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Presentation of new Euroluna Logo

Symbols are important and good symbols gives and extra benefits and more fun. During April and May, we have developed a new Logo for Euroluna, based on brilliant ideas of showing the moon and the earth in the same logo, and adding a symbol linked us to Europe.

In this video, Vice President Søren Rasmussen, presents the new logo, elaborated by good friends and collaborators in the Czech republic.

The basic view is a yellow moon on top of the blue earth!!

We will shortly update all our web pages to reflect the new logo.

Happy looking.

Palle

CHANGES

I have been forced to downsize facilities I had made available for “Deep Space” experimental work. More than five years ago I set aside facilities which would have made possible long duration, human life support studies in support of an “ultralight” Mars Mission. In preparation, I completed lab prototypes of all the key systems, and initiated ramp up to the required size and capacity. With zero results from fund raising efforts and a lack of the necessary volunteers, only the lab tests reached operation and were run flawlessly for 1200 days (more than a Mars round trip). I just completed “Moth Balling” the prototype and pilot production hardware. When and if there are explorers ready and Willing to go to Mars, they can be resurrected. By “Willing”, I mean persons with the passionate, restless WILL to GO! “Mons Olympus or Bust.” Persons like Amundsen, Scott and Shackleton. Each made several arduous forays into the polar regions, and a great many forays into the public arena in search of funding. They “earned” their opportunity to go by sharing their passion with listeners and inviting these to “go” vicariously by contributing to the necessary funding.

These three, and a short list of others, were perennially associated with polar exploration. I know of no name today similarly associated with either entrepreneurial return to the Moon, or Mars Exploration. “This Road” stands open for those Willing to walk it!

The first of the three I listed returned to tell of his success. The second did not. The third arrived, much delayed, and was unrecognized by a man who knew him! After a heroic journey unsurpassed in history, Shackleton came home, with his entire team alive! Such is the nature of exploration, once described as “finding new ways to die”.

I will soon “blog” a summary of my “Mars Mission” research. But the final summary is “In the context discussed – No obstacle, other than funding, stands in the way of a Human Mars Mission: A mission with costs comparable to an Ocean Racing Sailboat, and risks comparable to other exotic sports.”

I will soon also return to blogging about our progress with ultralight systems to reach the Moon, and win the Google Lunar X PRIZE, as well as streamline space experimentation and access in the process.

Those of you who are willing and able to help support REAL development work towards affordable human spaceflight should focus on “OpenLuna” . This organization has a group of committed leaders, a demonstrated ability to attract funding and partnerships (currently on a small scale), plus associates (myself one) who are qualified to develop the necessary systems.

It is important to understand that a largely volunteer organization STILL NEEDS CASH CONTRIBUTIONS! Everything from supplies to maintenance still costs, and many people consider their time, travel costs and incidentals to be an adequate contribution. Other supporters, with a different mix of cash resources and available time, need to write checks to maximize the volunteer's effectiveness! One well known organization has seen serious decay of their field facilities due to inadequate maintenance. Since continuity, experience and skill are important in maintenance of complex systems, cash payment should be available to keep a good repairman interested when the novelty wears off.

Entrepreneurial programs in Human Spaceflight have succeeded with 1% (1/100) of NASA's budget for comparable efforts. Volunteer work can push the cost down by an additional factor of 20, but if the remaining 0.05% of a “NASA budget projection” does not materialize, the work doesn't get done!

One hundred individuals, each contributing $100 every month, could thus support an effort resembling a $2.4 Million/yr entrepreneurial program (this includes a 100% “matching fund” contribution). These round numbers hide the importance of even smaller contributors. One thousand regular contributors, averaging only $10 per month, would be even more attractive for foundation and corporate donors, who want to see broad support. In five years, a nominal $12 Million project can be completed. History has shown that this could “replace” a $1.2 Billion NASA budgeted effort, but that equivalence would produce “adequate” hardware far different from the NASA target, and with very different constraints.

I won't quibble about the exact ratios or rationale, but the point is YOUR SMALL CONTRIBUTION CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Even for Human Spaceflight, YOU can be a real part of producing the answers that make affordable flights possible! Seize the Dream! (tm) Help make it Happen!

The numbers listed are a good estimate of the time and cost to “prove” the Mars expedition systems, and make serious ($100 Million) funding of a flight possible. Contact, and support, OpenLuna!

(The finance figures reflect my ten years as (volunteer) Vestryman, Senior Warden and Stewardship Chairman in an Episcopal Church.)

Blueprints for the WRV1 gearbox

Few days ago we posted photos of the new gearbox for the wheels of WRV1 lunar rover. Now the blueprints are also uploaded so you can start building your own!


From WRV1: Wheeled Rover Vehicle 1

You can find the complete set og blueprints in our Lunar Wiki.

Anodizing


Anodizing
Anodizing achieves the dual purposes of surface-hardening for wear....and coloring to achieve thermal properties.

From AstroboticBlogPhotos

Moon firework

Moon firework

Gearboxes for the WRV1 Lunar Rover

Jörg has made some progress with manufacturing and assembling the gearboxes for the WRV1 rover. On the photos below you can see the parts and some of the tools used for manufacturing, as well as the assembled gearboxes.


From WRV1: Wheeled Rover Vehicle 1

Omega Envoy Lunar Rover Wheel Concept

The Omega Envoy Project sponsored a University of Central Florida engineering senior design group to design and build a wheel prototype for their lunar rover. This short video shows some design images and testing of the final product.

Batteries survive cryogenic freezing.


Batteries survive cryogenic freezing.
Batteries with non-aqueous electrolytes are shown here to function after recovery from long, cryogenic freezing. This is a change-maker for robotic lunar missions generally, and specifically for pursuing the Google Lunar X PRIZE bonus for surviving a night. A highlight of this video is the moment in an early test when a battery ruptures from sudden shock-thawing. (The rupture is mechanical and preventable. Electrically, even the ruptured batteries still functioned). Rupture is later mitigated by insulation to slow the rate of temperature change. The real highlights are the engaging ideas and the person who is delivering these counter-intuitive developments. Very nice.

Click here to watch in HD

Click here to watch in HD

Artist's impressions of the spiral lunar lander/rover

Artist's impressions of the spiral lunar lander/rover