TO THE MOON, MARS, AND BEYOND

Many folks would like to see us back on the Moon and developing its resources.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Recently in DARPA Category - NASAHackSpace

http://nasahackspace.com/darpa/

Since I have mentioned DARPA in a few posts I thought I would check out some science fiction references that hit on things DARPA was looking into.  Since the list is alphabetical, the first one shown is for "Avatar".
- LRK - 
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DARPA Project List (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency)
DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) was established 1958 in response to the Soviet launch of Sputnik. DARPA reports directly to the Secretary of Defense; however, it operates independently of the rest of military research and development. Its basic principles are:
  • Small and flexible, with a flat organization structure
  • Autonomous organization
  • World-class scientists and engineers work with representatives from industry, universities and government labs
  • Project-based style; technical staff rotated every 3-5 years
  • Program managers are selected to be technically outstanding and entrepreneurial.
Here's a listing of the DARPA-related projects presented on the Technovelgy site:
snip
How much of your tax money would you spend on a program to recreate Avatar, a movie in which a human is "uploaded" to a robot?* Whenever a science-fictional desire exists, DARPA is ready to meet that desire (and if you don't think so, see my DARPA Project List).
The DARPA Avatar program is not quite like the movie: what they want are “interfaces and algorithms to enable a soldier to effectively partner with a semi-autonomous bipedal machine and allow it to act as the soldier’s surrogate.”
snip
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That made me check out some other archive lists.
- LRK -

This link is an archive list of articles that Keith Cowling posted with DARPA interests.
This list is by latest to previous which shows the recent topic about satellite repair and back last year we see the "Avatar" project mentioned.  A lot in between as well.
- LRK -

-----------------------------
Recently in DARPA Category  -  NASAHackSpace

Phoenix Rising: Advances in Satellite Repurposing Program

By Keith Cowing on January 23, 2013 9:56 PM
----

DARPA Has A Program Called "Avatar"

By Keith Cowing on February 18, 2012 2:48 PM

snip
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Let me give you one more list to look at should you be so inclined.
For those in the US, it is your tax money at work.
POSTS TAGGED DARPA at engadget.
- LRK -

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POSTS TAGGED DARPA

January 22, 2013 at 6:15PM
DARPA touts progress on Phoenix program to salvage dead satellites

---
February 19, 2012 at 7:03AM
DARPA's 'Avatar project' aims to give soldiers surrogate robots, makes James Cameron proud

And the WIRED magazine article where the Avatar project appeared.
- LRK -

-----------------------------
Pentagon’s Project ‘Avatar’: Same as the Movie, but With Robots Instead of Aliens
BY KATIE DRUMMOND 02.16.12 4:51 PM

Soldiers practically inhabiting the mechanical bodies of androids, who will take the humans’ place on the battlefield. Or sophisticated tech that spots a powerful laser ray, then stops it from obliterating its target.
If you’ve got Danger Room’s taste in movies, you’ve probably seen both ideas on the big screen. Now Darpa, the Pentagon’s far-out research arm, wants to bring ‘em into the real world.
In the agency’s $2.8 billion budget for 2013, unveiled on Monday, they’ve allotted $7 million for a project titled “Avatar.” The project’s ultimate goal, not surprisingly, sounds a lot like the plot of the same-named (but much more expensive) flick.
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Just for fun I down loaded the DARPA 336 page budget PDF file and so far the "Avatar project" has not appeared in my blurry eyes.  Your viewing may have better luck. In any case a lot things to think about.
- LRK -

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[PDF] 

FY 2013 Budget Estimates - Darpa

www.darpa.mil/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id...Share
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat
UNCLASSIFIED. Department of Defense. Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 President's BudgetSubmission. February 2012. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ...

snip
  • Budgets are available on the Department of Defense (DoD) Comptroller website. DoD also maintains a searchable database for budget information.

  • FY 2013 Budget Estimates (2.62 MB .pdf)

    ---------

    • [Tells you to read and then Click to leave DARPA site. -LRK -]
      You are now leaving the Web Information Service site that is under the control and management of DARPA. The appearance of this hyperlink does not constitute endorsement by DARPA nor the DoD of the destination web site or the information, organizations, products, or services contained therein, nor does DARPA or the DoD exercise any responsibility at the destination. This link is provided consistent with the stated purpose of this web site.
    After reading this message, clickhttp://www.dtic.mil/descriptivesum/... to continue immediately.
-----------------------------

The problem with searchable data bases is you need to know how the data base is set up to ask the right questions. Avatar is not a title the search engine wanted on the input form. :-( 
However ...
- LRK -

-----------------------------
[PDF] TACTICAL TECHNOLOGY
... PE 0602702E: TACTICAL TECHNOLOGY UNCLASSIFIED ... R-1 ITEM
NOMENCLATURE PE 0602702E: TACTICAL TECHNOLOGY ...
Service/Agency: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
Budget Activity: 2 - Applied Research
Program Element Number: 0602702E
www.dtic.mil/descriptivesum/Y2013/DARPA/0602702E_2_PB_2013.pdf - 39k - Text Version

on page 9 of 30 pages, and down the page a bit. - LRK -

snip
Title: Avatar
Description: Key advancements in telepresence and remote operation of ground systems are being made towards the ultimate goal of developing remotely operated robotic systems that can operate in dismounted environments. In order to demonstrate the utility of bi-pedal machines on real missions and accelerate their development, the synergistic partnership between machine and operator must be leveraged. The Avatar program will develop interfaces and algorithms to enable a soldier to effectively partner with a semi-autonomous bi-pedal machine and allow it to act as the soldier's surrogate. Once developed, Avatar will allow soldiers to remain out of harm's way while still leveraging their experience and strengths to complete important missions such as sentry/perimeter control, room clearing, combat casualty recovery, and, eventually, dismounted combat maneuver. Anticipated service users include the Army, Marines and Special Forces.

FY 2013 Plans:
- Investigate power, locomotion, perception and control of surrogate bipedal machine platforms.
- Begin initial development of algorithms to allow the function of a bidirectional master controller between a human user and a remote bipedal machine.
- Initiate investigations into tethered and untethered power options to allow operation over relevant mission envelopes.

FY 2013: 7.000 ($ in Millions)

snip
----------------------------- 

Well that was an interesting exercise and the WIRED magazine article was correct.  Just nice to be able to get back to the source and nice to know you can find these on the Internet.  We have come a long way since the early Bulletin Boards and CompuServe. 
After the last post about Drones I did a Google search for Vijay Kumar and found this TED talk where talks about agile robots, in this case small quadrotors.

The PBS NOVA special on drones only had a few clips, while at the TED talk he shows several videos.

I had a little trouble with my WiFi not keeping up with the presentation and they suggest down loading the mp4 files, which I ended up doing.

Standard-res: 54.8 MB   VijayKumar_2012.mp4    Frame height 288, Frame width 512 Length 00:16:46

High-res: 111 MB    VijayKumar_2012_480p.mp4 Frame height 480, Frame width 854 Length 00:16:46

Watching 20 small quadrotors fly in formation and adjust their formation to fly through a window frame, two side by side, without touching each other was pretty good. Having a quadrotor fly through a tossed hoop wasn't bad either.

snip
==============================================================
AviationWeek blog
Are Small, Networked Satellite Clusters the Future?
Posted by Paul McLeary 4:32 PM on Jul 13, 2011
If the scientists at DARPA—the Pentagon’s Big Think research arm—get their way, in a few years’ time there may be networked clusters of dozens or even hundreds of small, cheap, disposable satellites working together to take the place of the large, expensive, and not easily replaced chunks of hardware currently floating around in orbit.
DARPA has spent tens of millions of dollars working on something called “System F6” (Future, Fast, Flexible, Fractionated, Free-Flying Spacecraft) for several years now, with the goal of having an ad hoc wireless network tie groups of sat clusters together so that they can autonomously share tasks like processing, data storage, sensing, communications relay and navigation, while trading off missions between them if any one sat fails, or falls out of orbit. (AvWeek’s Graham Warwick has a great piece on the program here.) While DARPA has said that it wants to conduct an on-orbit demonstration in 2014-2015, Raytheon announced on Tuesday that its BBN Technologies segment had been awarded a $2.4 million to design the network the sats will use.

snip
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PE 0603287E: SPACE PROGRAMS AND TECHNOLOGY  (page 2 of 11)
snip
Title: System F6

Description: The objective of the System F6 program is to demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of a satellite architecture wherein the functionality of a traditional "monolithic" spacecraft is replaced by a cluster of wirelessly-interconnected spacecraft modules. Each such "fractionated" module would contribute a unique capability, for example, computation and data handling, communications relay, guidance and navigation, payload sensing, or it can replicate the capability of another module. The fractionated modules would fly in a loose, proximate cluster orbit capable of semi-autonomous reconfiguration or a rapid defensivescatter/re-gather maneuver. Critical to this architecture is a robust, system-level approach to ensuring security, integrity, and availability, while implementing authentication and non-repudiation. While delivering a comparable mission capability to a monolithic spacecraft, System F6 significantly enhances architectural and programmatic adaptability and robustness-reducing risk through the mission life and spacecraft development cycle, enabling incremental deployment of the system, and enhancing survivability. The System F6 architecture provides valuable options to decision makers throughout the life cycle development of future space systems that are absent in present-day monolithic architectures.

snip
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Multi-Robot Cooperation in Space: A Survey (8 pages)

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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -

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Thursday, January 24, 2013

Rise of the Drones





Nova: Rise of the Drones A quadrotor U.A.V., or unmanned aerial vehicle, in this program Wednesday night on PBS stations (check local listings)

Watched on PBS NOVA "Rise of the Drones" and didn't realize just how much the new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) were being used.  It just seemed like yesterday that I interview for a job with Lockheed/Martin to build a drone. 

OH,OH that was back in 1983 just after I retired from the Navy with 26 years service.  Started another 20 years supporting the Pioneer Missions at NASA Ames Research Center instead.  :-)
- LRK -

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Rise of the Drones

Meet a new breed of flying robots, from tiny swarming vehicles to giant unmanned planes. 
Aired January 23, 2013 on PBS

Program Description

Drones. These unmanned flying robots–some as large as jumbo jets, others as small as birds–do things straight out of science fiction. Much of what it takes to get these robotic airplanes to fly, sense, and kill has remained secret. But now, with rare access to drone engineers and those who fly them for the U.S. military, NOVA reveals the amazing technologies that make drones so powerful as we see how a remotely-piloted drone strike looks and feels from inside the command center. From cameras that can capture every detail of an entire city at a glance to swarming robots that can make decisions on their own to giant air frames that can stay aloft for days on end, drones are changing our relationship to war, surveillance, and each other. And it's just the beginning. Discover the cutting edge technologies that are propelling us toward a new chapter in aviation history as NOVA gets ready for "Rise of the Drones."

[WATCH THE PROGRAM - link on webpage. 52:52 min - LRK -]
snip
This works for me as well - http://video.pbs.org/video/2326108547 
- LRK -
----------------------------

You may want to read this New York Times article about the NOV "Rise of the Drones" that aired 1/23/2013.
- LRK -

----------------------------
By 
Published: January 22, 2013

Welcoming President Obama to his second term, PBS has scheduled “Rise of the Drones,” an examination of one of the more controversial items on his agenda, as Wednesday night’s installment of “Nova.”

Though the program’s focus is technology rather than politics or military ethics, and it has the peppy, isn’t-science-great tone typical of “Nova,” it doesn’t ignore the debate surrounding America’s extensive use of remotely piloted aircraft to launch covert missile attacks on targets in Pakistan and other countries. Experts in military design and tactics point out that no one really knows how many civilians are being killed by the strikes and that the bloodless nature of the drone allows the United States to carry out a major air war without calling it a war.

But rather than dwelling on such questions, “Rise of the Drones” quickly moves on to its next gee-whiz moment. If the problem is that the drones’ pilots can make mistakes because they have too narrow a field of view, check out the new Argus camera: 1.8 billion pixels, able to show an entire small city while simultaneously zooming in on up to 65 individual spots and picking out objects as small as six inches long.

snip

Nova
Rise of the Drones
On PBS stations on Wednesday night (check local listings).

Produced by Pangloss Films LLC for Nova/WGBH. Written, directed and produced by Peter Yost; Paula S. Apsell, senior executive producer for Nova.
----------------------------

And will the use of drones increase?
See the Miami Herald - 1/24/13 article for some recent UN action..
- LRK -

----------------------------
UN plans to use spy drones over eastern Congo
y

BY PETER JAMES SPIELMANN

ASSOCIATED PRESS

UNITED NATIONS -- The Security Council has approved the use of surveillance drones over eastern Congo to monitor roving militias so it can more effectively deploy U.N. peacekeepers.

A letter released Thursday from the president of the Security Council to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that the council members note the robot spy planes will be used "on a case-by-case basis" and will not set a precedent for the U.N.'s general consideration of "legal, financial and technical implications of the use of unmanned aerial systems."

The letter from Pakistan U.N. Ambassador Masood Khan, who holds the rotating Security Council presidency, was released as a U.N. expert launched a special investigation into drone warfare and targeted killings, which the United States relies on as a front-line weapon in its global war against al-Qaida.
snip
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And in science fiction.
- LRK -

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Eyes 
 Flying remote-operated surveillance drones.

Eyes were used to monitor the movements of dangerous animals, prevent or respond to crime and assist in providing disaster aid.

...When six or seven of my hundred-thirty eyes flickered, then saw again, and the music was suddenly washed away by a wave of static, it was then that I began to feel uneasy. 
I called Weather Central for a report, and the recorded girlvoice told me that seasonal rains were expected in the afternoon or early evening. I hung up and switched an eye from ventral to dorsal-vision...
I sent my eyes on their rounds and tended my gallery of one hundred-thirty changing pictures, on the big wall of the Trouble Center, there atop the Watch Tower of Town Hall...
My eyes, coasting weightless along magnetic lines, began to blink. 
I knew then that we were in for something. 
I sent an eye scurrying off toward Saint Stephen's at full speed, which meant a wait of about twenty minutes until it topped the range. Another, I sent straight up, skywards, which meant perhaps ten minutes for a long shot of the same scene. Then I put the auto-scan in full charge of operations and went downstairs for a cup of coffee.

The eyes also had guns mounted on them that could be fired remotely.

Here's another explanatory excerpt:
And he's a Hell Cop. Probably the worst possible job for him, having to keep up his attention in one place for so long. They say the job title comes from the name of an antique flying vehicle--a hellcopper, I think. We send our eyes on their appointed rounds, and they can hover or soar or back up, just like those old machines could. We patrol the city and the adjacent countryside. Law enforcement isn't much of a problem on Cyg. We never peek in windows or send an eye into a building without an invitation. Our testimony is admissible in court--or, if we're fast enough to press a couple buttons, the tape that we make does an even better job--and we can dispatch live or robot cops in a hurry, depending on which will do a better job.
Published by Not Known in 1966
Additional resources 

snip
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Hmmm, and to think I said send in the robots.  How are your X-Box skills. Will your AI programs have morals?
- LRK -
Wake, also called WWW: Wake, is a 2009 novel written by Canadian novelist Robert J. Sawyer. It is the first installment in the WWW Trilogy and was followed by two sequels, Watch (2010) and Wonder (2011). An audio book was released on 7 April 2009.
Wake details the spontaneous emergence of an intelligence on the World Wide Web, called Webmind. It gains sentience through the efforts of Caitlin Decter, a 15-year-old blind girl who gains sight through a new treatment that allows her optic nerve to correctly decode the visual signals from her retinas. Caitlin struggles to understand and communicate with the emerging technological intelligence, as she is its only contact to the real world. Subplots involve a deadly disease outbreak in China and its cover-up, and achimpanzee–bonobo hybrid, Hobo, whose perception of the world is altered after a web call with an orangutan.
Sawyer developed the initial idea for Wake in January 2003 when he wrote in his diary about the emergence of consciousness on the World Wide Web. The novel was named a 2010 Hugo Award nominee in the category for Best Novel.
snip
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engadget - POSTS TAGGED UAV

[About 75 listed on the page - LRK -]
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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -

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Phoenix rising: DARPA’s plan to repair communication satellites in orbit

http://www.darpa.mil/NewsEvents/Releases/2013/01/22a.aspx

Suggest check out the various links and short video clips presented, all of which can be found at the DARPA sites.

The plan is to repair dead satellites by snipping, clipping, and replacing --- but remember this a DARPA funded program. Not necessarily bad.  We have DARPA's help with  Information Processing Techniques Office which has helped make the Internet what it is.  But, hmmm ... watch the videos and let your mind create your own science fiction alternate history.
- LRK -

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http://www.kurzweilai.net/phoenix-rising-darpas-plan-to-repair-communication-satellites-in-orbit

Phoenix rising: DARPA’s plan to repair communication satellites in orbit

January 23, 2013
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Satellite servicing robot replaces defective electronics in nonworking communication satellite (credit: DARPA)
----------------------
DARPA’s planned Phoenix program is intended to develop and demonstrate technologies to cooperatively harvest and re-use valuable components from retired, nonworking satellites in geosynchronous orbit (GEO) at greatly reduced cost.
Today, when a communication satellite fails, it usually means the expensive prospect of having to launch a brand new replacement communication satellite. Many of the satellites that are obsolete or have failed still have usable antennas, solar arrays, and other components that are expected to last much longer than the life of the satellite, but currently there is no way to re-use them.
The Phoenix program envisions developing a new class of very small “satlets,” similar to nano satellites, which could be sent to the GEO region economically as a “ride along” on a commercial satellite launch, housed in a payload orbital delivery system (PODS).
A separate “tender” (satellite servicing robot) is also expected to be built and launched into GEO. Once the tender arrives on orbit, the PODS would be released from its commercial satellite host to become part of the tender’s “tool belt.”
The tender would be sent to a nonworking satellite to salvage the usable parts, replacing the defective electronics with the satlet and creating a functioning communication satellite.
snip
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As noted at SpaceRef
- LRK -

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Phoenix Rising: New Video Shows Advances in Satellite Repurposing Program


Inserting new capabilities into a satellite is no simple task. Doing so as that satellite hurdles through space 22,000 miles above the Earth is a bit more challenging still. DARPA's Phoenix program, which hopes to repurpose retired satellites while they remain in orbit, seeks to fundamentally change how space systems could be designed here on earth and then sustained once in space.

This video illustrates some of the program's technical progress since it began in July 2012. As performers demonstrate the progress of their work in the lab, an artist's simulation of a fully-realized Phoenix demonstration scenario runs in the background to help illustrate how the technology would be applied. Demonstrations include flight-capable robotic arm manipulation with simulated space contact dynamics, tool development for the robotic arm with unique gripping and adhesion capabilities, autonomous robotic control software and hyperdexterous conformable robot modules in operation, among others.

snip
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So PHOENIX RISING at DARPA
- LRK -

---------------------------- 
Hmmm, PHOENIX RISING, DARPA to send repair satellites to dead satellites.

Communication satellites in geosynchronous orbit (GEO), approximately 22,000 miles above the earth, provide vital communication capabilities to warfighters. Today, when a communication satellite fails, it usually means the expensive prospect of having to launch a brand new replacement communication satellite. Many of the satellites which are obsolete or have failed still have usable antennas, solar arrays and other components which are expected to last much longer than the life of the satellite, but currently there is no way to re-use them.

The goal of the Phoenix program is to develop and demonstrate technologies to cooperatively harvest and re-use valuable components from retired, nonworking satellites in GEO and demonstrate the ability to create new space systems at greatly reduced cost.  Phoenix seeks to demonstrate around-the-clock, globally persistent communication capability for warfighters more economically, by robotically removing and re-using GEO-based space apertures and antennas from de-commissioned satellites in the graveyard or disposal orbit.
snip 
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DARPA Phoenix Satellite Servicing

Published on Jun 27, 2012
This video depicts DARPA's Phoenix program. Learn more at http://go.usa.gov/whV (8 min.)


Check out this artist's depiction of how a retired satellite's still usable antenna might one day be salvaged and turned into a new space asset as part of DARPA's Phoenix program. The goal of Phoenix is to develop and demonstrate technologies to cooperatively harvest and re-use valuable components from retired, nonworking satellites in GEO to create new space systems at greatly reduced cost. By robotically removing and re-using GEO-based space apertures and antennas from de-commissioned satellites in the graveyard or disposal orbit, space "junk" could become space "asset."
----------

The traditional process of designing, developing, building and deploying space technologies is long and expensive. Through Phoenix DARPA seeks to hasten the insertion of emerging technologies into space system development at much lower cost. 
Critical to the success of the Phoenix program is active participation from the international and non-traditional space communities involved in vital technical areas such as: 
  • Radiation tolerant micro-electronics and memory storage 
  • Distributed “wireless” mobile platform solutions for ad-hoc connectivity and control Industrial electronic control systems 
  • Terrestrial micro-miniature guidance and control measurement units 
  • Industrial robotics end effectors and tool changeout mechanisms and techniques 
  • Computer-assisted medical robotics micro-surgical tele-presence, tools and imaging  
  • Remote underwater imaging/vision technologies used in the offshore oil and gas drilling industry 
  • Terrestrial manufacturing of high volume micro-electronics and computer data storage 
  • Terrestrial thermal management design technology of electronic devices and systems 
  • Low-cost industrial manufacturing of high volume sheet metal and other structural materials 
  • Additive manufacturing on various structural materials  
The first keystone mission of the Phoenix program in 2015 plans to demonstrate harvesting an existing, cooperative, retired satellite aperture, by physically separating it from the host non-working satellite using on-orbit grappling tools controlled remotely from earth. The aperture will then be reconfigured into a ‘new’ free-flying space system and operated independently to demonstrate the concept of space “re-use.”
snip
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Surgically clean, minimal debris at GSO. (geosynchronous orbit)
:-)
- LRK -
INNOVATORS SOUGHT FOR DARPA SATELLITE SERVICING TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
October 20, 2011
Phoenix seeks to repurpose ‘retired’ satellite components through GEO servicing 
More than $300 billion worth of satellites are estimated to be in the geosynchronous orbit (GEO—22,000 miles above the earth). Many of these satellites have been retired due to normal end of useful life, obsolescence or failure; yet many still have valuable components, such as antennas, that could last much longer than the life of the satellite. When satellites in GEO “retire,” they are put into a GEO disposal or “graveyard” orbit. That graveyard potentially holds tens to more than a hundred retired satellites that have components that could be repurposed – with the willing knowledge and sanction of the satellite’s owner.  Today, DoD deploys new, replacement satellites at high cost—one of the primary drivers of the high cost is the launch costs, which is dependent on the weight and volume of antennas.  The repurposing of existing, retired antennas from the graveyard represents a potential for significant cost savings.
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DARPA MAKES ROOM ON INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FOR PROGRAMMERS
March 06, 2012

Students, professionals, public sought to create algorithm enabling capture of objects in space

The absence of gravity presents a significant challenge for precision robotic maneuvering and operations in space. Overcoming some of that challenge may be possible through the development of computer algorithms to simultaneously compensate for this limitation while directing precision operations.

Such algorithms could benefit a variety of space activities, including DARPA’s Phoenix program. A primary goal of Phoenix is to develop and demonstrate technologies to cooperatively harvest and re-use valuable components from retired, nonworking satellites in geosynchronous orbit.

DARPA’s InSPIRE program (International Space Station SPHERES Integrated Research Experiments), is sponsoring the Zero Robotics Autonomous Space Capture Challenge to develop such algorithms. The challenge, which kicks off Mar. 28, asks individuals and teams of programmers from around the world to develop a fuel-optimal control algorithm. The algorithm must enable a satellite to accomplish a feat that’s very difficult to do autonomously: capture a space object that’s tumbling, spinning or moving in the opposite direction.

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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -

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Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Is Planetary Resources An Asteroid Mining Company?

http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=3614

The above/below link was posted 4/19/2012 just before the Planetary Resources 4/24/2012 Press Conference.

I was at this website following up on a question from Tice as to what might be the first mention of asteroid mining in Science Fiction.  There is a YouTube interview with Peter_Diamandis where he doesn't tell all, hence the speculation.
- LRK -

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Is Planetary Resources An Asteroid Mining Company?
Planetary Resources is a new company that is expected to make a splash next week. The firm is backed by an all-star list of future-thinking entrepreneurs including James Cameron, Larry Page, Eric Schmidt, Peter Diamondis, Eric Anderson and Charles Simonyi.


(Planetary Resources: Cameron, Page, Schmidt et al)

The purpose of the new venture is not entirely clear, but the press release fascinates space enthusiasts:
...the company will overlay two critical sectors – space exploration and natural resources – to add trillions of dollars to the global GDP. This innovative start-up will create a new industry and a new definition of ‘natural resources’.
In addition, take a look at this recent video in which Peter Diamondis talks about his dream job:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nwxizEMuSB8
Science fiction fans have long been exposed to the implications of asteroid mining; you may recall the asteroid mining robot from Isaac Asimov's 1944 short story Catch That Rabbit and the asteroid mine from Emmett McDowell's 1946 short story Love Among the Robots.
The earliest specific mention I can think of is from Edison's Conquest of Mars, a 1898 story by Garrett P. Serviss:

I shall never forget the sight, nor the exclamations of wonder that broke forth from all of us standing around, when the yellow gleam of the precious metal appeared under the "star dust." Collected in huge masses it reflected the light of the sun from its hiding place.Evidently the planet was not a solid ball of gold, formed like a bullet run in a mould, but was composed of nuggets of various sizes, which had come together here under the influence of their mutual gravitation, and formed a little metallic planet.
Judging by the test of weight which we had already tried, and which had led to the discovery of the gold, the composition of the asteroid must be the same to its very centre.
(Read more about asteroid mining)
We'll know for sure after their press conference next Tuesday at the Charles Simonyi Space Gallery at The Museum of Flight in Seattle.
Via MIT's Technology Review.
snip
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I had found the original link to http://www.technovelgy.com while looking at the Wiki site for Asteroid mining. 
(ref #38 link followed)
- LRK -

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Asteroid mining refers to the possibility of exploiting raw materials from asteroids and other minor planets, including near-Earth objects.[1] Minerals and volatiles could be mined from an asteroid or spent comet then taken back to Earth or used in space for space-construction materials. Materials that could be mined or extracted include iron, nickel, titanium for construction, water and oxygen to sustain the lives of prospector-astronauts on site, as well as hydrogen and oxygen for use as rocket fuel. In space exploration, using resources gathered whilst on a journey is referred to as in-situ resource utilization.

In fiction

The first mention of asteroid mining in science fiction is apparently Garrett P. Serviss' story Edison's Conquest of Mars, New York Evening Journal, 1898.[38][39]. C. J. Cherryh's novel,Heavy Time focuses on the plight of asteroid miners in the Alliance-Union universe.
snip
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http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/content.asp?Bnum=1930

http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/ctnlistPubDate.asp
Timeline of Science Fiction Ideas, Technology and Inventions
(sorted by Publication Date)

snip
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As mentioned, more about the story, "Edison's Conquest of Mars."
- LRK -

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Edison's Conquest of Mars by Garrett P. Serviss:
Science Fiction Inventions, Technology and Ideas

Select an invention:

Aerial Telegraph 
Air-Tight Suit - air-tight dress 
Asteroid Mining 
Disintegrator 
Electrical 'Tether' 

snip
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If you have the time do read some comments from Ben Bova about about a new discovery or invention that starts with the words, "It may seem like science fiction ..."
- LRK -

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Ben Bova: Mining asteroids? Old news to science-fiction writers

snip [I wonder how they expect you to find their link? - LRK -]
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And if you haven't already watched the press conference, or been to the Planetary Resources website.
- LRK -

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There are near-limitless numbers of asteroids and more being discovered every year. More than 1,500 are as easy to reach as the Moon and are in similar orbits as Earth. Asteroids are filled with precious resources, everything from water to platinum. Harnessing valuable minerals from a practically infinite source will provide stability on Earth, increase humanity’s prosperity, and help establish and maintain human presence in space.
Published on Apr 26, 2012
Doug King, President & CEO of the Museum of Flight, opens the launch press event for Planetary Resources, Inc. on April, 24, 2012 at the Museum of Flight's Charles Simonyi Space Gallery. Visit www.PlanetaryResources.com for more information.

snip
Published on Apr 24, 2012
This is the full webcast from the Planetary Resources event that was hosted April 24th 2012 (56:30 min)
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Is the mood right to have commercial enterprises go to an asteroid?
Please, send in the robots first.
Hmmm, PHOENIX RISING, DARPA to send repair satellites to dead satellites.

- LRK -
Planetary Resources Aims to Mine Asteroids for Water, Platinum

April 24, 2012 04:24pm EST

Planetary Resources, the asteroid mining venture backed by director James Cameron and other well-know investors, was officially announced on Tuesday. The company plans to launch exploratory spacecraft within two years and could be extracting valuable materials from near-Earth asteroids a few years after that, according to its founders.

"This company is not about paper studies," said Eric Anderson, who co-founded Planetary Resources with fellow commercial spaceflight advocate Peter Diamandis. "It's not about thinking and dreaming about asteroid mining. There's plenty of talking. This is about doing. We'll create robots that go into deep space and mine asteroids. We're not going to talk about it, we're just going to do it."

snip
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SpaceVision 2012: Chris Lewicki


Published on Nov 14, 2012
Planetary Resources has the goal expanding Earth's natural resource base, creating a new industry and prospecting. Backed by a significant amount of support, the company is getting started and could in several years begin plotting our resource expansion of the solar system. Join us as we hear from SEDS-Alum Chris Lewiki, President of Planetary Resources, about the future of space exploration and development and plans for the company's future.

snip
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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -

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