Planetary Resources - The Asteroid Mining Company

Planetary Resources Needs YOUR Help to Hunt for Alien Planets

Planetary Resources — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:07:33 +0000

Asteroid mining company announces new crowdfunding goal to enhance the ARKYD telescope with capability to search for alien planets around distant stars

Bellevue, Washington – June 11, 2013 – Alien planets are out there and Planetary Resources needs your help to find them! That’s right, the same high-powered telescope technology being used by Planetary Resources to identify near-Earth asteroids can also be used to hunt for what scientists call extrasolar planets or “exoplanets” – which are very much alien worlds. For the first-time ever, this capability will be placed directly into the hands of students, researchers and citizen scientists.

Planetary Resources recently launched a campaign on Kickstarter for the ARKYD – the world’s first crowdfunded space telescope accessible to the public. In only 13 days, the company has already reached well over 85 percent of its original US$1 million goal. Today, the company is announcing that if the total amount pledged exceeds US$2 million in the 19 days remaining in the campaign, it will invest the additional funds to enhance the ARKYD space telescope technology to enable it to search for alien planets!

Visit Planetary Resources’ Kickstarter Page to Pledge Your Support: http://bit.ly/ARKYD-100

These upgrades would add exoplanet transit detection capability by enhancing the telescope’s stability systems and dedicating time to monitor candidate star systems. A special bonus is that this upgrade would also allow for better measurement of the spin-properties of asteroids, using the same technique. “While the ARKYD won’t rival NASA’s US$600 million Kepler spacecraft, which may have to end its mission due to a recent equipment failure, the enhanced ARKYD will be a huge step toward important new scientific discoveries enabled by citizen scientists,” said Chris Lewicki, President and Chief Engineer, Planetary Resources, Inc.

The company is partnered with one of the world’s leading exoplanet scientists, Sara Seager, Ph.D. of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Dr. Seager, Professor of Physics and Planetary Science at MIT stated, “We’re excited about this game-changing approach that could transform how we do science in the future. It’s not just about advanced technology in a small satellite, but a crowdfunded approach to space science that could be revolutionary. The enhanced version of the ARKYD telescope will be an important source of data for exoplanets that can only be obtained from space, above the blurring effects of Earth’s turbulent atmosphere.”

Peter H. Diamandis, M.D., Planetary Resources Co-Founder and Co-Chairman said, “We’re confident this campaign will exceed the original goal of US$1 million dollars. We’re now focusing on enhancing the capabilities of the telescope and creating meaningful and epic crowd involvement.” He continued, “We’re a hardware and inspiration company, and we’re thrilled to provide a new generation of space pioneers with the ability to take a hands-on approach to exploration.”

To date, more than 9,400 people from around the globe have pledged their support for the ARKYD. Over 8,000 have requested their very own #SpaceSelfie, another 900 people have donated time on the ARKYD to education and many others are looking to gain access to the telescope to explore the cosmos on their own!

Planetary Resources, Inc. was founded in 2009 by Eric Anderson and Dr. Peter H. Diamandis. Our vision is to establish a new paradigm for resource utilization that will bring the Solar System within humanity’s economic sphere of influence. The company will conduct low-cost robotic space exploration beginning with the Arkyd Series of space missions that will identify the most commercially viable near-Earth asteroids. These initial missions will assist the company in enabling the retrieval of raw materials from these select asteroids, including water, precious metals and more.

Planetary Resources is financed by industry-launching visionaries, three of whom include Google’s CEO Larry Page & Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt; and Ross Perot, Jr., Chairman of Hillwood and The Perot Group; who are committed to expanding the world’s resource base so humanity can continue to grow and prosper for centuries to come. Some of the company’s partners and advisors include the Bechtel Corporation; film maker and explorer James Cameron; former Chief of Staff, United States Air Force General T. Michael Moseley (Ret.); and Sara Seager, Ph.D., Professor of Planetary Science and Physics at MIT. Members of the company’s technical staff have worked on every recent U.S. Mars lander including Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity, and include other key non-aerospace and safety-critical disciplines. For more information, please visit www.planetaryresources.com.

Planetary Resources Names Peter Marquez as Vice President for Global Engagement

Chris Lewicki — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:34:27 +0000

Marquez is former White House Director of Space Policy for Presidents Bush and Obama

Bellevue, Wash. – June 10, 2013 – Planetary Resources, Inc., the asteroid mining company, announced today the hiring of Peter Marquez to lead the company’s global engagement. Marquez will engage with key U.S. government entities on matters of strategic domestic and global interest to assist Planetary Resources in achieving its long-term mission. The company’s objective is to mine near-Earth asteroids using innovative and cost-effective robotic exploration technologies to access raw materials ranging from elements used in rocket fuel to precious metals.

Marquez comes to Planetary Resources with more than a decade of experience in the national and international space policy community. Marquez’ most recent government position was as the Director of Space Policy for Presidents Bush and Obama where he oversaw the U.S. space program. In this position, he authored the U.S. National Space of Policy in 2010. Marquez also comes to Planetary Resources with experience working on national security and foreign policy issues.

Watch Chris Lewicki and Peter Marquez introductory discussion in the video below:

“Peter brings a wealth of knowledge that will make Planetary Resources successful as we begin working closer with the U.S. government and foreign partners,” said Eric Anderson, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman, Planetary Resources, Inc. “Peter is a known leader and innovator in the space policy community and we’re happy to have him as part of the team.”

Chris Lewicki, President and Chief Engineer, Planetary Resources, Inc. said, “Peter brings significant experience and a unique perspective to our team. I am excited to work with him on our common goal of expanding humanity’s resource base beyond Earth.”

Peter Marquez stated, “Planetary Resources is on a mission to change the world. I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with such a great team. I am looking forward to working with many of my colleagues in the U.S. government and abroad in an effort to fully utilize all the benefits that Planetary Resources’ vision has to offer.”

About Planetary Resources, Inc.: Planetary Resources, Inc. was founded in 2009 by Eric Anderson and Dr. Peter H. Diamandis. Our vision is to establish a new paradigm for resource utilization that will bring the Solar System within humanity’s economic sphere of influence. The company will conduct low-cost robotic space exploration beginning with the Arkyd Series of space missions that will identify the most commercially viable near-Earth asteroids. These initial missions will assist the company in enabling the retrieval of raw materials from these select asteroids, including water, precious metals and more.

About Peter Marquez: Marquez has held senior positions with government and commercial organizations involved in U.S. space policy and national security. Prior to joining Planetary Resources, he served as Vice President for Strategy at a commercial aerospace firm. From 2007-2010, Marquez served as the White House Director of Space Policy for Presidents Bush and Obama. He transitioned to the White House from the Department of Defense, where he entered government service in 2002. While at the Pentagon, Marquez worked in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, first as a Space Policy Analyst, in which he oversaw the classified space programs, and then as Director of Special Programs, where he oversaw all operational Defense Department Special Access Programs. Prior to those positions, Marquez served in space operations and acquisitions offices for the U.S. Air Force.

Earning Your Support

Planetary Resources — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 20:07:10 +0000

The last few days have been incredible, with nearly 9,000 people pledging over $813,000 to fund the construction and launch of the ARKYD space telescope.

If you have pledged your support to this project, we want to thank you on behalf of the students, researchers, and space enthusiasts around the world for helping make this possible.

If you haven’t pledged yet, we’d love to understand why.

We want to know what would make this project something that you would be proud to support.

Is there a reward you would like to see? Or perhaps something uncertain that we could clarify for you?

Please let us know what would get you “off the fence” and clicking the big green “Back This Project” button on the ARKYD campaign page.

Leave us a comment below and share your opinion on what would make this project better.

—Chris

Updates, Celebrities and Cool Prizes for You

Chris Lewicki — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 00:08:08 +0000

The show of support for our ARKYD Kickstarter has been nothing short of incredible! We’re 74% funded just 7 days into our campaign.

One great show of support came from Brent Spiner (who played one of our favorite androids of all time, Lieutenant Commander Data in Star Trek: TNG)

Brent pledged $5,000 to become an Education Ambassador for his son’s school. This gives them observation time at the controls of the telescope, space selfies, a scale model, and a complete spaceflight curriculum to teach science and engineering with a hands-on approach.

In his own words, Brent shares why he feels the ARKYD is worth supporting:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1458134548/arkyd-a-space-telescope-for-everyone-0/posts/498339

ARKYD is changing the way we interact with space.

We want to know what space means to YOU! If you can share it in a great photo or video, it could mean a Zero-G Flight ticket, dinner with our founders and other great prizes!

You can get the full details of the contest on our Facebook page. Just hit the Like button to get all the information you need.

So get your cameras out and post your entry on the Planetary Resources Facebook page.

- Chris

Extending Humanity’s Optic Nerve

Planetary Resources — Fri, 31 May 2013 20:37:01 +0000

After launching just two days ago, our Kickstarter for the world’s first crowd funded and crowd controlled space telescope is already halfway funded!

We’re at $560,000 and counting, thanks to the 5,607 generous backers who have stood up to support space exploration and science education.

One of our most enthusiastic supporters Jason Silva has produced an inspiring video that really speaks to why this mission is so important to us.

Check it out

Help us put this technology in everyone’s hands by sharing this great video and supporting our Kickstarter project.

We want to know what space means to you. Do you have an idea for an inspiring video or funny photo? It could earn you an exclusive spot on the guest list for the ARKYD launch party and other great prizes.

We’re getting ready to hold a contest on Facebook looking for original, inspiring, and funny responses to the question “What does space mean to you?”

The only limit is your imagination and the June 14 deadline to submit your entry. We’ll be sending out full details in the next few days.

We can’t wait to see what you create! Winners will be announced on June 26.

Planetary Resources Announces World’s First Crowdfunded Space Telescope Campaign

Planetary Resources — Wed, 29 May 2013 18:43:00 +0000

Providing access to an advanced space telescope for students, scientists and a new generation of citizen explorers.

“Bringing space within reach”

Bellevue, Washington – May 29, 2013 – Planetary Resources, Inc., the asteroid mining company, has launched a campaign for the world’s first crowdfunded space telescope to provide unprecedented public access to space and place the most advanced exploration technology into the hands of students, scientists and a new generation of citizen explorers.

Planetary Resources’ technical team, who worked on every recent U.S. Mars lander and rover, will provide direct access to an ARKYD space telescope making space widely available for inspiration, exploration and research. “I’ve operated rovers and landers on Mars, and now I can share that incredible experience with everyone. People of any age and background will be able to point the telescope outward to investigate our Solar System, deep space, or join us in our study of near-Earth asteroids,” said Chris Lewicki, President and Chief Engineer, Planetary Resources, Inc.

Using Kickstarter, a platform for supporting innovative projects, Planetary Resources has set a campaign goal of US$1 million. The company will use the proceeds to launch the telescope, fund the creation of the public interface, cover the fulfillment costs for all of the products and services listed in the pledge levels, and fund the immersive educational curriculum for students everywhere. Any proceeds raised beyond the goal will allow for more access to classrooms, museums and science centers, and additional use by individual Kickstarter backers.

Visit Planetary Resources’ Kickstarter Page to Pledge Your Support: http://bit.ly/ARKYD-100

Peter H. Diamandis, M.D., Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of Planetary Resources, Inc. said, “When we launched Planetary Resources last year, we had an extraordinary response from the general public. Tens of thousands of people contacted us and wanted to be involved. We are using this Kickstarter campaign as a mechanism to engage the community in a productive way.” Diamandis added, “In the last 50 years, space exploration has been led by national governmental agencies with their own set of priorities; and now we’re changing the nature of exploration. We’re developing the most advanced space technology ever made available to the public. Let’s explore the cosmos together!”

Eric Anderson, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of Planetary Resources, Inc. said, “Since the public announcement of Planetary Resources last April, the company has doubled in size, brought on key strategic partners, was awarded numerous contracts and is on track for its primary mission of identifying and prospecting asteroids within this decade.”

Pledge Level Highlights:

Your Face in Space – the #SpaceSelfie: For US$25, the team will upload an image of the campaign backer’s choice to display on the ARKYD, snap a photo of it with the Earth in the background, and transmit it to the backer. This space ‘photo booth’ allows anyone to take (or gift) a unique Space Selfie image that connects a personal moment with the cosmos in an unprecedented, yet tangible way.
Explore the Cosmos: Higher pledge levels provide students, astronomers and researchers with access to the ARKYD main optic for detailed observations of the cosmos, galaxies, asteroids and our Solar System.
Support Education Worldwide: At the highest levels, pledgers can offer the K-12 school, science center, university, or any interested group of their choice access to the ARKYD for use in interactive educational programming to strengthen STEM education worldwide. The full pledge list and ARKYD technical specifications can be found here.

Sara Seager, Ph.D., Professor of Physics and Planetary Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said, “The ARKYD crowdfunding campaign is extraordinary. Not only does the telescope have the technical capability to increase our understanding of space, but it can be placed in orbit for an incredibly low cost. That is an economic breakthrough that will accelerate space-based research now and in the future.”

Planetary Resources is joined in this adventure by a large group of campaign supporters including the Museum of Flight, Griffith Observatory, Liberty Science Center, Museum of Science and Industry, Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Virgin Galactic and The Planetary Society. Bill Nye the Science Guy, CEO of The Planetary Society noted, “It’s a fantastic convergence of spacecraft technology and crowdfunding. Students everywhere can get involved – around the world and now above the world.”

The campaign will run for 33 days and end on June 30, 2013. Detailed information regarding the campaign is available on the Kickstarter website.

30 Days to Reinvent the Space Industry

Planetary Resources — Wed, 29 May 2013 17:05:57 +0000

Today is a very exciting day here at Planetary Resources. Our continued dedication to asteroid prospecting with orbiting space telescopes created a profound opportunity. Starting today, we are offering the public the opportunity to provide public access to an ARKYD space telescope and use it for science, education and fun.

This isn’t like any telescope that’s come before. That’s because this Arkyd 100 will be both funded and directed by everyday folks who are passionate about space technology and the thrill of discovery.

You can take control and decide what this telescope looks at. You can also support future scientists by gifting research time to schools where students will have the opportunity to learn about the space industry and give them a passion for science and technology.

You can support this project in two very important ways.

The first is to pledge to support the Arkyd Kickstarter. Our goal is to raise one million dollars to build and launch this mission. We’ve got several pledge levels with some really unique rewards, and we think you’ll really like them.

A second way you can show your support is to help us spread the word about this mission and raise awareness about how people can get involved.

The Kickstarter lasts for the next 30 days, so we’ve got to reach as wide an audience as possible. Share the Kickstarter on your Facebook and Twitter, or your favorite online hangout.

Talk about it with teachers and school administrators. Share it with anyone you know who loves space and wants to see what the future may hold.

We will be hosting a live streaming event at 3:30pm PST with some of the members of the Planetary Resources team, where they’ll be sharing more details about the mission and the capabilities of the Arkyd telescope.

The link for the live stream recording is: http://youtu.be/bPHm-KHOguM

Together we can show that it doesn’t take government agencies with huge budgets to build the future of space, but a community of passionate enthusiasts.

We’re proud to be a part of this community. Thanks for your support.

Planetary Resources Opening the Space Frontier to All

Chris Lewicki — Mon, 27 May 2013 16:00:33 +0000

Our continued dedication to asteroid prospecting with orbiting space telescopes created a profound opportunity.

This Wednesday, we’ll be starting something big, and YOU can get involved. The following information was shared with the media last week. Tune in, or join us in Seattle for the big reveal!

WHAT:
Planetary Resources’ team of engineers who have designed, built and operated spacecraft throughout the Solar System, including all of the recent U.S. Mars landers and rovers, are now developing the most advanced space technology ever and will make it publicly accessible.

A diverse group of supporters, including Virgin’s Sir Richard Branson, actor Seth Green, Star Trek’s Brent Spiner (Lieutenant Commander Data) and Rob Picardo (The Doctor), Bill Nye the Science Guy, futurist Jason Silva, and MIT astrophysicist Dr. Sara Seager, have joined forces with Planetary Resources to make access to space widely available for exploration and research.

On May 29 at 10:00 a.m. PDT in Seattle, and also streaming live, please join Planetary Resources’ Peter Diamandis, Eric Anderson and Chris Lewicki, as they, along with vlogger Hank Green, announce an unprecedented project that will change the way humanity explores the cosmos.

Program Highlights:

Gives students, teachers and the public access to the most innovative space observation technology ever built – This technology would have cost US$100M+ to build and launch less than a decade ago; and today, it will be controlled by students around the world to explore the cosmos.
Offers the opportunity for the public to directly participate in cutting-edge citizen science and discovery – Delivers a resource to thousands of institutions and researchers in need of greater access to space to further their work and rate of scientific discovery.
Invites the public to participate in Planetary Resources’ asteroid mining mission – Anyone with an interest in space can play a role in opening up the Solar System for human activity.

WHEN:
Wed., May 29, 2013 - 10:00 a.m. PDT

WHO:

Peter H. Diamandis, M.D., Co-Founder & Co-Chairman, Planetary Resources, Inc.
Eric Anderson, Co-Founder & Co-Chairman, Planetary Resources, Inc.
Chris Lewicki, President & Chief Engineer, Planetary Resources, Inc.
Hank Green, Internet personality, VlogBrothers

WHERE:
Great Gallery at The Museum of Flight - Seattle, WA

Event will also be streamed online at http://planetaryresources.com/livestream

Live streaming will continue at 3:30 PM PDT with Star Trek’s Brent Spiner (Lieutenant Commander Data) joining Hank Green, Peter Diamandis, Eric Anderson and Chris Lewicki.

PLUS:
Live streaming will continue with a special “community” event starting at 3:30 p.m. PDT with Star Trek’s Brent Spiner (Lieutenant Commander Data), Hank Green, Peter Diamandis, Eric Anderson & Chris Lewicki.

-Chris Lewicki @interplanetary
President & Chief Engineer, Planetary Resources, Inc.

Hang out with the Asteroid Miners

Chris Lewicki — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 06:58:17 +0000

Join us on Wednesday April 24th at 11:00AM PDT for a special half hour event – hang out with our Asteroid Miners to celebrate our one year anniversary since announcing Planetary Resources.

We will be giving an overview of the year since our announcement, and will have some surprises in store.

I will be leading the discussion and bringing in key members of my team directly from the tech floor.

Be sure to follow us on Google+ to RSVP.

The Hangout will be streaming live at the following URL, and will be archived for later playback: https://plus.google.com/events/crceahl7sb0qk0u4s3ugu5h2aak

We will be taking questions live from the audience, and you can also ask questions in advance by tweeting with #FutureIsOurs or by posting it in the comments below.

See you there!

Defending the planet, new partner announced, and an upcoming special event

Planetary Resources — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:28:14 +0000

Defending the Planet

I’m at the 3^rd International Academy of Astronautics Planetary Defense Conference in Flagstaff, AZ this week. The conference gathers experts from around the world to discuss our knowledge of asteroids, new efforts to characterize them, and of course discussion on ways to mitigate those that pose a threat to Earth.

It’s always an extremely fun and informative conference, as it focuses entirely on asteroids . . . how often do you get to consider defending the Earth from space rocks?

Yesterday, NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver opened the conference, describing NASA’s proposed asteroid retrieval mission, and the potential for private companies, like Planetary Resources, to contribute to the mission.

Lead scientists throughout the day added to our current knowledge of the near-Earth asteroid population. There are about 9 million asteroids the size that impacted Chelyabinsk. While about 95% of 1km+ asteroids have been found, less than 1% of the asteroids smaller than 100m have been found.

The current near Earth object discovery rate is about 1000 per year. As of April 12, we have discovered 861 large (>1 km) NEOs, and 9,770 NEOs overall. There was also much discussion on just how far the science has come in the last 20 years – before 1991 all asteroids were found with magic marker on photographic plates!

My favorite discussions were on the formation history and strength of asteroids. New modeling is showing that rubble-pile asteroids are likely strengthened by the cohesive forces between the smallest grains in their size distributions. This allows some asteroids to remain intact past the point when their spin might normally break them up, and also says that even some very fast spinning “monolith” asteroids could have a coating of asteroid regolith on them. Truly exotic!

And of course, being the Planetary DEFENSE conference, you couldn’t get away without some initial discussions on potential ways to deflect asteroids. One presenter explained how a 10-ton impact vehicle could deflect a 100 to 500 meter near Earth object. There was also some discussion on the use of a nuclear blast near an asteroid to vaporize the surface and create a small thrust force to deflect it.

This was just the first day! The discussion continues the rest of the week, and you can see the conference program here, follow the play-by-play on twitter or watch via the live stream as well.

Bechtel Partners with Planetary Resources for Space Initiative

We’re very excited today to announce that Bechtel has joined our core group of investors and will be a collaborative partner in helping achieve our long-term mission at Planetary Resources. Bechtel is among the most respected engineering, project management, and construction companies in the world. You can read all the details in our full press release here.

Hang out with the Planetary Resources’ team on our one-year Anniversary

We announced Planetary Resources to the world nearly a year ago. Join our team for a special Google Hangout on our one-year anniversary next Wednesday, April 24 at 11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC). We’ll provide a brief year in review, current status on the development of the Arkyd series of spacecraft, and an outlook to the future of asteroid prospecting, exploration and mining! Be sure to follow our Google+ page to get all the details on the event.

We’ll also be answering a few questions from you – feel free to ask them here, or send them via Google+ or Twitter on the day of the event.