.gov .
ABSTRACT OF "PISCES: A Lunar Outpost for ISRU Partnerships" Space Technology Applications International Forum, February 2007, Albuquerque, NM.
ABSTRACT OF "PISCES: Hawaii Facility for Simulation and Training", 38th Lunar & Planetary Science Meeting, March 2007, League City, TX. Go to link to view the FINAL LPSC POSTER.
STUDENT DESIGN COMPETITION - The PISCES Lunar Outpost Student Design Competition is a means of establishing a relationship between PISCES and the academic community in a manner that will foster dialogue and interaction in an exciting new area of space exploration. More...